Relationship between somatic symptoms with menstruation and intention to leave work among university hospital nurses in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between menstrual symptoms and the intention to leave work among female nurses in Japan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated female nurses (n = 317) at two university hospitals. The items measured were their characteristics (e.g., age, body mass index), "intention to leave" work, somatic symptoms related with menstruation, self-reported menstrual characteristics (e.g., pain), physical workloads (e.g., working hours and night shifts) and psychological workloads, measured with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Participants with at least four somatic symptoms (e.g., cold, fatigue) which are present during their menstrual cycles were considered to have "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation." We also measured serum ovarian and gonadotropin-releasing hormones. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of women answered "intention to leave" work, and 17% had "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation." Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that nurses reporting "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation" were more likely to have "intention to leave" work: the adjusted odds ratios (AOR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) were 2.15 (1.12-4.11) in the personal-burnout model, 2.23 (1.16-4.31) in the work-related burnout model, 2.91 (1.52-5.56) in the client-related burnout model; 2.96 (1.50-5.82) in the JCQ model. There was no association between serum and gonadotropin hormones and the intention to leave. CONCLUSION: Somatic symptoms with menstruation were associated with intention to leave work among female Japanese nurses. Intervention for somatic symptoms with menstruation might support nurses to continue work.

Progressive Changes in Lumbopelvic Alignment during the Three Month-Postpartum Recovery Period.

Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, and postural changes are believed to be involved in these disorders. However, the lumbopelvic alignment changes in postpartum women remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether there are changes in lumbopelvic alignment following vaginal or cesarean delivery and when these alignment changes occur after delivery. Thirty postpartum females (PP group) and 20 nulliparous female controls (CTL group) underwent anteroposterior, lateral pelvic, and lower-back X-ray in a static upright position. Digital radiographic images were analyzed and three radiographic variables, the pelvic incidence, pubic symphysis width, and sacral slope, were measured. The pubic symphysis width of the PP group was significantly larger immediately and one month after childbirth (PP group: 6.0 ± 1.1 mm (immediately), 5.0 ± 1.2 mm (one month); CTL group: 3.4 ± 0.4 mm; F = 31.79, p < 0.001). The sacrum slope in the PP group was significantly larger than in the CTL group 1 month after childbirth (PP group: 39.9 ± 6.6°; CTL group: 32.8 ± 5.1°; F = 2.59, p = 0.05). A two-way analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant main effects or interaction effects between the delivery modes on the pubic symphysis width or the sacrum slope. This study suggested that the course of lumbopelvic alignment progressed towards recovery for at least one month, and that these changes were independent of the delivery method.