Skip to main content
Chen Chen
IUPUI

Chen X. Chen

School of Nursing

Expert Bio

Chen X. Chen is an associate professor in the Indiana University School of Nursing and a national expert in menstrual pain research. Also known as dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain is a highly prevalent pain condition among females of reproductive age that puts them at higher risk for developing other chronic pain conditions later in life. Chen’s research goals are to support menstrual pain management, improve women’s quality of life and, to some extent, reduce the risk for developing future pain conditions among individuals affected by menstrual pain.

Chen led a team to uncover individual differences and racial disparities in menstrual pain, serving as a foundational step for personalizing menstrual pain care and addressing disparities. She discovered potential microbiome mechanisms underlying individual differences in menstrual pain, which can potentially inform the development of novel and personalized interventions.

She is recognized as an expert in dysmenorrhea assessment and provided research consultations internationally on dysmenorrhea measurement methodologies. Her team designed and tested a novel assessment tool, the Dysmenorrhea Symptom Interference scale, which has been used and translated into different languages by researchers across several countries. She also conducted foundational work to characterize person-centered needs related to menstrual pain using diverse research methodologies.

Chen’s research has great potential to transform care, reduce disparities and inform health policy. Her research impact is evidenced by peer-reviewed and invited presentations, competitive grant funding, requests for consultation, and a robust publication and citation record. Her dysmenorrhea research has been cited more than 900 times by academicians, clinicians from 50 countries in six continents as well as lay medias.

Areas of Expertise

Menstrual pain, menstrual health, pain, women’s health, vaginal microbiome.

Other Information