Menstrual Distress amongst Females in Gwalior, India: A pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm2026.v06.n01.003Keywords:
menstruation, menstrual distress, females, Gwalior, IndiaAbstract
Menstrual distress is experienced differently by different females. While some may report negligible distress; others may report extreme levels of distress. Tools used for assessing menstrual distress have been developed in other countries and used accordingly. In India, menstrual distress forms were developed in 1989 by Chandra and Chaturvedi at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore. This paper’s author has adapted and modified these forms for the Gwalior region to assess menstrual distress as a part of her Doctoral work, which are now called Modified Menstrual Distress Forms (MMDF). Findings of the pilot phase using MMDF which was administered on females in their reproductive years are mentioned. Participants’ feedback indicated the feasibility of using the same. It is hoped that the observed patterns of menstrual distress in this pilot study may be of help to the author while conducting the main study.
References
Babbar, K., Martin, J., Ruiz, J., Parray, A. A., & Sommer, M. (2021). Menstrual health is a public health and human rights issue. The Lancet Public Health, 7(1), e10–e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00212-7
Browne, R. H. (1995). On the use of a pilot sample for sample size determination. Statistics in Medicine, 14(17), 1933–1940. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.4780141709
Chandani, J., & Nagaich, N. K. (2025). Adaptation and modification of menstrual distress forms for Gwalior region, India. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 13(4), 2585–2599. https://doi.org/10.25215/1304.234
Chandra, P. S., & Chaturvedi, S. K. (1989). Cultural variations of premenstrual experience. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 35(4), 343–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/002076408903500407
Chaturvedi, S. K., Chandra, P. S., Gururaj, G., Beena, M. B., & Pandian, R. D. (1994). Prevalence of pre-menstrual symptoms and syndromes: Preliminary observations. NIMHANS Journal, 12(1), 9–14.
Chaturvedi, S. K., Chandra, P. S., Gururaj, G., Pandian, R. D., & Beena, M. B. (1995). Suicidal ideas during premenstrual phase. Journal of Affective Disorders, 34(3), 193–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00017-h
Chaturvedi, S. K., Chandra, P. S., Issac, M. K., Sudarshan, C. Y., Beena, M. B., Sarmukkadam, S. B., Rao, S., & Kaliaperumal, V. G. (1993). Premenstrual experiences: The four profiles and factorial patterns. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 14(3), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829309084444
Davis, C. (2025, February 3). Why you feel hungry on your period. GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/womens-health/why-so-hungry-on-period?srsltid=AfmBOoqaQ1bN7NXScZit_KPwlyFy4426U9oTHolWnF0LIWlbhbcE4hV2
Farage, M. A., Osborn, T. W., & MacLean, A. B. (2008). Cognitive, sensory, and emotional changes associated with the menstrual cycle: A review. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 278(4), 299–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0708-2
In, J. (2017). Introduction of a pilot study. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 70(6), 601–605. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2017.70.6.601
Karlsson, T. S., Marions, L. B., & Edlund, M. G. (2014). Heavy menstrual bleeding significantly affects quality of life. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 93(1), 52–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.12292
Kavitha. C, & Jamuna. B. L. (2013). A study of menstrual distress questionnaire in first year medical students. International Journal of Biological & Medical Research, 4(2), 3192–3195.
Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16(9), 606–613. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x
Laessle, R. G., Tuschl, R. J., Schweiger, U., & Pirke, K. M. (1990). Mood changes and physical complaints during the normal menstrual cycle in healthy young women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 15(2), 131–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(90)90021-z
Leenaars, A. A., Dogra, T. D., Girdhar, S., Dattagupta, S., & Leenaars, L. (2009). Menstruation and suicide. Crisis, 30(4), 202–207. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910.30.4.202
Logue, C. M., & Moos, R. H. (1988). Positive perimenstrual changes: Toward a new perspective on the menstrual cycle. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 32(1), 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(88)90086-4
Loukzadeh, Z., Eslamy, N., Dehghan, M., & Houshang Mehrparvar, A. (2024). The impact of premenstrual disorders on work disruptions among working women: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine, 22(2), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v22i2.15712
Maity, S., Wray, J., Coffin, T., Nath, R., Nauhria, S., Sah, R., Waechter, R., Ramdass, P., & Nauhria, S. (2022). Academic and social impact of menstrual disturbances in female medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 821908. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.821908
Ministry of Labour & Employment. (2025). Nari shakti se viksit Bharat: Women leading India’s economic transformation story. Pib.gov.in; Press Information Bureau, Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2160547®=3&lang=2
Moos, R. H., & Leiderman, D. B. (1978). Toward a menstrual cycle symptom typology. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 22(1), 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(78)90088-0
Pillsworth, E. G., Haselton, M. G., & Buss, D. M. (2004). Ovulatory shifts in female sexual desire. Journal of Sex Research, 41(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490409552213
Rogan, M. M., & Black, K. E. (2022). Dietary energy intake across the menstrual cycle: A narrative review. Nutrition Reviews, 81(7), 869–886. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac094
Rubinow, D. R. (2024). Suicide and the menstrual cycle. American Journal of Psychiatry, 181(1), 11–13. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230860
Schoep, M. E., Adang, E. M. M., Maas, J. W. M., De Bie, B., Aarts, J. W. M., & Nieboer, T. E. (2019). Productivity loss due to menstruation-related symptoms: a nationwide cross-sectional survey among 32 748 women. BMJ Open, 9(6), e026186. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026186
Shalini, Singh, V., Yadav, H. K., Bhankhar, S. K., & Behmani, R. K. (2022). Menstrual distress and psychological well-being. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S6), 8727–8734. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6ns3.8100
Sharkey, K. M., Crawford, S. L., Kim, S., & Joffe, H. (2014). Objective sleep interruption and reproductive hormone dynamics in the menstrual cycle. Sleep Medicine, 15(6), 688–693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.02.003
Stewart, D. E. (1989). Positive changes in the premenstrual period. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 79(4), 400–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1989.tb10276.x
Sundström-Poromaa, I. (2018). The Menstrual Cycle Influences Emotion but Has Limited Effect on Cognitive Function. Vitamins and Hormones, 107, 349–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.vh.2018.01.016
Tucker, J. A. L., McCarthy, S. F., Bornath, D. P. D., Khoja, J. S., & Hazell, T. J. (2024). The effect of the menstrual cycle on energy intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 83(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae093
Wharton, W., E. Gleason, C., Sandra, O., M. Carlsson, C., & Asthana, S. (2012). Neurobiological underpinnings of the estrogen - mood relationship. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 8(3), 247–256. https://doi.org/10.2174/157340012800792957