Menstrual problems are usually taboo; and often, some, such as dysmenorrhea, are presumed
normal. This study seeks to compare the menstrual characteristics and symptoms of female university
students reporting self-perceived normality concerning their cycles and menstruation with those who
perceive their menstruation as being abnormal. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted
among 270 nursing students using a self-report questionnaire that included sociodemographic and
gynecological issues, together with Visual Analog Scale, the Andersch and Milsom Scale, and the
Spanish version of the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EuroQol-5D) to measure self-perceived health status.
A bivariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test, linear trend chi-square, and Student’s
t-test, and a multivariate analysis of stepwise binary logistic regression was performed to predict
the perception of cycle abnormality. In total, 77.4% of participants displayed normality; however,
in self-reporting of menstrual characteristics, 67.4% identified alterations. Young women suffering
from menstrual dizziness were 1.997 (CI95% = 1.010–3.950; p = 0.047) more likely to manifest
abnormal menstruation, 4.518 (CI95% = 1.239–16.477; p = 0.022) more likely if they suffered from
Grade 3 menstrual pain, and 2.851 (CI95% = 1.399–5.809; p = 0.004) more likely if they perceived
that menstruation interfered with their daily lives. Many menstrual changes and symptoms are still
considered normal, making it difficult to identify and address these issues. Therefore, it is necessary to
develop health policies and strategies to improve menstrual health literacy for increased knowledge
and earlier diagnosis.