Menstrual characteristics of secondary school girls in Ibadan, Nigeria

Disturbances of menstrual function are the commonest complaints among adolescents. Disorders of menstruation may have implications for future reproductive health.

To assess menstrual patterns among school girls in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria.

This was cross-sectional descriptive study in which 1,213 apparently healthy school girls were selected by multistage sampling technique in fifteen secondary schools from the five local governments within the metropolis. Information about details of menstrual experience was obtained with a self-administered questionnaire.

The girls were aged between 9 and 23 years. Majority of respondents 768 (633%) experienced normal cycle length, 391 (32.2%) had short cycles; and 55 (4.5%) had cycle length greater than 35 days. Prevalence of normal cycles increased with increasing age; abnormalities of cycle length tended to decrease with increasing age (p < 0.01). The majority, 1,152 (95%), had normal menstrual loss. The majority 882 (72.7%) experienced dysmenorrhoea; severe dysmenorrhoea was reported by 154 (12.7%). Cycle length was not associated with presence of dysmenorrhoea (p > 0.05); 695 (57.3%) had symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

Prevalence of menstrual abnormalities among adolescent schoolgirls is high. More attention should be paid to identify and treat these menstrual morbidities.