Relationship of the menstrual cycle pattern in 14-17 year old adolescents with gynaecological age, body mass index and historical parameters

Author: van Hooff MHA  

Publisher: Oxford University Press

ISSN: 1460-2350

Source: Human Reproduction, Vol.13, Iss.8, 1998-08, pp. : 2252-2260

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Abstract

In a cross-sectional population-based study the association between the menstrual pattern in ninth grade schoolgirls and calendar age, gynaecological age, body mass index (BMI) and historical parameters was investigated. The survey was held in a combined urban and rural region, south of Amsterdam. A total of 2480 adolescents, mean age 15.3 ± 0.6 (SD) years, answered a questionnaire: response 92%. The menstrual cycle patterns were categorized to regular menstrual cycles (RMC), irregular menstrual cycle (IMC), oligomenorrhoea, polymenorrhoea, pre-menarche, <6 months="" after="" menarche,="" and="" oral="" contraceptive="" use.="" gynaecological="" age="" was="" strongly="" associated="" with="" the="" prevalence="" of="" imc="" but="" only="" weakly="" with="" the="" prevalence="" of="" oligomenorrhoea.="" in="" a="" logistic="" regression="" analysis="" gynaecological="" age,="" subjective="" acne="" and="" intellectual="" performance="" were="" independently="" associated="" with="" oligomenorrhoea.="" gynaecological="" age,="" low="" bmi,="" chronic="" non-specific="" lung="" disease="" (cnsld)="" or="" allergic="" disease,="" stress="" and="" strain,="" weight="" loss="" of="">5 kg were independently associated with IMC. More than 8 h sports per week was associated with not having experience menarche in the ninth grade but not with menstrual cycle disturbances. The association between CNSLD or allergic disease and IMC has not previously been described. The associations between weight loss, low body weight, stress, physical exercise or signs of hyperandrogenism and menstrual cycle patterns in adolescents are weak when studied on a population basis. The value of these parameters to explain abnormal menstrual cycle patterns is limited. Keywords:adolescence/chronic non-specific lung disease/cross-sectional/menstrual cycle/oligomenorrhoea