Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological condition among women of childbearing age and remains a challenging public health issue. This study aimed to visualize profiles and hotspots in dysmenorrhea research through a bibliometric analysis to deepen the understanding of knowledge in this field.
Methods: Articles and reviews on dysmenorrhea published from 2000 to 2021 were collected. We summarized standard bibliometric indicators. Publications were systematically assessed in terms of country, institution, author, journal, reference, and keywords using Citespace, VOSviewer, Bibliometric, and an online platform. Besides, correlation analyses of country-specific characteristics and bibliometric indicators were performed.
Results: 3407 publications were included. Dysmenorrhea-related publications have been increasing steadily annually. China and the United States were the most productive and academically influential countries, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that economic power is an essential factor influencing scientific activity. However, collaboration in dysmenorrhea research remained weak. Natl Yang Ming Univ and Vercellini P were the most productive institution and influential author, respectively. A significant proportion of dysmenorrhea research was published in high-impact journals and it was explored at a multidisciplinary level. Current research topics focus on two primary areas: (1) pathophysiology, such as pathogenesis, oxidative stress, and functional connectivity, and (2) public health impacts, such as quality of life, burden, depression, and exercise.
Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea research has received extensive attention from scholars and is rapidly evolving. Improved collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration may advance this field. Public health research and pathophysiological exploration of dysmenorrhea are current research hotspots and may also be a focus of research in the coming years.
Keywords: bibliometric analysis, dysmenorrhea, women, pain, research hotspots