Relationship between somatic symptoms with menstruation and intention to leave work among university hospital nurses in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study investigated the association between menstrual symptoms and the intention to leave work among female nurses in Japan. Methods This cross-sectional study investigated female nurses ( n = 317) at two university hospitals. The items measured were their characteristics (e.g., age, body mass index), “intention to leave” work, somatic symptoms related with menstruation, self-reported menstrual characteristics (e.g., pain), physical workloads (e.g., working hours and night shifts) and psychological workloads, measured with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Participants with at least four somatic symptoms (e.g., cold, fatigue) which are present during their menstrual cycles were considered to have “somatic symptoms associated with menstruation.” We also measured serum ovarian and gonadotropin-releasing hormones. Results Approximately 40% of women answered “intention to leave” work, and 17% had “somatic symptoms associated with menstruation.” Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that nurses reporting “somatic symptoms associated with menstruation” were more likely to have “intention to leave” work: the adjusted odds ratios (AOR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) were 2.15 (1.12–4.11) in the personal-burnout model, 2.23 (1.16–4.31) in the work-related burnout model, 2.91 (1.52–5.56) in the client-related burnout model; 2.96 (1.50–5.82) in the JCQ model. There was no association between serum and gonadotropin hormones and the intention to leave. Conclusion Somatic symptoms with menstruation were associated with intention to leave work among female Japanese nurses. Intervention for somatic symptoms with menstruation might support nurses to continue work.