Effect of Foot Reflexology Protocol on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in Nursing Students: a Pre–Post Pilot Study

Background: Premenstrual syndrome is a highly prevalent cyclical disorder among women of childbearing age which interferes with daily activities, mood, and quality of life. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a foot reflexology protocol on relieving pre-menstrual syndrome symptoms in nurs-ing students. Setting: Nursing School, São Paulo Uni-versity, Brazil. Participants: A convenience sample of 17 nursing students, diagnosed with moderate-to-severe premenstrual syn-drome as assessed by the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Research design: A pre–post pilot inter-vention study. Intervention: The intervention consist-ed of eight reflexology sessions lasting 30 minutes for eight weeks. Main Outcome Measure: Evaluation of the participants by the PSST applied at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: The participants had an average age of 21.7 (±2.6) years, ranging from 19 to 28 years; all were single, and most were in the third year of the course (58.8%); 75.6% lived with their family; 82.4% do not use contraceptives; 64.7% reported regular menstrual flow with an average duration of 5.1 (±1.1) days, and an average menstrual cycle interval of 29.3 (±4.9) days. The intervention significantly reduced the premenstrual symptoms assessed by the PSST (p<.017) with a pre–post difference of 10.2 points in the overall score, and the items score decreased between 1.2 to 3.4 for difficulty concentrating, insomnia, hy-persomnia, feeling overwhelmed, muscle/joint pain, bloating, weight gain; and be-tween 3.5 to 5.2 to anger/irritability, anxiety/tension, tearful, depressed mood, de-creased interest in daily activities, fatigue, overeating, and breast tenderness. There was a significant decrease regarding the functional impact of premenstrual symp-toms domain in the overall score with a pre–post difference of 10.7, and between 1.7 and 3.0 for all of the items (p<.04), except for the item “your home responsibilities”. Conclusion: Foot reflexology has shown promising results in reducing premen-strual syndrome symptoms.

Menstrual pattern amongst adolescent girls: a cross sectional study from Raichur, Karnataka

Background: Menstrual disorders in adolescent age are quite different than in adult women, both for diagnostic and therapeutic management. We need to take into account the problems in normal initiation of menarche, hematological problems, general endocrine problems, and fragile emotional status at this tender age. The objective of the study was to study the patterns of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls.Methods: Cross sectional observational study was carried out in 200 adolescent girls, aged 12 to 19 years, among the students of S.R.P.S PU college and the district government Girls’ school in Raichur during the period of January 2017 to December 2017. A pre-structured questionnaire was used and data was analysed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) 23.0 version.Results: Majority of the girls in our study were from 17-18 years age group (55%). The mean age of menarche was 13.2±0.9 years. Cycle length of <21 days was found in 4 (2%) of cases, 143 (71.5%) had 21-35 days cycle and 10 (5%) had >35 days cycle length. Majority had normal cycle length. Dysmenorrhea was found in 84 (42%) students. Premenstrual symptoms like tiredness were noted in 14 (7%) of cases, pain in the legs in 10 (5%), irritability in 8 (4%), lack of interest in work and play in 7 (3.5%), low back pain in 6 (3%), low/depressed mood in 6 (3%), anger in 4 (2%), anxiety in 4 (2%), difficulty in concentrating in 2 (1%), nausea\vomiting were noted in 2 (1%).Conclusions: Prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 42%. Premenstrual symptoms like tiredness were noted in majority of the girls 7%, pain in the legs in 5%, irritability in 4%.

Plasma Carotenoids and Premenstrual Symptoms in a Multi-Ethnic Population of Young Women

Premenstrual symptoms are experienced by most women of reproductive age, but effective therapies are limited. Carotenoids may have an attenuating effect on premenstrual symptoms; however, studies to date are equivocal. The objective of the present study was to examine the association between plasma concentrations of seven carotenoids and premenstrual symptom severity in 553 women from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health study. Participants provided information on fifteen common premenstrual symptoms and severities. Each participant completed a General Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire and provided a fasting blood sample from which plasma carotenoid concentrations were measured. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to determine associations between plasma carotenoid concentrations and premenstrual symptom severity. Beta-cryptoxanthin was associated with moderate/severe increased appetite for women in the highest compared to the lowest tertile (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.39, 3.89). This association remained significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. There were no observed associations between other plasma carotenoids and any premenstrual symptoms. In summary, higher concentrations of beta-cryptoxanthin were associated with an increased appetite as a premenstrual symptom, but no associations were observed for any other carotenoid and for any other symptom.

PREVALENCE OF PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG BULGARIAN WOMEN

INTRODUCTION: Premenstrual symptoms are common and can worsen women's quality of life. This study examines the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms such as weight gain; swelling of ankles, feet, and hands; frequent change of mood; fatigue; difficulty concentrating; depression; nervousness and irritability; and nausea. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are: (1) to reveal the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms among Bulgarian women and (2) to establish how the presence of premenstrual symptoms affects the Emotional well-being of women. METHODS: The applied methodology includes an online-based anonymous study, which focuses on the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms among Bulgarian women and their emotional health. A characteristic of the studied contingent on age, BMI, and physical activity was made. RESULTS: The results of 126 women surveyed were analyzed. Of these, 96.8% have at least one premenstrual symptom. 30.2% have one or two symptoms, 43.7% have 3-4 symptoms and 23% have 5-8 symptoms. 14.8% of women with symptoms reported worsening of their symptoms because of increased stress associated with COVID-19. There is a statistically significant correlation between the number of symptoms and the emotional well-being of women. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of premenstrual symptoms is common among the studied Bulgarian women. A greater number of symptoms has a negative effect on women's emotional well-being. We consider it appropriate to introduce the application of physiotherapeutic methods as well as alternative therapies for the treatment and prevention of premenstrual syndrome.