Premenstrual and menstrual symptom relief-seeking behaviours among employed women

Abstract

Many women experience premenstrual symptoms and menstrual pain that can adversely affect their work performance and productivity. This study explores employed women's behavior in seeking relief for these symptoms in a large electronics manufacturing company in Taiwan. Questionnaires collected data on demographics, menstrual status, pain scores, and self-reported symptoms, with 7,193 participants. Among them, 49.3% had a gynecological examination in the past two years. Moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms were associated with seeking relief behavior. Women experiencing work-impacting menstrual pain and higher pain scores were more likely to use hot compress bags and analgesics. Those with menstrual disruption for three or more days were more likely to have undergone a recent gynecological examination and use hot compress bags and analgesics for relief. Participants included two major groups of workers: office staff and clean room workers. Significant differences in relief-seeking behaviors were observed between them. Clean room workers were less likely to have gynecological examinations but more likely to take analgesics to manage menstrual discomfort. This information can assist environmental health nurses in understanding seeking relief patterns and guiding effective interventions to enhance the quality of life for employed women with menstrual discomfort.