The purpose of this study was to clarify the occurrence of swelling in the lower limbs during each phase of the menstrual cycle : follicular phase (FP), luteal phase (LP), and menstrual phase (MP). Eight adult women participated in this study. Lower leg volume, lower leg circumference, impedance values, and subjective votes such as the sensation of swelling in the lower limbs were measured before and after 90 minutes of maintaining a sitting posture. Lower leg volume was significantly larger during the MP than during the FP, and the circumference of the lower legs was significantly larger during the LP than during the FP. The impedance values of the lower limbs were significantly lower during the LP and MP than during the FP. The feeling of dullness and heaviness in the lower legs was greater during the LP and MP than during the FP. Increased water retention and morphology in the lower limbs and enhanced subjective swelling sensation were observed during LP and MP compared with FP. These results suggest that swelling in the lower limbs of adult women differs depending on their menstrual cycle.

【OBJECTIVE】To examine the effects of perimenstrual symptoms on labor productivity and quality of life (QOL) among nurses. 【METHODS】From November 2018 to March 2019, an anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 1,050 nurses from six medical institutions in City A and collected by mail. The survey included attributes, menstrual pain, perimenstrual symptoms, and labor productivity and QOL during the perimenstrual period. 【RESULTS】The number of valid responses to the questionnaire was 484 (46.1%).Among the subjects, 135 (28.2%) had irregular menstrual cycles and 338 (70.4%) took analgesics for menstrual cramps. During the perimenstrual period, 469 (98.9%) had some symptoms and 433 (90.2%) and 453 (94.8%) had decreased labor performance and QOL, respectively. Labor performance and QOL decreased to less than half of their usual level in 142 (29.6%) and 209 (43.7%), respectively, and the more severe the perimenstrual symptoms, the more significantly these decreased (both p<0.001). 【CONCLUSION】Perimenstrual symptoms decreased nurses’ labor productivity at work and QOL in daily life.