Occurrence of dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome in Ballet dancers: A cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i8.1290Keywords:
Dancing; Menstruation Disturbances; Dysmenorrhea; Premenstrual Syndrome.Abstract
Introduction: Ballet is a widely practiced dance form among women, and premenstrual symptoms and menstrual disorders may affect ballet practice. Objective: To investigate the occurrence of menstrual disorders and premenstrual syndrome among ballet dancers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included ballet dancers aged 18 to 40 years. Participants completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, menstrual cycle characteristics, and premenstrual symptoms. The Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) was used to screen for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Results: Fifty-five ballet dancers completed the study. The median age was 22 years (IQR: 20–27), and the median age at menarche was 12 years (IQR: 11–13). Dysmenorrhea was reported by 83.64% (n = 46) of participants. According to the PSST criteria, 67.2% (n = 37) screened positive for PMS. The most frequently reported premenstrual symptoms were anger/irritability and physical symptoms, both reported by 94.55% of participants. Conclusion: A high occurrence of dysmenorrhea, a high frequency of premenstrual symptoms, and a high proportion of participants screening positive for PMS were observed among the ballet dancers evaluated. The use of medication for pain relief and perceived interference of menstrual symptoms with ballet practice were also frequently reported.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Beatriz Katzaroff Starling, Julia Agostini Ribeiro, Giovanna Rodrigues de Souza, Thainá Tolosa de Bortolli, Gabriela Marini (Autor)
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