ArticleThe British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners2006
Menstrual symptoms: the importance of social factors in women's experiences.
Article in The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 29 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Barriers to seeking consultation for abnormal uterine bleeding: systematic review of qualitative research.BMC women's health · 2020Pooled it
- Systematic review highlights difficulty interpreting diverse clinical outcomes in abnormal uterine bleeding trials.Journal of clinical epidemiology · 2011Pooled it
- How Women Discuss Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Online Forums ("It's Like Revenge of the Uterus"): Template Approach to Thematic Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Prevalence of menstrual pain and symptoms and their association with age and BMI among Japanese female app users.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- Supporting teenagers with period pain in general practice: clinical review.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2024Review
- Role of the Menstrual Cycle on Performance and Injury Risk: A Survey of Female Professional Rugby Players in the United Kingdom.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Women's comfort with mobile applications for menstrual cycle self-monitoring following the overturning ofmHealth · 2024Article
- Adolescent dysmenorrhoea in general practice: tensions and uncertainties.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2024Article
- Rates of medical or surgical treatment for women with heavy menstrual bleeding: the ECLIPSE trial 10-year observational follow-up study.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2023Observational
- "I think to myself 'why now?'" - a qualitative study about endometriosis and pain in Austria.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Period poverty and mental health in a representative sample of young women in Barcelona, Spain.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Women's experiences of heavy menstrual bleeding and medical treatment: a qualitative study in primary care.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2023Article
- The "Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis · 2023Article
- "Menstruation is a Fearful Thing": A Qualitative Exploration of Menstrual Experiences and Sources of Information About Menstruation Among Adolescent Schoolgirls.International journal of women's health · 2023Article
- Article
- Menstrual Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Investigation in the MENA Region.International journal of women's health · 2022Article
- Period poverty: The perceptions and experiences of impoverished women living in an inner-city area of Northwest England.PloS one · 2022Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMenstrual disorders are a common presentation in primary care. Heavy menstrual bleeding is the most common concern, and is often treated by medical and surgical means despite lack of pathology.
aimTo explore women's experiences of menstrual disorders. DESIGN OF STUDY: Two qualitative studies using semi-structured interviews.
settingInner-city London.
methodAn initial study recruited women with heavy menstrual bleeding via their GPs. A follow-up study recruited women with a variety of menstrual problems via general practice and the community. Interviews were taped and transcribed then analysed using the constant comparative method.
resultsManagement of menstruation was a prominent theme in interviews. Women acted to comply with a strong social message that menstruation should be concealed, although this behaviour was often 'taken for granted.' The need to conceal evidence or reminders of menstrual bleeding was particularly important. Onset of menstrual symptoms often challenged established strategies for menstrual management. Menstrual management then became a conscious problem and a source of continuing stress. The breakdown of management strategies, by real or threatened episodes of leaking or staining, influenced consultation behaviour and decisions about treatment.
conclusionThe social pressure to maintain concealment of menstruation is a strong influence on women's health-related behaviour in response to menstrual concerns. Women's choices may be better understood if attention is paid to the social context in which they live.
Indexed as
Identifiers
17132384PMC1934056What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.