Dysmenorrhoea and menstrual abnormalities among postmenarcheal secondary school girls in Maiduguri Nigeria

Abstract

Four Hundred and fifteen post menarcheal secondary school girls selected randomly from six secondary schools in Maiduguri metropolis were interviewed with the aid of questionnaires to find out their ages at menarche and associated menstrual problems, regularity of menstrual cycle, menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea within the first two years following menarche. Their ages ranged between 12 and 21 years. Twenty six students were three months post menarche, 187 were 4-12 months post menarche.'The mean menarcheal age was 13.6 years. Menorrhagia was a very rare form of menstrual abnormality. Early menarche especially between the ages of 12 to 14 years was found to be associated with higher frequency of irregular menstrual cycles while this improves with late onset menarche. About 45% had one form of menstrual abnormality, amenorrhoea (4.6%), oligomenorrhoea (18%) and polymenorrhoea (21%). These were almost uniformly associated with all groups. Over 80% had attained menarche by age of 14 years. Dysmenorrhoea was just slightly commoner by the ages of 15 and 16 years when it occurs more frequently.