Exploring the Association Between Sleep Quality and Menstrual Abnormalities in Adolescents

Abstract

Study objective: This study aims to assess the association between sleep quality and menstrual cycle abnormalities in adolescent females in the United States (U.S.). In doing so, we address the gap in adolescent menstrual health by providing baseline data that can inform future sleep and menstrual health interventions.

Methods: An Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved, anonymous survey was distributed to new patients at an academic pediatric gynecology clinic. Exclusion criteria included age over 21, hormonal contraceptive use, prior chemotherapy, or reproductive disorders. Electronic consent was obtained. The survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), menstrual cycle data, comorbidities, and demographic data. Continuous variables were analyzed using linear regression and categorical variables using chi-square (with p < .05 considered significant). Odds ratios (OR) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Among the 100 analyzed responses, 84.0% identified as Hispanic, with over one-third (37.0%) being born outside of the U.S. Sixty-three had poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5), and 64 had abnormal menses. Higher PSQI scores were significantly associated with abnormal menses (OR = 1.15, CI = 1.01, 1.32, p = .04). Poor sleep correlated with prior anxiety (χ² = 6.84, p = .01) and depression diagnoses (χ² = 3.89, p = .05).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a significant relationship between poor sleep quality and menstrual abnormalities, emphasizing the need to evaluate sleep when managing adolescent menstrual health. Future research is needed to gain deeper insights into the mechanistic link between the two and the broader implications of this association.

Keywords: Sleep quality; adolescent; adolescent health; female; menstruation disturbances; puberty; reproductive health; sleep.