Reproduction in women reporting chronic musculoskeletal disorders

The present population based study assessed aspects of female health as a part of a national cardiovascular screening program in 40-42 year old women in the Sor-Trondelag county. Fertility, events related to the menstrual cycle, reproduction, and the use of contraceptive methods in women reporting musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) were compared to women without these disorders (references). A higher proportion of women with MSD reported subfertility. No significant difference in mean age of menarche or menstrual cycling pattern was found, however women reporting MSD had significantly more often metrorrhagia than references. Mother's age at birth of the first and last child differed from references only in two of the patient groups, and interval between pregnancies was longer in women with MSD. Women with MSD more often chose sterilisation as a contraceptive method.

Reproduction was altered in women with MSD. It remains to elucidate the interrelationship between rheumatic disorders and gynecological dysfunction.