Relation of Primary Dysmenorrhea with BMI and Associated Risk Factors among Medical Students of Rawalpindi

Abstract Background Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of the most common gynecological complaints in women of childbearing age, which severely impacts their quality of life. Objective The study aims to investigate the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women of different ranges of Body Mass Index (BMI) and its associated risk factors. Methodology: 250 students (aged 18–24) from three medical colleges; Army Medical College, Foundation University Medical College, and Rawalpindi Medical University, participated in this cross-sectional survey. They were subjected to a pretested and structured questionnaire comprising 30 questions regarding their menstrual characteristics, risk factors of dysmenorrhea, and their weights and heights. BMI was calculated. Descriptive and analytical statistics were conducted using chi-square and ANOVA. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Based on this study, 88.4% of the students had PD, with 19% having mild, 45.2% having moderate, and 35.7% having severe dysmenorrhea. 78% of the students stated that dysmenorrhea makes it difficult for them to go about their everyday lives. Among the risk factors, family history, and intensity of bleeding were statistically significant. Any relation between age at menarche and duration of menstruation was not established. Among the modifiable factors i.e. diet, sleep, stress, and exercise, only sleep was considered statistically significant. Chiefly, no association was found between BMI and intensity of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion A high prevalence of PD was detected among young women between 18–24 years of age. Family history, intensity of bleeding, and an inactive lifestyle were found to be the important risk factors for PD. However, no correlation was observed between BMI and PD.