Medical Education and Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Int J Behav Med. 2011 Sep;18(3):246-53. doi: 10.1007/s12529-010-9091-z. Epub 2010 May 4.
Menstruation has important implications on the physical and emotional well-being of adolescents' reproductive health.
This study aimed to investigate the perception towards menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), to provide insight into menstrual-related education information in order to help adolescent girls manage the physical and psychological changes associated with menstruation.
This cross-sectional study included 1,092 adolescent females from 94 schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used in the data collection.
The results showed the mean scores on the menstrual attitude questionnaire to be 2.80 (SD ±1.88) out of six. A total of 80.7% and 83.6% of the participants experienced one or more affective and somatic symptoms respectively in the premenstrual phase. Irritability, mood swing and tension were the three most frequently reported affective symptoms, while fatigue and menstrual cramps were highly prevalent somatic symptoms in both the premenstrual and menstrual phases. The effects on functional impairment and quality of life, in order of importance, include poor class concentration, restriction of social and recreational activities, difficulty to mingle with friends, and poor class performance. Despite the evident impact, only 10.3% of adolescent girls consulted doctors for PMS symptoms, while one-third did nothing about their condition. There were ethnic differences in the seeking of treatment for PMS.
The study calls for an education program related to PMS and menstrual-related disorders to provide information and support to adolescents. This will help them to cope better with menstrual-related problems, and encourage positive attitudes to menstruation.
月经对青少年生殖健康的身心健康有重要影响。
本研究旨在调查青少年对月经和经前期综合征（PMS）的看法，深入了解与月经相关的教育信息，以帮助少女管理与月经相关的身体和心理变化。
本横断面研究纳入了来自马来西亚吉隆坡联邦直辖区 94 所学校的 1092 名青春期女性。采用自我管理的半结构式问卷进行数据收集。
月经态度问卷的平均得分为 2.80（标准差±1.88），满分 6 分。在经前期，共有 80.7%和 83.6%的参与者分别经历了一种或多种情感和躯体症状。易激惹、情绪波动和紧张是报告最多的三种情感症状，而疲劳和痛经在经前期和经期都很常见。对功能障碍和生活质量的影响程度，按重要性顺序排列，依次为学习注意力不集中、限制社交和娱乐活动、难以与朋友交往以及学习成绩差。尽管有明显的影响，但只有 10.3%的少女因 PMS 症状咨询医生，而三分之一的少女对自己的病情无动于衷。在寻求 PMS 治疗方面存在种族差异。
该研究呼吁开展与 PMS 和月经相关障碍相关的教育计划，为青少年提供信息和支持。这将有助于他们更好地应对与月经相关的问题，并鼓励对月经持积极态度。
