RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, limitations in daily living and health care use due to menstrual pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational transversal study of 274 adolescents and young adults (age ≤ 26) who had menstruated in the six months prior to the study, assisted at a Primary Health Care Center. Data were obtained by a 24-item anonymous questionnaire, which included questions about socio-demographic variables, menstrual cycle, presence, duration, severity, treatment and limitations of dysmenorrhea. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-two (62.8%) subjects experienced menstrual pain. Of these, 65.7% reported having limitations in their daily activities due to dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of limitations in daily living was influenced by the presence of additional symptoms (r=0.331; p <0.001), pain intensity (r=0.281; p <0.001) and pain duration (r=0.172; p=0.027). The most commonly mentioned limitation was anxiety/depression (42.5%). Fourteen of the subjects reported missing school or work due to dysmenorrhea. A total of 48 respondents sought medical help and 135 reported using therapeutic measures to ease their pain. The most common treatments reported for pain treatment included NSAID's (38.5%) and oral pills (37.0%). The existence of additional symptoms (r=0.247; p=0.001) and the intensity of pain (r=0.160; p=0.039) led to the search for health care. CONCLUSIONS: Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among this sample of adolescents and young adults and is related to absenteeism. Thus, health care providers should regularly screen for dysmenorrhea and offer appropriate treatment.