Dysmenorrhea in young women: impacts on daily life and the role of nursing in promoting self-care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24859/SaberDigital.2026v19n3.1985Keywords:
Absenteeism, Self Care, Dysmenorrhea, NursingAbstract
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is a frequent gynecological condition among young women, characterized by pelvic pain during menstruation, which compromises daily activities, academic and work performance, as well as physical and emotional well-being. Objective: To analyze the impacts of dysmenorrhea on the daily lives of young women and to identify the role of nursing in self-care and pain management. Material and Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases. The descriptors "Dysmenorrhea," "Absenteeism," and "Dysmenorrhea and Nursing," as well as their English equivalents, were used, combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Articles published between 2015 and 2025, in Portuguese and English, available in full text and related to the topic were included. Duplicate studies, integrative reviews, theses, dissertations, and undergraduate theses were excluded. Results and Discussion: Eighteen studies were included, which showed a prevalence of dysmenorrhea between 51% and 89% in young women. The main impacts identified were school and work absenteeism, limitation of daily activities, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headache, nausea, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Low demand for professional assistance and frequent self-medication were also observed. The studies highlighted nursing as fundamental in health education, encouraging self-care, and providing guidance on strategies for the proper management of pain. Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea represents a significant public health problem due to the physical, emotional, and social impacts it causes, reinforcing the need to expand health education and qualified care actions focused on the menstrual health of young women
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