The Relation between Primary Dysmenorrhea and Spontaneous Preterm Labor in Primiparous Women in Rafsanjan

Preterm labor is a major risk of public health and important neonatal morbidity and mortality factor in world. Despite introducing its several risk factors, in 50% of cases, its etiology is unknown. From biological point of view, preterm labor and primary dysmenorrhea share common triggering mechanisms so primary dysmenorrhea can be considered as a preterm labor's predictive factor. In this study the relation between primary dysmenorrhea and spontaneous preterm labor is looked through in primiparous women in Rafsanjan. This case control study was conducted on 412 primiparous women was referred to Rafsanjan’s Nick Nafs hospital in 2010. In this Case-Control study, 205 women in control group (term delivery) and 207 in case group (spontaneous preterm labor) was enrolled in Rafsanjan’s Nick Nafs hospital. Two groups were matched in age, socio-economical status, smoking and BMI. Data were collected with questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS software, student's t-test, X2 test, adjusted odds ratio and Logistic Regression. Logistic Regression test did not show statistically increased risk of preterm delivery in women with history of primary dysmenorrhea (odds ratio=1.12). The risk of preterm labor in women with history of mild or moderate and severe dysmenorrhea was slightly strengthened (1.26) but statistically non significant (P value=0.45). The exact biochemical mechanisms that cause primary dysmenorrhea and spontaneous preterm labor are unknown.