Is body mass index associated with irregular menstruation: a questionnaire study?

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Reproductive Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Irregular menstrual cycles and heavy menstrual bleeding are associated with gynecological diseases.
• Obesity is linked to irregular menstrual cycles, but research often excludes adult women, particularly those with a history of childbirth.
• The association between body mass index (BMI) and menstrual characteristics in adult women requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and menstrual cycle characteristics in adult women.
• To determine if BMI influences menstrual cycle length, menses duration, and menstrual blood loss in adult women.
• To provide insights into the relationship between weight management and women's reproductive health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized questionnaire data from 1012 women aged 17-53 years.
• Collected data on age, weight, height, gravida, menstrual cycle length, menses duration, and menstrual blood loss (pad usage).
• Analyzed factors associated with menstrual cycles across different body mass index (BMI) categories.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in menstrual cycle length or menses duration across various BMI groups.
• A significant association was found between BMI and menstrual blood loss.
• Obese women had a 2.28 times higher odds of heavy menstrual bleeding compared to normal-weight women, while underweight women had lower odds (0.4034).

Conclusions:

• Body mass index (BMI) is positively associated with menstrual blood loss, but not cycle or menses length.
• BMI significantly influences menstrual blood loss in women of reproductive age.
• Weight management is a critical factor for maintaining women's reproductive health.