ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate primary dysmenorrhea in competitive archer women.

Participants: The study included a total of 142 women participated in the 2019 archery archers competed in the Turkey championship. Participation was on a voluntary basis. The average age of the participants is 25.21 years.

Results: The archers stated that there was pain during the menstrual period with 66.2%, and this pain was moderate in 46.5%. According to the body mass index, pain during menstruastion status and level of pain felt varies significiantly (p <0.05 and p <0.001). All those with a body mass index of 25 kg / m2 and above have constant or sometimes pain during the menstrual period. Again, the pain level of this group is in the medium and severe category. While 44.4% of archers' menstrual period has pain, weakness and nervousness, 16.9% of them lack coordination and loss of strength, 38.7% have all the symptoms. No statistically significant difference was found between the states of feeling yourself just before the menstrual period according to age categories (p> 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the state of feeling oneself during menstruation and 3 days after the onset of bleeding compared to the normal state (p <0.05). There is no statistically significant difference in the use of pain relieving drugs during the menstrual period according to age category (p> 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found in the use of nutritional supplements during menstruation according to age category (p <0.05). A significant correlation was found between body weight and pain and pain level in menstruation (p <0.01). Likewise, a relationship was found between body mass index and pain and pain level during menstruation. (p <0.05). According to the age of menarche, a meaningful relationship was determined regarding pain in the menstrual period (p <0.05). As the age of menarche is delayed, the pain exposed decreases with age.

Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that the competitor archers who participated in our study suffered pain during the menstrual period and their pain levels were moderate. Patients with late menarche experience less pain than those with early menarche. However, it is thought that delaying the age of menarche with regular physical activity, which will be planned for at least 2 hours a day, will contribute positively to the height growth and will be less exposed to dysmenorrhea, which decreases as the age increases with late menarche.

Keywords: Menstruation, dismenorhhea, archers