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. 2022 Jan 5:40:e2020494.
doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2022/40/2020494. eCollection 2022.

Menstrual cycle among adolescents: girls' awareness and influence of age at menarche and overweight

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Patrícia Marques  1 , Tiago Madeira  1 , Augusta Gama  1
Affiliations

Menstrual cycle among adolescents: girls' awareness and influence of age at menarche and overweight

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Patrícia Marques et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To characterize the menstrual cycle (regularity and menstrual flow length), the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and self-monitoring of the cycle in students from Lisbon region, and explore the effect of chronological age, age at menarche and body mass index (BMI) on menstrual disorders.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 848 girls aged 12-18 years. A questionnaire about the sociodemographic context and characteristics of the menstrual cycle, and weight and height measures were assessed. BMI was classified according to International Obesity Taskforce criteria. A descriptive analysis of the variables was made, and Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were determined.

Results: Mean age at menarche was 12.4 years and mean BMI was 22.0kg/m2. Among adolescents, 59% have regular menstrual cycle, 83% have menstrual flow length of ≤6 days. 88% suffered from dysmenorrhea, among which 8,7% declare absenteeism from school and 49% took pain medication, and 65% self-monitor their menstrual cycle. Higher maternal education was associated with a higher self-monitoring of menstrual cycle among the sample (OR 1.60; 95%CI 1.15-2.17). Girls with menarche <12 years-of-age are more likely to have menstrual flow length of >6 days (OR 1.73; 95%CI 1.19-2.51) and dysmenorrhea (OR 1.87; 95%CI 1.11-3.16) than those with menarche ≥12 years-of-age. No significant association between BMI and menstrual cycle variables was observed.

Conclusions: The results suggest that menstrual disorders are frequent and may be associated with early menarche, but not with BMI. It is important to encourage self-monitoring of the menstrual cycle to detect menstrual disorders timely and promote health and well-being.

Objetivo:: Caracterizar o ciclo menstrual (regularidade e duração da menstruação), prevalência de dismenorreia e automonitoramento do ciclo em estudantes da região de Lisboa, e explorar o efeito da idade cronológica, idade de menarca e índice de massa corpórea (IMC) nos distúrbios menstruais.

Métodos:: Este é um estudo transversal com 848 meninas entre 12 e 18 anos. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre contexto sociodemográfico e características menstruais e feita a medição do peso e altura. O IMC foi classificado pelos critérios da International Obesity Taskforce. Fez-se uma análise descritiva das variáveis e determinaram-se Odds Ratio (p<0,005; IC95%).

Resultados:: A média da idade de menarca foi 12.4 anos e do IMC foi de 22.0kg/m2. Entre as jovens, 59% afirmaram ter ciclo menstrual regular, 83% menstruação com duração ≤6 dias, 88% sofrem de dismenorreia, entre as quais 8,7% faltaram à escola e 49% consumiram analgésicos, e 65% automonitoram o ciclo menstrual. Uma educação materna elevada está associada a maior monitorização do ciclo menstrual entre as jovens (OR 1,60; IC95% 1,15–2,17). Meninas com idade de menarca <12 anos têm maior chance de ter menstruação com duração >6 dias (OR 1,73; IC95% 1,19–2,51) e dismenorreia (OR 1,87; IC95% 1,11–3,16) do que aquelas com menarca ≥12 anos. Não se observou associação entre o IMC e as características menstruais.

Conclusões:: Os resultados sugerem que os distúrbios menstruais são frequentes nas adolescentes e podem estar associados com a menarca precoce, mas não com o IMC. É importante incentivar a automonitoramento do ciclo menstrual para detectar adequadamente as perturbações menstruais e promover a saúde e bem-estar.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests

The authors declare there is no conflict of interests.

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