Mobile Application Measurement of Menstrual Cycle Characteristics and Their Association with Dysmenorrhea and Activity Limitation in Early Adolescents

Real-time tracking of menstrual bleeding is a barrier to research due to limitations with traditional data collection tools. This prospective cohort study utilized a mobile application (TDot app) in young adolescents aged 10-14 years to assess the relationship between heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), dysmenorrhea, and activity limitation. Menstrual cycles were captured over six months in real-time using the Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart (PBAC). A median PBAC score of >100 was used to identify participants with HMB. Participants also completed a modified WaLIDD (Working ability, Location, Intensity, Days of pain, Dysmenorrhea) scale. Impact of menses on daily activities was collected for each cycle. A total of 160 participants enrolled and 100 (63%) participants with ≥3 cycles recorded in the mobile app were analyzed. HMB was noted in 41% of participants. Median modified WaLIDD score was significantly higher in participants with HMB than those without HMB (p=0.01). No significant differences were found in activity limitations between participants with and without HMB (p=0.34). Median modified WaLIDD score for participants with activity limitation was significantly higher than those without activity limitation (p=0.01). Utilizing mobile app technology, we were able to gather real-time menstrual outcome data from young adolescents on heaviness of flow, dysmenorrhea and activity limitations. While we did not find that patients with HMB were more likely to have activity limitations, we did find that those with limitations had modestly higher dysmenorrhea scores. Future studies should focus on identifying additional variables that impact activity limitation during menstruation.