Menstrual cycle symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of interoceptive sensibility and psychological health.

The literature on the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of investigating its impact on mental health during this sensitive period, also in relation to the female menstrual cycle. To this end, interceptive sensibility has emerged as a fundamental construct for studying the mind-body interaction among psychosomatic and pain symptoms, particularly through the distinction between two attentional styles (namely, a "mindful" and a "non-mindful" sensibility). The aim of the following study is to verify the role of mental health and interoceptive sensibility on menstrual symptoms in women of childbearing age, during the pandemic, as well as to identify the specific contribution of the existing dimensions of interoceptive sensibility in the prediction of symptoms' severity. Data were collected through an online survey, for which 5294 women responded on demographic information, menstrual history, symptoms' disturbance, and completed the Italian versions of the GHQ-12 and the MAIA. The analyses showed that symptoms were strongly correlated to either the GHQ-12 and the MAIA subscales Noticing, Emotional Awareness, Trusting and Not-Worrying. This result was further verified via a hierarchical regression, which revealed that the same interoceptive dimensions and mental health strongly predicted the intensity of menstrual symptoms (R2 = 0.177, ΔR2 = 0.143) compared to other considered dimensions (R2 = 0.180, ΔR2 = 0.002). Results are partially in line with the premises but suggest that mental health has a strong impact on the experience of the menstrual cycle and that only a few interoceptive dimensions may be relevant in explaining the severity of menstrual symptoms. It is here suggested that noticing internal bodily signals and being aware of emotional states might become dysfunctional if not reconciled with a good ability to self-regulate internal states, but may rather contribute to the perpetuation of the 'vicious cycle' of heightened affective and attentional reactions to interoceptive sensations.

COVID-Related Distress Is Associated with Increased Menstrual Pain and Symptoms in Adult Women.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in heightened stress for many individuals, with women reporting more stress than men. Although a large body of evidence has demonstrated that stress, in general, can impact the menstrual cycle, it is not yet clear if COVID-specific stress would impact women's menstrual health. The current study explored the relationship between COVID-related stress and distress and menstrual variables (menstrual pain, number and severity of menstrual symptoms, and menstrual pain interference) in a sample of reproductive-age adult women. Seven-hundred fifteen women completed the initial survey and were re-contacted to complete the same survey three months later. Of those recontacted, 223 completed the follow-up survey. Results indicated that COVID-related stress and distress was associated with higher levels of menstrual pain, more frequent and more severe menstrual symptoms, and greater menstrual pain interference, even after accounting for age, hormonal use, bodily pain, and pain catastrophizing. Our findings suggest that women experience unique vulnerabilities that directly impact their health and functioning, and both research and clinical care should address these symptoms through careful assessment and treatment of menstrual pain and symptoms, particularly during and after periods of high stress and distress.

The effect of tele-yoga training in healthy women on menstrual symptoms, quality of life, anxiety-depression level, body awareness, and self-esteem during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study was planned to examine the effects of tele-yoga training on menstrual symptoms, quality of life, anxiety-depression level, body awareness, and self-esteem in healthy women. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy premenopausal women between the ages of 18 and 45 were included in the study. The women were randomly divided into two groups as tele-yoga training (n: 16) and the control group (n: 16). The tele-yoga training was performed on the Zoom software for 6 weeks, 2 times a week and 45 min a day. No intervention was made in the control group. Menstrual pain and symptoms by Menstrual Symptom Scale (MSS), quality of life by Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), depression levels by Beck Depression Scale (BDS), anxiety levels by State and Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI), body awareness by Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ), and self-esteem by Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were determined. RESULTS: In the tele-yoga training group, statistically significant improvements were observed in the MSS total (p = 0.001), negative effects (p = 0.003), menstrual pain symptoms (p = 0.003), coping methods (p = 0.001) sub-parameters, BDS score (p = 0.000), NHP sleep (p = 0.021), energy (p = 0.002), emotional (p = 0.000), and isolation (p = 0.039) sub-parameters. In the control group, there was statistically significant worsening in the NHP total score (p = 0.000). As regards the differences in values between the two groups, there were statistically difference in favor of the training group in sub-parameters of MSS, NHP sleep, energy, emotional, and isolation sub-parameters, and BDS and BAQ scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is thought that tele-yoga training may be a safe and effective method in reducing menstrual symptoms and depression, increasing quality of life, and body awareness.