Study of Menstrual Abnormalities and its Association with Demographic Factors among Female Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction: The regularity of menstrual cycle depends on many factors like genetic makeup, hormonal balance, weight and height, chronic medical illness and psychological problems. Life of medical students is very stressful, their food habits and sedentary lifestyle make them more prone for many menstrual abnormalities. Aim: This study was conducted to find out the menstrual abnormalities and its association with different biological variables like BMI, food habits and physical activity. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at U.P.U.M.S. Saifai, Etawah between July-August 2019 on 150 Female medical students. All the willing female medical students were asked to fill preformed self-structured questionnaire (weight, height, menstrual pattern and abnormalities, food habits, addiction, physical activity, relevant medical and surgical history) and association was sought between menstrual abnormalities and different demographic factors by using Pearson chi-square test. Results: The mean age of students were 21.9 years. Mean age at menarche was 13.4 years. A total of 2.7% students ate junk food daily; 18% (27) girls had irregular cycles out of which only five girls had taken treatment for this. Amount of blood loss during menstruation was found to be increased in 5.8% girls that consumed junk food (p=0.13). There was no significant correlation found between pattern of menstrual cycle and BMI, physical activity, addiction. Dysmenorrhea and PMS was less in the girls that were on restricted diet for weight reduction (46.1% and 61.5%, respectively) but this difference was not statistically significant. There was significant association between dysmenorrhea and regular consumption of junk food. Dysmenorrhea and PMS was also less in the girls that exercised regularly (45.2% and 69% respectively) (p=0.4). PMS was significantly associated with addiction to tea or coffee (p=0.04). Conclusion: In this study dysmenorrhea and PMS was the most common menstrual abnormalities. Medication was being taken mostly for dysmenorrhea. Most of the parameters did not show a significant association so a larger study or multicentric study is required.