Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and Its Association With Dietary Habits Among Female Students of Mid‐West University, Surkhet, Nepal: An Analytical Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition affecting young women and is associated with reduced academic performance and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and examine its association with dietary habits among female students at Mid‐West University, Surkhet, Nepal. Methods An analytical cross‐sectional design conducted from 29 October 2023 to 30 November, 2023, and data were collected from 207 menstruating bachelor‐level students using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire and standard anthropometric measurements. Pain severity was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale. Results The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 88.4% (183/207), and nearly half of affected students (43.7%) experienced severe menstrual pain. Family history of dysmenorrhea demonstrated a significant association with pain severity ( p = 0.004), suggesting hereditary influence, whereas menstrual characteristics including age at menarche, cycle regularity, and bleeding duration were not associated with pain intensity. Dietary practices, including meal frequency, food avoidance during menstruation, frequency of consumption of major food groups, and nutritional status based on Body Mass Index, did not show significant associations with dysmenorrhea severity. Self‐care practices such as sleep (26.3%), heat therapy (24.8%), and warm beverages (15.2%) were the most commonly used pain‐relief methods, while medical consultation remained low (19.7%). Conclusion The findings highlight dysmenorrhea as a substantial health concern among university students and indicate that biological and familial factors may play a more influential role in pain severity than dietary behaviors. Strengthening menstrual health education, improving access to evidence‐based pain management, and integrating menstrual health support within university services are essential to reduce the academic and psychosocial burden of dysmenorrhea among young women in Nepal.