Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is presented as an ever more common in women 16-30 years pathology. Among the factors associated with their presentation, use of snuff has revealed conflicting results. The aim of this study is to explore the association between cigarette smoking and presentation of dysmenorrhea, and determine whether mood disorders and depression alter this association. Materials and Methods: An analytical prevalence study was conducted in women of Rosario University undergraduates enrolled during the first half of 2013, to determine the association between the consumption of snuff and presentation of dysmenorrhea. The study took into account variables traditionally associated with dysmenorrhea, including anxiety and depression variables as potential confounders. The records were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0 statistical program. Results: 538 questionnaires were conducted in total. The mean age was 19.92 ± 2.0 years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was estimated at 89.3 %, smoking prevalence 11.7 %. No association between dysmenorrhea and smoking was found (95% CI 0694-14724 OR 3.197). Among the analyzed variables, depression and anxiety were independent risk factors for dysmenorrhea presenting a statistically significant association with p=0.026 and p=0.024 respectively. The interaction of depression and anxiety (controlling for traditional variables) was a determining factor in the presentation of dysmenorrhea in the multivariate analysis p < 0.0001. However, this association was lost when analyzed in the category of severe dysmenorrhea and earn relevance using different methods of hormonal contraception, while the fact of having initiated sexual life had a tendency borderline risk. Conclusion: This study cannot prove that the snuff is a factor associated with the presentation of dysmenorrhea. Mood disorders and anxiety are decisive to the presentation of dysmenorrhea regardless of the presence of other concomitant factors. Association variables change when the dependent variable is categorized in its most severe state. Extensive and detailed studies to establish that association are needed.
