Examination of the Effect of the Pandemic on Physical Activity and Dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Abstract Background: Dysmenorrhoea releated with body mass index -less than 20 kg/cm2, smoking, early menarche, longer menstrual cycles, irregular menstrual flow and a family history of dysmenorrhea. On the other hand, the relationship between physical activity level and dysmenorrhea is still controversial. Purpose of the study: This study aimed to examinate of the effect of the pandemic on physical activity and dysmenorrhea together. Results: Individuals’ severity of dysmenorrhea, menstrual symptoms, physical activity levels were assessed with “Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)’’, “Menstruation Symptom Questionarre (MSQ)”, “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)”, respectively. Moreover; BMI was calculated. Assessments were carried out twice, before -during the pandemic. The VAS value was 6.23 ± 1.78 before the pandemic, it was 7.20 ± 1.63 during the pandemic. The IPAQ score was 1274.67 ± 1232.26 before the pandemic, it was 902.74 ± 892.33 during the pandemic. While the changes in VAS (t: -3.549, p: 0.001) and IPAQ (t: 2.543, p: 0.013) values before and during the pandemic were statistically significant MSQ (t: -.781, p: 0.437) and BMI (t: -.938, p: 0.351) changes were not statistically significant. Conclusion: When the severity of dysmenorrhea and physical activity levels were compared with before the pandemic, a decrease in the level of physical activity and an increase in the severity of dysmenorrhea were found statistically significant during the pandemic (p<0.05). Although there was an increase in BMI and menstrual symptoms this increase wasn’t statistically significant (p> 0.05).