Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts among Women with Dysmenorrhea in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition marked by recurrent menstrual pain, predominantly affecting females of reproductive age. The immune system is intricately connected to menstrual cycle regulation, and various endogenous and exogenous factors can alter the leukocyte profile in women experiencing dysmenorrhea. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may influence immune responses and systemic inflammation, leading to variations in white blood cell (WBC) activity. This study aimed to evaluate the total and differential white blood cell counts among female students with dysmenorrhea at Madonna University, Nigeria Elele. Ethical approval was obtained from the management of Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele, Rivers State. This was a cross sectional study involving a total of 52 participants made up of 27 females with clinically confirmed dysmenorrhea and 25 apparently healthy female controls. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected from each participant and processed for haematological analysis. Total WBC count was estimated manually using a haemocytometer, while differential leukocyte counts were performed from Leishman-stained blood smears. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25, with significance set at p < 0.05. The mean total WBC count in the test group was 10.71 ± 0.11 × 10⁹/L compared to 6.50 ± 0.09 × 10⁹/L in the control group. Neutrophil levels were significantly higher in the test group (72.11 ± 0.75%) compared to controls (59.60 ± 0.48%), while lymphocyte and eosinophil counts were significantly reduced in test subjects. Monocyte counts showed no significant difference, and basophils were normal in both groups. These  findings show a dysmenorrhea-associated inflammatory response characterized by leukocytosis and neutrophilia.