Menstrual pattern among adolescent girls of Pokhara Valley: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMenstruation is a normal physiological process occurring every month throughout the reproductive age of the females. However, significant variation in menstrual pattern is observed among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine menstrual pattern among adolescent girls of Pokhara Valley.MethodA cross sectional study was conducted in seven schools of Pokhara Valley. A total of 260 adolescent girls were included in the study. Girls were requested to complete questionnaire containing 19 items. Selected girls voluntarily agreed to answer questionnaire under the supervision of the researcher and then the data was analyzed.ResultsMean age of the girls was 14.0 ± 1.3 years. Mean age at menarche was 12.2 ± 0.9 years. The mean cycle length of the subjects was 34.8 ± 11.8 days. It was observed that as many as 167(64.2%) girls had irregular menstrual cycle and significant association was found between regularity of menstruation and ethnicity. Seven (2.7%) girls had a menstrual cycle length shorter than 21 days, 60(23.1%) had cycle longer than 35 days and 193(74.2%) had a normal cycle length between 21 and 35 days. Majority 231(88.8%) had normal duration of menstruation. Dysmenorrhoea was reported by more than half of the girls and significant association was found between severity of dysmenorrhoea with school absenteeism and treatment needed.ConclusionDysmenorrhoea was the most common menstrual problem among adolescent girls. Girls’ school attendance was affected due to menstrual pain. Girls with severe dysmenorrhea needed medical treatment. Irregular menstruation was reported by more than half of the girls and significant association was found with the ethnicity.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12905-016-0354-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Menstruation‐related headache in adolescents: Point prevalence and associated factors

“…In the present study, the mean age at menarche was 12.96 ± 1.09 years old, similar to that in the literature . Onset of menstruation before the age of 12 years, however, was found to increase the risk of menstruation‐related headache.…”

“…16 And Arjona et al 17 noted that 10% of women treated at a tertiary center between 1998 and 2003, reported that their headache was related to menstruation. In 2006, Sharma et al 18 found that the severity of headache increases during menstruation in 9% of women with cluster headache.…”

“…In the present study, the mean age at menarche was 12.96 AE 1.09 years old, similar to that in the literature. 18 Onset of menstruation before the age of 12 years, however, was found to increase the risk of menstruation-related headache. In a retrospective study, 50.4% (331/656) of post-menarche girls 9-18 years of age reported having worse headache with their menses.…”

Waist Circumference as a Predictor for Menstrual Cycle Disturbance Among College Student

“…al., 2014). Lifestyle management by regulating considerable physical activity, reducing fast-food consumption, healthy eating habits, keeping the ideal BMI are few ways to improve reproductive health, particularly in maintaining regular menstrual cycle (Jena, Panda, Mishra, and Narahari, 2017).…”

Age at Menarche among the School Going Children of Jorpati, Kathmandu

“…It may vary with races, size of the family and environmental factors. 2,10,11 Reports have shown that, age at menarche varies with passage of time, occurring earlier than it did (earlier in new generation than old generation). 2,9,10,12 Menarche tends to occur earlier in higher social class and in urban surroundings due to food habits (junk food) and use of internet causing early maturity.…”