Prevalence, Severity, Impact and Treatment of Dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Online Survey of 1245 New Zealand Women

Melissa Perry; Blake Perry; Augustus Anderson; Allie Eathorne; Jane E. Girling; Alex Semprini; Melemafi Porter; Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith; Mike Armour

doi:10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114

Prevalence, Severity, Impact and Treatment of Dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Online Survey of 1245 New Zealand Women

Melissa Perry
, Blake Perry
, Augustus Anderson
, Allie Eathorne
, Jane E. Girling
, Alex Semprini
, Melemafi Porter
, Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith
, Mike Armour

Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Massey University
University of Otago
Te Whatu Ora Waitaha
Western Sydney University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to establish the prevalence, severity, impact, and treatment of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand across the reproductive lifespan. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 95% of respondents, 80% reporting dysmenorrhea without a known secondary cause, with prevalence higher among surveyed Māori. Moderate-severe dysmenorrhea was reported by 78%, impacting emotions, sleep, daily activities, and exercise for over half of affected individuals. Dysmenorrhea was commonly self-managed with over-the-counter analgesia and heat/warmth application. The data suggests that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand is high, with normalization of severe menstrual pain and barriers to healthcare and treatment options.

Original language	English
Journal	Women's Reproductive Health
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print (In Press) - 2026
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Society for Menstrual Cycle Research.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Aotearoa New Zealand
Dysmenorrhea
prevalence
severity
treatment

Access to Document

10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114

Cite this

@article{549b7173e4a1454c958d7190de6feaeb,

title = "Prevalence, Severity, Impact and Treatment of Dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Online Survey of 1245 New Zealand Women",

abstract = "The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to establish the prevalence, severity, impact, and treatment of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand across the reproductive lifespan. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 95\% of respondents, 80\% reporting dysmenorrhea without a known secondary cause, with prevalence higher among surveyed Māori. Moderate-severe dysmenorrhea was reported by 78\%, impacting emotions, sleep, daily activities, and exercise for over half of affected individuals. Dysmenorrhea was commonly self-managed with over-the-counter analgesia and heat/warmth application. The data suggests that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand is high, with normalization of severe menstrual pain and barriers to healthcare and treatment options.",

keywords = "Aotearoa New Zealand, Dysmenorrhea, prevalence, severity, treatment",

author = "Melissa Perry and Blake Perry and Augustus Anderson and Allie Eathorne and Girling, \{Jane E.\} and Alex Semprini and Melemafi Porter and Jordan Tewhaiti-Smith and Mike Armour",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Society for Menstrual Cycle Research.",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114",

language = "English",

journal = "Women's Reproductive Health",

issn = "2329-3691",

publisher = "Taylor \& Francis",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence, Severity, Impact and Treatment of Dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand

T2 - An Online Survey of 1245 New Zealand Women

AU - Perry, Melissa

AU - Perry, Blake

AU - Anderson, Augustus

AU - Eathorne, Allie

AU - Girling, Jane E.

AU - Semprini, Alex

AU - Porter, Melemafi

AU - Tewhaiti-Smith, Jordan

AU - Armour, Mike

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to establish the prevalence, severity, impact, and treatment of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand across the reproductive lifespan. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 95% of respondents, 80% reporting dysmenorrhea without a known secondary cause, with prevalence higher among surveyed Māori. Moderate-severe dysmenorrhea was reported by 78%, impacting emotions, sleep, daily activities, and exercise for over half of affected individuals. Dysmenorrhea was commonly self-managed with over-the-counter analgesia and heat/warmth application. The data suggests that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand is high, with normalization of severe menstrual pain and barriers to healthcare and treatment options.

AB - The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to establish the prevalence, severity, impact, and treatment of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand across the reproductive lifespan. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 95% of respondents, 80% reporting dysmenorrhea without a known secondary cause, with prevalence higher among surveyed Māori. Moderate-severe dysmenorrhea was reported by 78%, impacting emotions, sleep, daily activities, and exercise for over half of affected individuals. Dysmenorrhea was commonly self-managed with over-the-counter analgesia and heat/warmth application. The data suggests that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in New Zealand is high, with normalization of severe menstrual pain and barriers to healthcare and treatment options.

KW - Aotearoa New Zealand

KW - Dysmenorrhea

KW - prevalence

KW - severity

KW - treatment

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105044966416

U2 - 10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114

DO - 10.1080/23293691.2026.2692114

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105044966416

SN - 2329-3691

JO - Women's Reproductive Health

JF - Women's Reproductive Health

ER -

Prevalence, Severity, Impact and Treatment of Dysmenorrhea in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Online Survey of 1245 New Zealand Women

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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