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• Warning indicators may define women at risk of disabling dysmenorrhoea • Assessing disability related to dysmenorrhoea may help to identify a population at risk • A nomogram of warning indicators may help to assess disability related to dysmenorrhoea • Women with sufficient probability of disability should be suggested for medical advice How do different warning indicators help to identify disabling dysmenorrhoea among women in young adulthood? A nationwide cross-sectional study of women aged 18–25 years from the CONSTANCES cohort was constructed. Disability was assessed with the Global Activity Limitation Indicator question 'For the past 6 months, have you been limited in routine activities?Yes, severely limited/Yes, limited/ No, not limited'. Dysmenorrhoea pain intensity and other chronic pelvic pain symptoms (dyspareunia and non-menstrual pain) were evaluated according to questions from a specific questionnaire. Probability of disability was estimated using a logistic prediction model according to dysmenorrhoea intensity, other indicators of pelvic pain symptoms and other obvious covariates. The results of the predictive model of disabling dysmenorrhoea were presented on a nomogram. Among 6377 women, the rate of disability was estimated at 7.5%. Increased intensity of dysmenorrhoea (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.13), increased frequency of dyspareunia (from OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.33–2.14 up to OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.16–5.38) non-menstrual chronic pelvic pain (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.40–2.19), body mass index over 25 kg/m2 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.17–1.80) and non-use of the hormonal contraceptive pill (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.59) were significantly associated with disability. According to the nomogram, a predicted probability of 15% or more could be chosen as a threshold. This represents almost 4.6% of young women in this sample being classified at risk of disabling dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea pain intensity and associated pelvic pain symptoms are warning indicators that can be measured to help screen young women who may suffer from disabling dysmenorrhoea. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]