Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39505294›Full record

ArticleJournal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology2025

Natural History of Menstrual Pain and Associated Risk Factors in Early Adolescence.

Rachel E Modarelli, Samantha A Molsberry, Sofia Malave-Ortiz, Madison Calvert, Janet Lucien, Sheri Denslow, Daniel Zaccaro, Camilia Kamoun, Natalie D Shaw

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rachel E ModarelliDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Pediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, North Carolina.
Samantha A MolsberrySocial & Scientific Systems, A DLH Holdings Company, Durham, North Carolina.
Sofia Malave-OrtizPediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, North Carolina.
Madison CalvertPediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, North Carolina.
Janet LucienWakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Sheri DenslowSocial & Scientific Systems, A DLH Holdings Company, Durham, North Carolina.
Daniel ZaccaroSocial & Scientific Systems, A DLH Holdings Company, Durham, North Carolina.
Camilia KamounDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Natalie D ShawPediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address: Natalie.shaw@nih.gov.

Funding

Mass Spectrometry-based Untargeted MetabolomicsZICES103363 · NIEHS · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES · PI JARMUSCH, ALAN · 2021 to 2025
$6.5M
Investigating the impact of obesity on pubertal development in girlsZIAES103315 · NIEHS · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES · PI SHAW, NATALIE · 2016 to 2025
$5.9M
Intramural NIH HHS ZIA ES103315Intramural NIH HHS ZIC ES103363
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

objectiveTo determine the natural history of menstrual pain without pelvic pathology, the role of progesterone in its pathophysiology, and associated risk factors in a longitudinal study of early postmenarchal girls in North Carolina.

methodsParticipants contributed daily urine samples for up to 3.5 years to measure pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) (mean 589 urines/participant), completed menstrual diaries, and reported menstrual pain using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) biannually. MSQ scores were log-transformed and generalized estimating equations assessed associations with gynecologic age, cycle peak PdG, presumed ovulation, physical activity, anxiety, and depression. Models were adjusted for age at menarche, baseline body mass index, race/ethnicity, parental education and employment, and gynecologic age.

resultsForty-three girls, aged 12.6 ± 1.1 years (mean ± SD) at enrollment with a gynecologic age 0.3 ± 0.2 years, participated. Total MSQ scores were higher for every 1-year increase in gynecologic age (MSQ score ratio: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.17; P < .0001). Overall MSQ (ratio: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.06; P = .0002) and abdominal pain-specific (ratio: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 10.7; P = .004) scores were higher for every 1000 ng/mg creatinine increase in peak PdG in the preceding cycle. Overall MSQ scores were higher (ratio 1.26; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.44; P = .0005) if the preceding cycle was presumed ovulatory. Menstrual pain was not associated with physical activity, anxiety, or depression.

conclusionsIn early postmenarchal girls, gynecologic age and PdG were associated with menstrual pain, suggesting a pathophysiologic role for progesterone and other unknown factors in the development of menstrual pain.

Indexed as

DysmenorrheaPregnanediolAdolescentAnxietyChildDepressionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMenarcheMenstrual CycleNorth CarolinaProgesteroneRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesPregnanediolpregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronideProgesteroneAdolescentMenarcheMenstrual painPuberty

Identifiers

PMID39505294
PMCPMC11769766

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Registered trials

None linked

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.