Premenstrual Symptoms and Cycle Regularity: A Cross-sectional Study among Iraqi University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Evidence suggests that the stressor factors faced by women of childbearing age during the COVID-19 pandemic are related to changes in menstrual cycles. The present study was conducted to explore the premenstrual symptoms (PMS), menstrual regularity, and their negative impact on academic performance and interpersonal relationships among Iraqi female university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1270 Iraqi university students in Baghdad, Iraq. An online questionnaire was created to collect data about the menstrual cycle, PMS, and academic performance during the COVID 19 pandemic. The majority of the participants (76.6%) reported PMS. Depressed mood (69.6%) and flatulence (56.1%) were the most commonly reported PMS. The majority of participants (36.9%) suffered from moderate PMS. Moreover, (26.3%) and (18.3%) of the respondents reported worsening PMS and exacerbating menstrual pain, respectively. Among the respondents, (8.5%) reported a change in menstrual cycle length, and (50%) mentioned the lack of concentration. The study found that PMS was significantly (P<0.005) associated with the students’ age, age of menarche, and dysmenorrhea. Furthermore, PMS was highly significantly (P<0.001) associated with poor academic performance, poor interpersonal relationships, and COVID-19 infection. The findings of the present study reveal that during the COVID-19 pandemic, PMS was significantly increased in Iraqi university students and was associated with poorer academic performance and interpersonal relationships. © 2023 by SPC (Sami Publishing Company)

Dysmenorrhea among Female University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological symptom among adolescent girls and young women. It can have a significant impact on females' quality of life. The study aims to investigate the prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea among Iraqi university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted across different universities, including (College of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry) in Baghdad/Iraq, from March to May 2021. The data was collected through a self-questionnaire of 1312 Iraqi female university students. Dysmenorrhea was reported by (51.5%) of university students. Nearly one-third (32.1%) of participants rating dysmenorrhea as mild, (13.3%) moderate, and (6.1%) severe. Approximately (18.1%) of participants reported worsening of their menstrual pain, (21.3%) reported irregular menstrual cycles, (35.5%) reported increasing in learning difficulties, and (13.4%) reported increasing in the medication used to treat dysmenorrhea during the pandemic. The results revealed that there was a significant relationship between dysmenorrhea and the age of students, menstrual irregularity, medication use, and students who had Covid-19 infection (p-value <0.005). In addition, there was a highly significantly relationship between dysmenorrhea and learning disabilities as well as poor interpersonal relationships among Iraqi university students during the COVID-19 pandemic (p-value <0.001). According to the findings, dysmenorrhea has a negative impact on students' attendance, academic performance, and their interpersonal interactions during the COVID 19 pandemic. Future studies need to focus on improving pain management strategies to reduce the effects of dysmenorrhea so that young women can optimize their educational and future life opportunities. © 2022 Sami Publishing Company. All rights reserved.