(08) A SURVEY OF STRATEGIES FOR MANAGEMENT OF DYSMENORRHEA

Around 51-93% of female athletes self-report performance detriments or negative experiences associated with their menstrual cycle. One of the most commonly cited reasons is primary dysmenorrhea (PD), or lower abdominal pain associated with menstruation. PD pain can range from mild to severe, sometimes causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches, and is associated with an increased likelihood of reduced physical activity, and changing or missing training, a sporting event, or competition. Regardless of pain severity, few women consult with a physician, trainer, or coach about their pain, and instead self-treat. Which strategies women use remains largely anecdotal.

Purpose: To characterize current strategies women are using to manage menstrual pain.

Methods: 189 women (Age: 31.7±8.9 yrs; 70% Premenopausal; 30% Contraceptive Users; 68% White; 67% Non-Hispanic) with self-reported menstrual pain anonymously completed a web-based survey. Participants were considered active, predominantly exercising 3-5 days per week (52%), for >30min per session (81%), and regularly participating in a combination of aerobic exercise (Low: 50%; Moderate: 46%; High: 22%), strength training (55%) and balance/flexibility/yoga (41%). The survey included questions about presence and severity of menstrual pain, pain management strategies (exercise, medications, nutrition, other), and perceived challenges to implementing nutritional strategies for pain management. Results were analyzed and reported using descriptive and frequency statistics.

Results: Menstrual pain was greatest the day before (4.0/10), day of (6.6/10), and day after (5.3/10) onset of menstruation and was ‘sometimes’ (35%) or ‘often’ (30%) disruptive to exercise. When asked about exercise as a strategy to manage menstrual pain, 38% reported improvements, 27% reported no change, and 14% reported worsening of pain. A majority of women reported using NSAIDs (60%) or other medications to manage pain (Sometimes: 24%; Often: 20%; Always: 24%). 17% reported use of dietary or herbal supplements (Sometimes: 7%; Often: 6%; Always: 4%), most often assorted teas (n=10) and magnesium (n=8). 17% reported dietary changes (Sometimes: 7%; Often: 5%; Always: 5%), most often altering vegetable consumption (n=15) and reduced dairy consumption (n=9). 46% reported using some other method to manage pain (Sometimes: 21%; Often: 15%; Always: 10%), most often use of heat (n=85). Most common reasons for not using nutrition as a strategy to manage menstrual pain included, not knowing what to buy or try (70%), had never tried (23%), and being unsure about supplements (22%).

Conclusions: The level of pain women experience with PD is not insignificant and is disruptive to exercise participation. A majority of women rely on NSAID medications or heat for pain management. Less women reported using a nutritional strategy, primarily due to being unsure of what to buy or try. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Women are implementing a variety of different strategies to self-treat menstrual pain. Nutritional strategies have the potential to be effective for pain management and would provide a non-pharmacological option, but hesitation toward what to buy, try, or towards supplement use suggests quality information regarding nutritional strategies for menstrual pain management is lacking. To effectively support female athlete performance, health, and quality of life, high quality studies targeting menstrual pain management must be prioritized.

Acknowledgements: None