Prevalence of Menstrual Dysfunction and its Comparative Correlation with Anaemia

Abstract

To find out prevalence and pattern of menstrual abnormalities and its contribution to anaemia in teen age students and compare it with other causes of anaemia in them.
Methods: In this observational cross sectional study,317 students were included after taking their consent. All girls included in the study; were students ranging from school to medical college, and aged 10-19 years . Details of menarche and menstrual cycle, history of passage of worms in stools, thyroid disease, liver disorder and bleeding clotting disorders were noted .
Results: Out of 317 cases 159(50.6%) were anemic. Sixty percent of adolescents belonged to relatively better socio-economic group, 90% were unmarried, 87.4% non-vegetarian, body mass index (BMI) >25 was present in 53/317 cases, <19 in 29/317. All these variables had no significant relationship with anemia statistically (p-value >0.05).Mean age of menarche was 12.95 years in anaemic adolescents and 12.83 in those without anaemia.Out of 317 menstrual cycle was normal in 60.9%, scanty menstruation in 0.3%, irregular normal flow 6.6%, while 15.8 % had irregular heavy menses, 3.5%: heavy regular menses. Heavy menstrual bleeding both regular & irregular was highly associated with anaemia (p-value <0.001).Dysmenorrhea was present in 57.9% anaemic teens (p-value <0.001).Worm infestation was present in 10.1% cases (p-value <0.001) indicating highly significant association with anaemia. p-value for bleeding/clotting disorders was 0.014 showing significant link with anemia.
Conclusion:Menstrual dysfunction is the main contributor to anaemia in female adolescents other factors being worm infestation and bleeding/clotting disorders. It needs urgent attention of parents and healthcare providers to correct anaemia according to cause and improve their quality of life and ensure healthy mothers in future.