Iranian Society of Gynecology Oncology

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Childhood Obesity Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Biostatistics. School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine Lorestan University of Medical Sciences Khoramabad, Iran

Abstract

Background & Objective: Menarche is an important stage in the development of girls which can predict the adolescent’s puberty process and fertility onset. The changes in menstrual cycle have health consequences not only in adolescence but also over the life-course. Childhood obesity as a common health problem has been observed in both developed and developing countries, and its prevalence is continuing to increase. The aim of this study was to identify menstrual patterns and related disorders and also to investigate the relationship between menarche age, menstrual disorders, and (BMI) in high school girls in Urmia.
Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 716 adolescent girls aged 14-18 years were selected with multistage sampling from high schools of Urmia (Sept 2012 to Dec 2013). Participants completed the questionnaire of menstrual pattern characteristics including age at menarche, menstrual cycle length, dysmenorrhea, and the need for pain relief. BMI percentile was calculated and obesity was determined using the CDC’s 2000 BMI-for-age growth charts.
Results: The results showed that the average of age, BMI, and menarche age were: 15.66±1.019 year, 22.05±3.91 kg/m2 and 12.87±0.98 year, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.7% and 8.4%, respectively. A large majority of the subjects (76.1%) had a normal, healthy weight. There was a significant association between BMI and the duration of flow, menarche age, menstruation flow, and pain severity (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, planning and intervention for decreasing the BMI in high school girls can help reduce menstrual disorders. Future studies are required to confirm and complete our results.

Highlights

 Based on the results, planning and intervention for decreasing the BMI in high school girls can help reduce menstrual disorders. Future studies are required to confirm and complete our results.

