There are few data available about the menstrual patterns of Australian teenagers and the prevalence of menstrual disorder in this age group. Aims To establish the typical experience of menstruation in a sample of 16-18 year old women attending ACT Secondary Colleges of Education. To determine the number of teenagers experiencing menstrual disorder that could require further investigation and management. Method The MDOT questionnaire was used to survey participants about their usual pattern of menstruation, signs and symptoms experienced with menses and how menstruation affected various aspects of their lives including school attendance, completion of school work, relationships, social, sexual and physical activity. Data analysis included exploration of aggregated data, as well as individual scrutiny of each questionnaire to determine menstrual disturbance requiring follow up. Those participants whose questionnaire indicated a requirement for further investigation, and who consented to being contacted, were followed up through an MDOT Clinic. Results One thousand and fifty one (1,05 1) completed questionnaires - 98% response rate. The typical experience of menstruation in the MDOT sample includes: bleeding patterns within normal parameters for this age group; menstrual pain, 94%; cramping pain, 71 %; symptoms associated with menstruation, 98.4%; PMS symptoms, 96%; mood disturbance before or during periods, 73%; school absence related to menstruation, 26%; high menstrual interference on one or more life activity, 55.8%; asymptomatic menstruation, 1 %; True response to 'My periods seem pretty normal' 7 1.4%. Statistically significant associations were found between each and all of: menstrual pain, symptoms, interference on life activities and school absence. The prevalence of significant menstrual disturbance in the sample is approximately 25% where: 2 1 % experienced severe pain; 26% reported school absence; 33% had seen a GP about periods; 26.9% think there is something wrong with periods; 23.5% require follow up based on individual scrutiny of each questionnaire; 10- 14% require further investigation to rule out endometriosis. Referral and investigation of menstrual pain, symptoms, and diagnosis of menstrual pathology in the sample was low. Conclusion The MDOT questionnaire has helped to establish a clearer picture of typical menstruation in the population sample. Where 1% of girls reported having asymptomatic menstruation, the majority of teenagers in the study reported menstrual pain and symptoms that could be experienced as part of the dysmenorrhoeic syndrome of symptoms, PMS, or underlying pathology such as endometriosis. Due to the overlap in symptoms and a propensity to be dismissive of menstrual pain and symptoms, many girls are suffering menstrual morbidities that could be well managed with NSAIDs and the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) if non-pathological, or investigated further if a menstrual pathology is suspected. Considering these results the reported school absence rate of 26% is not surprising. Whilst this study does not cost the true impact of menstrual disturbance on schooling, the results of the MDOT questionnaire reflect significant physical and emotional impact on a considerable number of teenager's lives which could also have repercussions on education, schooling performance and other areas of their lives. Future research is planned to determine the MDOT questionnaire's validity for identifying pathological menstrual disorder so it can act as a screening tool to facilitate earlier detection. Replication of the MDOT study should be done in younger teenagers (from menarche) to determine menstrual disturbance in the younger age group.

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Objetivos: Determinar la efectividad del Kinesiotape en la reducción del dolor debido a la dismenorrea en jóvenes-adultas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio experimental, tipo ensayo clínico en mujeres de la Escuela de Policías de Chorrillos y San Bartolo en Lima, Perú. El muestreo se realizó por aleatorización por bloques, se distribuyeron las 229 participantes en bloques de 6. Se tuvo un total de 36 bloques y dentro de cada bloque se eligió al azar la asignación a los grupos de intervención o de Kinesiotape y control o de Kinesiotape simulado. Se aplicó el Kinesiotape por 4-5 días al grupo intervención y al de control. Se colocaron tres bandas adhesivas de 5 cm de ancho y 12 de largo, la banda horizontal se colocó de forma directa, la banda vertical se aplicó de caudal a cefálico en la zona suprapúbica, y la última banda se aplicó de forma horizontal en la zona lumbar, a la altura de L4. El dolor menstrual y lumbar se valoró con la Escala de calificación numérica del dolor antes, 2-3 hrs después de la aplicación del método, a las 24 hrs, 48 hrs y 72 hrs respectivamente. Finalmente, se realizó la fase de intervención con una duración de 3 meses por cada integrante en donde se midió el dolor menstrual y lumbar durante su periodo menstrual. Resultados: Se evaluó la eficacia del Kinesiotape versus el Kinesiotape simulado en el dolor asociado a la dismenorrea primaria. Las diferencias entre el grupo de control e intervención con respecto al dolor menstrual fueron que en el mes 1 luego de 2-3 horas de la aplicación del Kinesiotape el dolor se redujo en -2.32 (p<0.001), en el mes 2 de -2.8 (p<0.001) y en el mes 3 de -1.3 (p<0.001). Se observó que a las 24 horas del efecto, el dolor se redujo en -2.15 (p<0.001) en el mes 1, -1.77 (p<0.001) en el mes 2 y -0.87 (p<0.001) en el mes 3. Asimismo, en el dolor lumbar se observó el efecto del Kinesiotape a las 24 horas de la aplicación en el mes 1 con una diferencia de -0.5 (p: 0.013), en el mes 2 -0.62 (p: 0.001) entre ambos grupos. Conclusiones: La aplicación del Kinesiotape es efectiva para reducir el dolor abdominal relacionado a la dismenorrea en comparación a la aplicación del Kinesiotape simulado. / Objectives: Determine the effectiveness of Kinesiotape to decrease pain due to dysmenorrhea in young adult women. Methods: An experimental study was conducted a clinical trial in women of the Police school in Chorrillos and San Bartolo in Lima, Perú. We performed a blocked randomization. The 229 participants were distributed in blocks of 6 individuals. A total of 36 blocks were taken and within each block the allocation to the intervention group and control group was chosen at random simulated. Kinesiotape was applied for 4-5 days to the intervention and control group. Three adhesive bands 5 cm wide and 12 long were placed, the horizontal band was placed directly, the vertical band was applied from flow to cephalic in the suprapubic area, and the last band was applied horizontally in the area lumbar, at the height of L4. Lumbar and menstrual pain was assessed with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale before, 2-3 hours after the application of the method, at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours respectively. Finally, the intervention phase was carried out with a duration of 3 months for each member where menstrual and lumbar pain was measured during their menstrual period. Results: The efficacy of Kinesiotape vs Sham Kinesiotape in pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea was evaluated. The differences in the results between the control and intervention group with respect to menstrual pain were that in month 1 during 2-3 hours of the application of Kinesiotape the difference was -2.32 (p <0.001), in month 2 of -2.8 (p <0.001) and in month 3 of -1.3 (p <0.001). It was observed that 24 hours after the effect of Kinesiotape on the control group had a difference of -2.15 (p <0.001) in month 1, -1.77 (p <0.001) in month 2 and -0.87 (p <0.001) in month 3. Also, in lumbar pain the effect of Kinesiotape was observed 24 hours after application in month 1 with a difference of -0.5 (p: 0.013), in month 2 -0.62 (p: 0.001) between both groups Conclusions: During the intervention period with the application of Kinesiotape to the intervention group, abdominal pain related to dysmenorrhea was reduced compared to the application of simulated Kinesiotape in the control group. / Tesis