Is Fibromyalgia Syndrome Common in the Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea?

Abstract Objective: To determine the association between fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and primary dysmenorrhea [PD]. Methods: Patients with PD formed the PD group and age-matched healthy normal controls were included in the HNC group. The new American College of Rheumatology FMS criteria were used in all patients and depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Results: There were 45 patients in the PD group and 45 patients in the HNC group. We found FMS in 15.6% of the PD patients and 0.0% of the HNCs. The mean sum of the somatic symptoms was higher in the PD patients with FMS than without FMS. The mean sore of BDI was higher in the PD group than the HNC group, but the mean depression score of the PD patients with FMS was not significantly higher than PD patients without FMS. Conclusions: The frequency of FMS was increased in PD patients, especially in the PD patients who exhibited many somatic symptoms.