Korean J Women Health Nurs.  2011 Sep;17(3):304-315. 10.4069/kjwhn.2011.17.3.304.

Lived Experience of Women with Severe Dysmenorrhea

• Kim HK

• KMID: 2308233
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2011.17.3.304

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning and nature of the lived experience of women with severe dysmenorrhea.
METHODS
Hermeneutic phenomenology by van Mannen and feminist philosophy informed this study involving 20 women who were 10~40 years old. Data was collected by using focus group interview 2 times from 10 women and in-depth interview from other 10 women from September to December, 2010.
RESULTS
The essential themes were message from body, deconstruction of negative stereotyped body, and authorship of my body. Participants described their own painful experiences. They recognized that psychological stress impacted on severe dysmenorrhea, so they made self caring time. They had positive attitude to menstruation, said that dysmenorrhea was not illness, but normal life process. They had internal strength, wisdom, and sistership.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed meaning of pain experience in sociocultural context. This finding have implications for health care provider's empathic and holistic practice.

Keyword

Dysmenorrhea; Feminism

MeSH Terms

Authorship
Delivery of Health Care
Dysmenorrhea
Female
Feminism
Focus Groups
Humans
Menstruation
Philosophy
Stress, Psychological

Reference

1. Abdul-Razzak K.K., Ayoub N.M., Abu-Taleb A.A., Obeidat B.A. Influence of dietary intake of dairy products on dysmenorrhea. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 2010. 36(2):377–383.

2. Burchfield R.W. The Oxford english dictionary. 1989. 2nd ed. London: Oxford University Press.

3. Strzempko Butt F., Chesla C. Relational patterns of couples living with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis. Qualitative Health Research. 2007. 17(5):571–585.

4. Choi E.H. Comparison of effects lavender abdominal massage and inhalation on dysmenorrhea, pain, anxiety and depression. Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing. 2009. 16(3):300–306.

5. Cosgrove L., Riddle B. Constructions of feminity and experiences of menstrual distress. Women and Health. 2003. 38(3):37–58.

6. Davis-Floyd R.E. The technocratic body: American childbirth as cultural expression. Social Science and Medicine. 1994. 38(8):1125.

7. De Beauvoir S.. H.S Cho . Le deuxieme sexe. 1994. Seoul: Ulyoo;(Original work Published 1949).

8. Duerr H.P. K.S Park . Intimitat. 2003. Seoul: Hangilsa;(Original work Published 1990).

9. Eriksen M. Authentic leadership: Practical reflexivity, self-awareness, and self-authorship. Journal of Management Education. 2009. 33(6):747–771.

10. Gilly A. Woman's sexual health. 2001. 2nd ed. London: Harcourt.

11. Golding J.M. Sexual assault history and women's reproductive and sexual health. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 1996. 20:101–121.

12. Grace V.M., MacBride-Stewart S. "How to say it?": Women's description of pelvic pain. Women and Health. 2007. 46(4):81–98.

13. Ham M.Y., Han K.S., You S.O., Park K.S. A phenomenological study on dysmenorrhea experience of women. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. 1999. 5(2):245–253.

14. Hong Y.R. The effects of hand acupuncture therapy on dysmenorrhea. Journal of Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing. 2005. 11(1):109–116.

15. Jung H.M., Kim Y.S. Factors affecting dysmenorrhea among adolescents. Korean Journal of Child Health Nursing. 2004. 10(2):196–204.

16. Jung H.S. Menstrual experience of adolescent girls. The Journal of Nurses Academic Society. 1996. 26(2):257–270.

17. Kim H. Gong Mu Do Ha. 2009. Seoul: Munhakdongne.

18. Kim J.E. A model of the theoretical structure of factors influencing college women's attitudes toward menstruation. The Journal of Nurses Academic Society. 1993. 23(2):224–244.

19. Statistical report of the disease. Korea Statistical Information Service. 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010. from http://www.kosis.kr.

20. Kowalski R.M., Chapple T. The social stigma of menstruation: Fact or fiction? Psychology of Women Quarterly. 2000. 24:74–80.

21. Kvale S. K.R Shin . Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing. 1998. Seoul: Hanaeuhaksa;(Original work published 1996).

22. Markovic M., Manderson L., Warren N. Endurance and contest: Women's narratives of endometriosis. Health. 2008. 12(3):349–367.

23. Meadows L.M., Morse J.M. Morse J.M., Swansen J.M., Kuzel A, editors. Constructing evidence within the qualitative project. Nature of qualitative evidence. 2001. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage;187–200.

24. Northrup C. H.J Kang . Women's bodies, women's wisdom. 2000. Seoul: Hanmunhwa;(Original work published 1994).

25. Park N.I. Dictionary of Korean. 2008. Seoul: Seoheamunjib.

26. Rho J.E. A study if the experience of menstruation and the cultural taboos. Women's Studies Review. 1995. 12:373–374.

27. Santer M, Wyke S, Warner P. Women's management of menstrual symptoms: Findings from a postal survey and qualitative interviews. Social Science and Medicine. 2008. 66(2):276–288.

28. Schipper M. C.H Han . Never marry a woman with big feet. 2010. Seoul: Bookscope;(Original work published 2005).

29. Steinem G. H.Y Yang Lee . Outrageous acts and everyday rebellions. 2002. Seoul: Hyunsilmunhwayungu;(Original work published 1978).

30. Sveinsdóttir S., Lundman B., Norberg A. Whose voice? Whose experiences? Women's qualitative accounts of general and private discussion of premenstrual Syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. 2002. 16(4):414–423.

31. Van Mannen M. K.R Shin . Researching lived experience. 1994. Seoul: Hyunmunsa;(Original work published 1990).