Frecuencia de dismenorrea y automedicación en estudiantes del primer al décimo ciclo de medicina en la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Cuenca, de mayo a junio de 2023

Abstract

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a highly prevalent gynecological condition in young women, which is associated with menstruation and is usually disabling, impacting the daily life of the affected woman, who resorts to self-medication for relief of the clinical picture. Objective: To determine the frequency of dysmenorrhea and self-medication in students from the first to the tenth cycle of medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Cuenca, from May to June 2023. Methods: Observational and cross-sectional study, in 275 students from 18 to 26 years of age of the medical career. An instrument designed by the authors was applied, which collects general data, clinical, reproductive and therapeutic characteristics related to dysmenorrhea. The data will be presented by applying descriptive statistics. Results: The sample consisted mainly of students in the second (29.1%) and tenth cycle (18.9%), 18-22 years of age (71.27%) and of mixed race (93.82%). The menstrual cycle lasted between 20-30 days in 61.1% of the participants, and the duration of menstruation was 3-7 days in 76.4% of them. Dysmenorrhea occurred in 246 students in the sample, of which 240 of those affected did not seek medical assistance. General malaise (71.54%) and headache (59.76%) were the most frequent symptoms. Only 97.6% sought medical assistance. Self-medication was present in 80.9% of cases, with ibuprofen (68.85%) being the most frequently used medication. Conclusions: The frequency of dysmenorrhea and self-medication in medical students at the University of Cuenca was high.