Keywords

Main Subjects

1. Sharma S, Deuja S, Saha CG. Menstrual pattern among adolescent girls of Pokhara Valley: a cross sectional study. BMC women's health. 2016;16(1):1-6. [DOI:10.1186/s12905-016-0354-y] [PMID] [PMCID]
2. Rashidi Fakari F, Simbar M, Saei Ghare Naz M, Rashidi Fakari F. Factors related to empowering iranian women's fertility behaviors: a systematic review. J Obstet Gynecol Cancer Res. 2022;3(3):115-22. [DOI:10.30699/jogcr.3.3.115]
3. Radivojevic UD, Lazovic GB, Kravic-Stevovic TK, Puzigaca ZD, Canovic FM, Nikolic RR, et al. Differences in Anthropometric and Ultrasonographic Parameters between Adolescent Girls with Regular and Irregular Menstrual Cycles: A Case-Study of 835 Cases. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2014;27(4):227-31. [DOI:10.1016/j.jpag.2013.11.007] [PMID]
4. Seif MW, Diamond K, Nickkho-Amiry M. Obesity and menstrual disorders. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;29(4):516-27. [DOI:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.10.010] [PMID]
5. Akbarzadeh M, Tayebi N, Abootalebi M. The relationship between age at menarche and primary dysmenorrhea in female students of shiraz schools. Shiraz E Medical J. 2017;18(9). [DOI:10.5812/semj.14520]
6. Zegeye DT, Megabiaw B, Mulu A. Age at menarche and the menstrual pattern of secondary school adolescents in northwest Ethiopia. BMC Women's Health. 2009;9(1):29. [DOI:10.1186/1472-6874-9-29] [PMID] [PMCID]
7. Karimian F, Akhavan S, Marzoughi A, Keramati MR, Ashouri M. Correlation between correction of Menstrual Irregularity and Diminution of Cyclic Mastalgia. J Obstet Gynecol Cancer Res. 2022;4(4):135-40. [DOI:10.30699/jogcr.4.4.135]
8. Rigon F, De Sanctis V, Bernasconi S, Bianchin L, Bona G, Bozzola M, et al. Menstrual pattern and menstrual disorders among adolescents: an update of the Italian data. Ital J Pediatr. 2012;38(1):38. [DOI:10.1186/1824-7288-38-38] [PMID] [PMCID]
9. Nwankwo TO, Aniebue UU, Aniebue PN. Menstrual Disorders in Adolescent School Girls in Enugu, Nigeria. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2010;23(6):358-63. [DOI:10.1016/j.jpag.2010.04.001] [PMID]
10. Rahmani A, Sayehmiri K, Asadollahi K, Sarokhani D, Islami F, Sarokhani M. Investigation of the prevalence of obesity in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis study. Acta Med Iran. 2015;53(10):596-607.
11. Agarwal A, Venkat A. Questionnaire Study on Menstrual Disorders in Adolescent Girls in Singapore. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2009;22(6):365-71. [DOI:10.1016/j.jpag.2009.02.005] [PMID]
12. Chan SS, Yiu KW, Yuen PM, Sahota DS, Chung TK. Menstrual problems and health-seeking behaviour in Hong Kong Chinese girls. Hong Kong Med J. 2009;15(1):18-23.
13. Houston AM, Abraham A, Huang Z, D'Angelo LJ. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Consequences of Menstrual Health in Urban Adolescent Females. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2006;19(4):271-5. [DOI:10.1016/j.jpag.2006.05.002] [PMID]
14. McPherson ME, Korfine L. Menstruation across time: Menarche, menstrual attitudes, experiences, and behaviors. Women's Health Issues. 2004;14(6):193-200. [DOI:10.1016/j.whi.2004.08.006] [PMID]
15. Mottaghi A, Mirmiran P, Pourvali K, Tahmasbpour Z, Azizi F. Incidence and Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in Tehran, Iran in 2011. Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(10):1395-403.
16. Cheung PC, Cunningham SA, Narayan KMV, Kramer MR. Childhood obesity incidence in the United States: a systematic review. Child Obes. 2016;12(1):1-11. [DOI:10.1089/chi.2015.0055] [PMID] [PMCID]
17. Azadbakht L, Hajishafiee M, Golshahi J, Esmaillzadeh A. Snacking Behavior and Obesity among Female Adolescents in Isfahan, Iran. J Am Coll Nutr. 2016;35(5):405-12. [DOI:10.1080/07315724.2015.1030474] [PMID]
18. Hosseini M, Kelishadi R, Yousefifard M, Qorbani M, Bazargani B, Heshmat R, et al. Height-adjusted percentiles evaluated central obesity in children and adolescents more effectively than just waist circumference. Acta Paediatr. 2017;106(1):112-9. [DOI:10.1111/apa.13622] [PMID]
19. Djalalinia S, Kelishadi R, Qorbani M, Peykari N, Kasaeian A, Nasli-Esfahani E, et al. A Systematic Review on the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity, in Iranian Children and Adolescents. Iran J Pediatr. 2016;26(3):e2599. [DOI:10.5812/ijp.2599] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Yassaee F, Shekarriz-Foumani R, Sadeghi S. Menstrual Adjustment Administering Hormonal Agents: A Survey of Iranian Pilgrim Women During Long-Term Travel. J Obstet Gynecol Cancer Res. 2022;2(4):1-5. [DOI:10.5812/jogcr.60985]
21. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of Obesity and Trends in Body Mass Index Among US Children and Adolescents, 1999-2010. JAMA. 2012;307(5):483-90. [DOI:10.1001/jama.2012.40] [PMID] [PMCID]
22. Zahedifard T, Firozi M. Assessment of the articles related to primary dysmenorrhea in dimension of menstrual pain assessment tools. J Obstet Gynecol Infertil. 2016;19(4):17-27.
23. Pakniat H, Jahanian S, Hemmati N, Ranjkesh F. The Association of Anthropometric Indices with Dysmenorrhea in High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Sch Health. 2019;6(1):1-6. [DOI:10.5812/intjsh.80870]
24. Rabiepoor S, Valizadeh R, Barjasteh S. Study of menstrual attitudes and knowledge among postmenarcheal students, in Urmia, North West of Iran. Int J Pediatr. 2017;5(5):4991-5001.
25. Berenjy S, Hanachi P. Relation of obesity and menarche age among adolescent students. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2008:173-7.
26. Tavallaee M, Joffres MR, Corber SJ, Bayanzadeh M, Rad MM. The prevalence of menstrual pain and associated risk factors among Iranian women. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2011;37(5):442-51. [DOI:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01362.x] [PMID]
27. Ramezani Tehrani F, Moslehi N, Asghari G, Gholami R, Mirmiran P, Azizi F. Intake of dairy products, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in childhood and age at menarche in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. PloS One. 2013;8(2):e57696. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0057696] [PMID] [PMCID]
28. Pejhan A, Moghaddam HY, Najjar L, Akaberi A. The relationship between menarche age and anthropometric indices of girls in Sabzevar, Iran. J Pak Med Assoc. 2013;63(1):81-4.
29. Delara M, Borzuei H, Montazeri A. Premenstrual disorders: prevalence and associated factors in a sample of Iranian adolescents. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2013;15(8):695-700. [DOI:10.5812/ircmj.2084] [PMID] [PMCID]
30. Ramezani Tehrani F, Mirmiran P, Gholami R, Moslehi N, Azizi F. Factors influencing menarcheal age: results from the cohort of tehran lipid and glucose study. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2014;12(3):e16130. [DOI:10.5812/ijem.16130]
31. Al-Sahab B, Ardern CI, Hamadeh MJ, Tamim H. Age at menarche in Canada: results from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children & Youth. BMC Public Health. 2010;10(1):736. [DOI:10.1186/1471-2458-10-736] [PMID] [PMCID]
32. Abdelmoty HI, Youssef MA, abdallah S, Abdel-Malak K, Hashish NM, Samir D, et al. Menstrual patterns and disorders among secondary school adolescents in Egypt. A cross-sectional survey. BMC Women's Health. 2015;15(1):70. [DOI:10.1186/s12905-015-0228-8] [PMID] [PMCID]
33. Bahrami N, Soleimani MA, Chan YH, Ghojazadeh M, Mirmiran P. Menarche age in Iran: A meta-analysis. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2014;19(5):444-50.
34. Mohsenzadeh-ledari F, Keramat A, Khosravi A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of mean age at menarche in Iranian girls. Caspian j Reproductive Med. 2015;1(2):27-33.
35. Ali Pashaee N. Study of The Frequency of Abnormal Menstrual Patterns and Relationship with BMI in High School Girls in Urmia in 2004-2005. Unpublished MD Thesis: Urmia University of Medical Sciences; 2004.
36. Firouzi M, Zahedifard T, Salari P, Mazlom SR. Comparing the pattern of primary dysmenorrhea before and after childbirth. J midwifery reproductive health. 2019;7(1):1521-8.
37. Asgari S, Alimoardi Z, Soleimani MA, Allen K-A, Bahrami N. The effect of psychoeducational intervention, based on a self-regulation model on menstrual distress in adolescents: a protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020;21(1):747. [DOI:10.1186/s13063-020-04629-z] [PMID] [PMCID]
38. Mohaddesi H, Khalkhali HR, Behrozi-lak T, Rasouli J, Edalat Nemoon R, Ghasemzadeh S. Correlation between marital satisfaction and mental health in infertile couples referred to kosar infertility clinic in urmia: a cross-sectional study. J Obstet Gynecol Cancer Res. 2022;7(4):341-7. [DOI:10.30699/jogcr.7.4.341]