Relationship between gastrointestinal and dysmenorrheic symptoms at menses

Res Nurs Health. 1996 Feb;19(1):45-51. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-240X(199602)19:1<45::AID-NUR5>3.0.CO;2-L.

Abstract

The relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and uterine cramping pain at menses, controlling for affective states and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor use, was examined. A total of 53 women completed a daily diary of symptoms, stool characteristics, and medication use for three consecutive menstrual cycles. There were significant across-women and within-woman relationships between stomach pain, nausea, and uterine cramping pain, but not between cramping pain and constipation, diarrhea, or stool characteristics. These results support the presence of a similar mechanism in the generation of distressing GI symptoms and uterine cramping pain at menses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Dysmenorrhea / complications*
  • Dysmenorrhea / drug therapy
  • Dysmenorrhea / physiopathology
  • Feces
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / etiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Menstrual Cycle* / drug effects
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors