[Prevalence of menstrual and eating disorders among infertile women]

Abstract

Menstrual disorders are among the most frequent somatic complications and symptoms of eating disorders. Since 1972 amenorrhea has been registered among the diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa (AN). Although such a criterion is not essential for establishing a case of bulimia nervosa (BN), international research has, on several occasions, described menstruational disorders (in 95% of the cases) and amenorrhea (in 20% of the cases). This study was designed to assess the prevalence of eating disorders connected to menstruational disturbances having no organic causes. Our method was the following: the test was carried out via questionnaires (ANIS, BCDS, BITE, EDI, BDI) completed by patients of endocrine surgery of two gynecological out-patient wards. We have found the following (n = 75) prevalence figures: AN: 4%, BN: 12% while the total prevalence of clinical and subclinical eating disorder syndromes was at 44%. Our findings, are in line with other international findings.