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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 64. No. 2, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.02.20

Treatment Methods and Attitudes towards Primary Dysmenorrhea among Croatian Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marta Horvat orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-6117-140X ; Zagreb-West Health Center, Zagreb, Croatia *
Doroteja Pavan Jukić ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Lovro Marinović ; Department of Pathology and Cytology, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Danijel Bursać ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; North University, Varaždin, Croatia
Rosana Ribić ; North University, Varaždin, Croatia
Marijana Neuberg ; North University, Varaždin, Croatia
Dina Bursać ; Department of Oral Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine which treatment methods university students use to
relieve menstrual pain. The study was conducted in April 2021 and included 861 female students at the
University of Zagreb. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire containing 22
questions regarding menstrual characteristics and pain management. The study found that 366 (42.5%)
students asked advice from a healthcare professional regarding primary dysmenorrhea and pain management.
Pharmacological methods were used by 780 (90.6%) and non-pharmacological methods by 648
(75.3%) students. Most commonly, students were advised to use these methods by their families (73.8%
and 64.5%, respectively). The most common drug used to treat painful menstruation was ibuprofen
(84.7%). Local application of heat (78.7%) and taking an antalgic position (75.2%) were the most common
alternative methods for relieving pain. Students who perceived their pain to be more severe were
usually more likely to seek advice from a health worker and use both pharmacological and non-pharmacological
methods in pain management. Our study found that Croatian students were more likely to
self-medicate than to seek advice from a health professional regarding painful menstruation. They use
both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.

Keywords

Painful menstruation; Dysmenorrhea; Students; Pain management; Self-medication

Hrčak ID:

337955

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/337955

Publication date:

30.6.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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