Menstruation-related disorders-dysmenorrhea and heavy bleeding-as significant epiphenomena in women with rheumatic diseases
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Authors
Orlandi, Martina
Vannuccini, Silvia
Aoufy, Khadija El
Melis, Maria Ramona
Lepri, Gemma
Sambataro, Gianluca
Bellando-Randone, Silvia
Guiducci, Serena
Cerinic, Marco Matucci
Petraglia, Felice
Issue Date
2022-02-04
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Dysmenorrhea , Dyspareunia , Gynecological Diseases , Heavy Menstrual Bleeding , Menstruation Disorders , Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease , Rheumatic Disease , Menstruation
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: In women with rheumatic diseases (RDs) menstruation-related disorders have never been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate gynecological symptoms/disorders in fertile age women with RDs. Materials and methods: All patients (n = 200) filled up a self-administered questionnaire on their gynecological history, menstrual cycle pattern, menstrual-related symptoms, and quality of life (QoL). The RD group was then compared to a control group of 305 age-matched fertile age women. Results: Among patients with RDs, 58% had arthritis, 40% connective tissue diseases (CTDs), and 1.5% systemic vasculitis. No differences were observed between CTDs and arthritis, except for a family history of HMB which was more common among women with CTDs (p < .01). When compared to controls, women with RDs reported more frequent heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) during adolescence (51.7 and 25.4%, respectively; p = .0001) and adult life (37.7 and 25.9%, respectively; p = .0065). Also, dysmenorrhea in adolescence was significantly more common among cases (55.6 and 45.4%, respectively; p = .0338). Gynecological pain (dysmenorrhea, non-menstrual pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, and dyschezia) in patients with RDs was more frequent than in controls (p = .0001, .0001, .0001, .0001, .0002, respectively). Considering women who reported moderate and severe symptoms in RDs, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia remain significantly more frequent in women with RDs than in controls (p = .0001; p = .0022; respectively). QoL scores were significantly reduced in women with RDs, either in physical (p = .0001) and mental domains (p = .0014) of short-form 12. Conclusion: Women affected by RDs frequently presented menstruation-related disorders; thus, female patients with RDs should be questioned about gynecological symptoms and referred to the gynecologist for an accurate evaluation.
Description
Citation
Orlandi, M., Vannuccini, S., El Aoufy, K., Melis, M. R., Lepri, G., Sambataro, G., Bellando-Randone, S., Guiducci, S., Cerinic, M. M., & Petraglia, F. (2022). Menstruation-Related Disorders-Dysmenorrhea and Heavy Bleeding-as Significant Epiphenomena in Women With Rheumatic Diseases. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 807880. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.807880
Publisher
Frontiers in Pharmacology