Tsai Su-Ying
Department of Health Management, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Saf Health Work. 2024 Sep;15(3):278-283. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2024.04.006. Epub 2024 Apr 27.
Limited research has delved into the effects of work characteristics on premenstrual symptoms (PMS) in women, which can influence work performance and overlook potential hazards for women in their work environments. This study aimed to investigate the impact of shift work and working in a clean room on premenstrual symptoms, menstrual status, and menstrual pain among employed females in an electronics manufacturer.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on menstruating female employees between August and December 2014, aged 18-55, who received regular employee health checks. Questionnaires were designed to collect information on demographics, personal lifestyle, menstrual status, menstrual pain scores, and self-reported premenstrual symptoms.
Among 7,193 participants, 18.6% reported moderate to severe menstrual pain affecting their work. Female workers who reported shift work showed an increased prevalence of moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms, including fatigue (RR = 1.20), somatic discomforts (RR = 1.04), diarrhea (RR = 1.04), and tension (RR = 1.05). Additionally, shift work was associated with an elevated risk of experiencing a moderate or significant impact of menstrual pain on work (RR = 1.03), menstrual irregularity (RR = 1.30), and high menstrual pain (RR = 1.23). Working in a clean room was associated with an increased risk of high menstrual pain (RR = 1.13). Subjects working shifts in a clean room had the highest pain scores compared to the other groups.
This study underscores the association of work-related factors on PMS in female employees. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of premenstrual symptoms in female workers with different work characteristics, emphasizing the potential hazards of work-related factors on female employees.
关于工作特征对女性经前症状（PMS）影响的研究有限，而经前症状会影响工作表现，且可能忽视女性工作环境中的潜在危害。本研究旨在调查轮班工作和在洁净室工作对一家电子制造商中受雇女性的经前症状、月经状况和痛经的影响。
对2014年8月至12月期间年龄在18 - 55岁、接受定期员工健康检查的月经女性员工进行回顾性队列研究。设计问卷以收集人口统计学、个人生活方式、月经状况、痛经评分和自我报告的经前症状等信息。
在7193名参与者中，18.6%报告中度至重度痛经影响其工作。报告轮班工作的女性工人出现中度至重度经前症状的患病率增加，包括疲劳（相对危险度[RR]=1.20）、躯体不适（RR = 1.04）、腹泻（RR = 1.04）和紧张（RR = 1.05）。此外，轮班工作与痛经对工作产生中度或显著影响（RR = 1.03）、月经不规律（RR = 1.30）和痛经严重（RR = 1.23）的风险升高相关。在洁净室工作与痛经严重的风险增加相关（RR = 1.13）。与其他组相比，在洁净室轮班工作的受试者疼痛评分最高。
本研究强调了工作相关因素与女性员工经前症状之间的关联。我们的研究结果有助于更好地理解具有不同工作特征的女性工人的经前症状，强调工作相关因素对女性员工的潜在危害。
