Ramifications of Adolescent Menstrual Cycles ≥42 Days in Young Adults

Abstract

Objective To determine to what degree annual reports from ages 14 to 19 years of menstrual cycles ≥42 days would be associated with increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) at ages 14–25 years. Design Prospective 11-year follow-up from ages 14 to 25 years. Setting Urban-suburban schools, post–high school. Patient(s) A total of 370 schoolgirls. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) BMI, waist, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR. Result(s) From ages 14 to 19 years, 269 girls had 0/6 annual reports of menstrual cycles ≥42 days, 74 had 1, 19 had 2, and 8 had ≥3. Among these four categories, girls with ≥3 annual reports had highest free T and DHEAS at age 14, highest BMI and waist at ages 14, 19, and 25, highest insulin at age 25, and highest glucose and HOMA-IR at age 24 years. The number of annual reports of menstrual cycles ≥42 days was positively related to change in BMI and waist and inversely with change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol from ages 14 to 25 years. Conclusion(s) Three or more annual reports of menstrual cycles ≥42 days during ages 14–19 are associated with high BMI, waist circumference, insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR at ages 14–25 years.