Effect of dysmenorrhea severity on social and school lives of high school students

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea can lead to school absenteeism by negatively affecting individuals' productivity, working and life quality, and school performance. This study examined the effects of the frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea in high school students on their social and school life. Materials and Methods: The universe of this study, a cross-sectional design, consists of 5734 female students who attended the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades between July 2016 and March 2017. One thousand five hundred students were chosen by random sampling method. The study data were collected by face-to-face interview using Descriptive Information, Visual Analog Scale, and Dysmenorrhea Diagnosis Form. Results: It was determined that 87.6% of the students experienced pain during menstruation, and 61.9% of these students had primary dysmenorrhea. It was determined that the severity of pain and duration of attendance experienced by the students during this period negatively affected school attendance, social life, and daily life. Conclusion: It was ascertained that primary dysmenorrhea, experienced widely by students, negatively impacts their social and school lives.