Dysmenorrhea and Absence of Restorative Sleep

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea negatively affects daily functioning; however, its association with restorative sleep remains undetermined, while sleep-related health is a recent topic. This study investigated whether there is an association between dysmenorrhea severity and the absence of restorative sleep in women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2,752 women of 18–56 years of age who underwent health-screening. Dysmenorrhea was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, based on self-reports. Restorative sleep was evaluated using a questionnaire regarding sufficient rest from sleep. Their associations were tested using a logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: Restorative sleep was absent in 38.4% of this population. There was a significant association between severe dysmenorrhea and the absence of restorative sleep (adjusted OR 2.282, 95% CI 1.744–2.986; P < 0.001). There was also a significant association between moderate dysmenorrhea and the absence of restorative sleep (adjusted OR 1.241, 95% CI 1.049–1.467; P = 0.012).

Conclusions: The results indicated a positive association between dysmenorrhea severity and the absence of restorative sleep in women. The evaluation of restorative sleep may be relevant to health checks in association with dysmenorrhea.