A mixed method study of menstrual health in Spain: pain, disorders, and the journey for health
[EN] Introduction:Menstrual-related symptoms and disorders, particularlydysmenorrhea, significantly impact women¿s well-being. Dysmenorrhea,marked by painful menstrual cramps, affects up to 95% of women, leadingto debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily activities and potentiallysignal under...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Data de publicação: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) |
| Repositório: | RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/220674 |
| Acesso em linha: | https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/220674 |
| Access Level: | Acceso aberto |
| Palavra-chave: | Menstrual health Dysmenorrhea Healthcare access Gender pain gap Health inequalities 03.- Garantizar una vida saludable y promover el bienestar para todos y todas en todas las edades 04.- Garantizar una educación de calidad inclusiva y equitativa, y promover las oportunidades de aprendizaje permanente para todos 05.- Alcanzar la igualdad entre los géneros y empoderar a todas las mujeres y niñas 16.- Promover sociedades pacíficas e inclusivas para el desarrollo sostenible, facilitar acceso a la justicia para todos y crear instituciones eficaces, responsables e inclusivas a todos los niveles |
| Resumo: | [EN] Introduction:Menstrual-related symptoms and disorders, particularlydysmenorrhea, significantly impact women¿s well-being. Dysmenorrhea,marked by painful menstrual cramps, affects up to 95% of women, leadingto debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily activities and potentiallysignal underlying gynecological issues. Despite its prevalence, many womenexperience inadequate medical support and dismissive healthcare responses.Methods:This study employed a mixed-method approach, combiningquantitative and qualitative survey data to explore Spanish women¿s experienceswith menstrual discomforts and healthcare access. A total of 3,490participantsresponded to the survey, which assessed the prevalence of menstrualdiscomforts, frequency of medical consultations, and perceived quality ofgynecological care.Results:Findings indicate that 70.9% of participants experience menstrualdiscomforts monthly or most months; despite this, a significant numberof women infrequently seek gynecological care, often due to perceiveddismissiveness and inadequate medical support. The qualitative analysis reflectsshared experiences of pain normalization, misattribution to other conditions,and dissatisfaction with the standard treatment of contraceptive pills withoutthorough diagnostics. Additionally, the study reveals that in Spain, access tohealthcare support for menstrual issues is highly influenced by whether theprovider is public or private, demonstrating the impact of socio-economicfactors and underscoring a core contributor to health inequity.Discussion:This study highlights the persistent gender pain gap and theneed for a more holistic and empathetic approach in medical practices. Theauthors¿ recommendations include incorporating gender training for healthcareprofessionals and promoting awareness campaigns to encourage medicalconsultations for menstrual pain. This research aims to improve support systemsand healthcare practices, enhancing the quality of life for womenin Spain. |
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