The Impact of Volleyball on Menstrual Symptoms

The goal of this observational study is to examine menstrual characteristics and symptoms in adolescent volleyball athletes compared to non-athlete adolescents. The main question it aims to answer is:

How do menstrual symptoms and characteristics differ between adolescent volleyball athletes and non-athletes?

The study included 154 adolescents aged 10-19, divided into 77 volleyball athletes (average age 15.09) and 77 non-athletes (average age 14.79). Assessments covered menstruation age, regularity, dysmenorrhea characteristics, and menstrual symptoms using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ).

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Key information

Conditions

Adolescent Female Menstruation

Age range

10 year–19 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Ankara, 06010, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The goal of this observational study is to investigate menstrual characteristics and symptoms in adolescent volleyball athletes compared to non-athlete adolescents. The main question it aims to answer is:

How do menstrual symptoms and characteristics differ between adolescent volleyball athletes and their non-athlete peers?

The study included 154 adolescents aged 10-19 who had experienced menarche for at least one year. Participants were divided into two groups: 77 volleyball athletes (average age 15.09±1.33) and 77 non-athletes (average age 14.79±1.27). Assessments included menstruation age, regularity, use of menstruation delay pills, cycle characteristics (length, duration), and dysmenorrhea characteristics (onset, frequency, medication use, school/training absenteeism). The Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) evaluated menstrual pain, coping methods, and somatic complaints.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

willingness to participate in the research,
female gender,
experience of menstruation cycles for at least 1 year,
age between 10 and 19 years,
having a volleyball sport license for at least 3 years,
practicing of volleyball at least 4 days a week for at least 3 years.

Exclusion criteria

being pregnant
experiencing acute genital infection
gynecological or urological surgery
having a diagnosis with an endocrine, systemic, or psychological disease.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Menstrual Pain

Time frame: 3 months ( will cover 3 menstrual cyles)

Menstruation related pain ( pain in the first 3 days of menstruation) intensity will be measured as a primary outcome using the the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). This outcome will measure the level of pain experienced by participants and the results will be reported as a continuous variable. The VAS consists of a 10 cm horizontal line with endpoints labeled "no pain" (0) and "worst pain imaginable" . Participants will mark the point on the line that best represents their pain intensity. The scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), with higher scores indicating worse pain.
Menstrual symptoms (assessed using the Menstruation Symptom Questionnaire)

Time frame: 3 months. The outcome will be evaluated before starting the study and after 12 weeks. It will be reported as a continuous variable to quantify changes in symptom severity over time.

Menstrual symptoms will be assessed using the Menstruation Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) designed to measure the severity and frequency of physical and emotional symptoms associated with menstruation (Negative Effects/Somatic Complaints, Menstrual Pain, and Coping Methods). The MSQ consists of 24 items, each rated on a 5-point Likert scale where 0 indicates no symptoms and 5 indicates the most severe symptoms.

The total MSQ score ranges from 0 to 120, with higher scores reflecting worse menstrual symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Other

Collaborators

Gazi University

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of Volleyball on Menstrual Symptoms in Adolescent Athletes

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2024
Study completion: 2024
First posted: Oct 10, 2024
Registry last updated: Oct 10, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed