INTRODUCTIONMenstrual irregularities affect 2-5% of childbearing women, a number that is considerably higher among females under constant stress during a cycle [1]. A woman's menstrual cycle typically follows a 28-day cycle and ends with the shedding of uterine lining leading to bleeding. The normal menstrual cycle indicates the proper functioning of hormones, having a normal menstrual cycle signifies a healthy hypothalamo-pitutary axis with a normal uterus. However, a number of conditions such sudden weight loss, over-exercising, medical conditions and even stress can interfere with a woman's ability to experience a normal menstrual cycle. Both longer duration of menstrual bleeding and cycle irregularity are associated with major depression.Although there appears to be a relationship between the type and severity of the stress and the proportion of women who develop menstrual problems, in practice it is difficult if not impossible to identify a threshold at which stress will interfere with the normal cycle. The individual response to abnormality in body function is heightened due to psychobiological characteristics [2][3]. This study was planned to establish a correlation between the levels of perceived stress and its effect on the menstrual cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted in the undergraduate girl's hostel of a medical college. Hundred female students aged above 18 years were the target population of the study. The students with current medical, psychiatric or gynaecological problems like pregnancy and amenorrhea were excluded from the study.The participants were given liberal verbal explanations plus description letters about the topic and the aim of the study with attached consent forms. After the students had duly signed the consent form, a questionnaire along with the PSS (available freely online) [4] and PBAC (prior permission taken) [5] was provided to them.The questionnaire dealt with anthropometric data, lifestyle, menstrual history, and menstrual health status. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using self-reported data on height and weight. The students were then asked to record their menstrual pattern on the PBAC for the next menstrual cycle and fill the PSS for the month. Based on the answers, PSS was calculated for each participant.The PSS is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress [4]. It is a measure of the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. Items were designed to tap how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded respondents find their lives. The scale also includes a number of direct queries about current levels of experienced stress. The questions in the PSS ask about feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, respondents are asked how often they felt a certain way. 5, 7, & 8) and then summing across all scale items. The subjects who scored ≤20 on the PSS were categorized to have low stress levels, while subjects with score >20 were categorized to have hig...