Practices and perceptions of adolescent girls regarding the impact of dysmenorrhea on their routine life: a comparative study in the urban, rural, and slum areas of Chandigarh.

To estimate the prevalence, to compare the impact of dysmenorrhea on routine life among adolescent girls, to compare the practices and perceptions regarding Dysmenorrhea and to ascertain the reason for difference if any, a cross-sectional study was conducted in urban, rural and slum areas of Chandigarh, India. 300 girls in age group of 11-18 years, who had attained menarche were included in the study. A questionnaire including the Demographic and Family profile, menstrual history, Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea, Effect of pain on daily activities, Faces scale, Practices regarding Dysmenorrhea, Beliefs about menstruation was used. Analysis was done by percentage and chi square prevalance of dysmenorrhea was 61.33%. Sickness absenteeism due to dysmenorrhea was reported in 24.45% girls. Most common symptom experienced by the girls was stomach ache which was experienced by 139 girls; others symptoms experienced during menstruation were backache (107), and general body pain (80). Only 11.63% of the girls ever visited physician due to pain during menstruation. During menstruation only 10 girls use hot water bottle, 71 skip meal. Due to poor knowledge the practices were not optimal for pain management, which affected their school attendance. Formal as well as informal channels of communication, such as mothers and peers, need to be emphasized for the delivery of such information particularly linking instructions on menstrual hygiene to an expanded programme of health education in schools.

Menstrual Needs and Associations with Sexual and Reproductive Risks in Rural Kenyan Females: A Cross-Sectional Behavioral Survey Linked with HIV Prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Females in low and middle income countries (LMICs) have difficulty coping with menstrual needs, but few studies have examined the social or health implications of these needs. METHODS: Responses from 3418 menstruating females aged 13-29 years were extracted from an HIV and behavioral risks cross-sectional survey conducted in rural western Kenya. We examined sanitary products used, provision of products from sexual partners or from transactional sex, and demographic and sexual exposures. RESULTS: Overall, 75% of females reported using commercial pads and 25% used traditional materials such as cloth or items like paper or tissue, with 10% of girls <15 years old depending on makeshift items. Two-thirds of females with no education relied on traditional items. Having attended secondary school increased the odds of using commercial pads among married (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] 4.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.25-7.12) and single females (AOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.04-4.55). Married females had lower odds of pad use if they reported early (<12 years of age) compared with later (≥18 years) sexual debut (64% vs. 78%, AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.97). Two-thirds of pad users received them from sexual partners. Receipt was lower among married females if partners were violent (AOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53-0.85). Receipt among single females was higher if they had two or more sexual partners in the past year (AOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.04-4.29). Prevalence of engaging in sex for money to buy pads was low (1.3%); however, 10% of 15-year-olds reported this, with girls ≤15 having significantly higher odds compared with females over 15 (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 0.89-9.11). The odds of having transactional sex for pads was higher among females having two or more partners in the past 12 months (AOR 4.86, 95% CI 2.06-11.43). CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual needs of impoverished females in rural LMICs settings likely leads to increased physical and sexual harms. Studies are required to strengthen knowledge and to evaluate interventions to reduce these harms.

Clinical safety assessment of an ultra absorbency menstrual tampon.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual tampons are available in a range of absorbencies to allow women to use the product most appropriate to their needs. This study assessed the safety of an ultra absorbency (15 g to 18 g) tampon compared with a currently marketed super-plus absorbency (12 g to 15 g) tampon as a control. METHODS: Healthy women age 18-45 years (n = 95) were enrolled in this single-blind, crossover study. Subjects used, in random order, the experimental tampon during one menstrual cycle and the control tampon during the other. Subjects were also randomly assigned to receive either vaginal microbial assessments for determination of the presence and density of Staphylococcus aureus (n = 35) or colposcopic examinations for assessment of changes in the vaginal mucosa (n = 60). Data on comfort and acceptability of the tampons were collected by using diaries and questionnaires completed by the subjects in both groups. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women in the microbial assessment group and 43 in the colposcopic examination group completed the study; these subjects made up the primary analysis population. No differences in isolation frequency or cell density of S. aureus or in vaginal mucosal changes were observed with the experimental tampon in comparison with the control tampon. No reported adverse events were attributed to the experimental tampon. Both tampons received positive comfort ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon microbial assessments, colposcopic examinations, adverse events, and subject reporting of comfort, the ultra absorbency tampon is similar in safety profile to the currently marketed super plus absorbency tampon.

Medical devices; labeling for menstrual tampons; ranges of absorbency, change from "junior" to "light." Final rule.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule that amends its menstrual tampon labeling regulation to change the current term for tampons that absorb 6 grams (g) and under of fluid. A tampon with absorbency of 6 g or less is currently required to be labeled as "junior". FDA is changing the term "junior" to "light". The term "junior" implies that the tampon is only for younger or teenage women when, in fact, it may be appropriate for women of any age with light menstrual flow. FDA encourages women to use the lowest absorbency tampon appropriate for their flow to help minimize the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). At present, FDA requires standardized terms to be used for the labeling of a menstrual tampon to indicate its particular absorbency. This rule enables women to compare the absorbency of one brand and style of tampons with the absorbency of other brands and styles. FDA is issuing this final rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) to ensure that labeling of menstrual tampons is not misleading.

Medical devices; labeling for menstrual tampon for the "ultra" absorbency. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule that amends its menstrual tampon labeling regulation to add the term "ultra" absorbency for tampons that absorb 15 to 18 grams (g) of fluid with the syngyna test. At present, FDA requires standardized terms to be used for the labeling of a menstrual tampon to indicate its particular absorbency. This rule enables consumers to compare the absorbency of one brand and style of tampon with the absorbency of other brands and styles. FDA is issuing this final rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) to ensure that labeling of menstrual tampons is not misleading. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is proposing to change the standardized menstrual tampon term "junior" to "light".