The prevalence of dysmenorrhea varies greatly between
45.3%-90% depending on methods of data collection, a
given study’s definition of dysmenorrhea, and study
population.1,2,9e17
Morbidity due to dysmenorrhea represents a substantial
public health burden; it is the single greatest cause of
lost working hours and failure to attend school in adolescent
girls.18e20 Dysmenorrhea has been estimated to
account for 600 million lost work hours and $2 billion in
lost productivity annually in the United States alone.