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Updated: Dec 3, 2025
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Published on: August 30, 2021
Menstrual Cycle Patterns and Irregularities in Hired Latinx Child Farmworkers
Rebecca R Varnell1, Taylor J Arnold, Sara A Quandt
1University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 321 S Columbia St, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Ms Varnell), Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Mr Arnold, Dr Miles, Dr Daniel, Dr Sandberg, Dr Arcury), Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Dr Quandt), Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Ms Talton, Dr Chen), Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (Dr Anderson).
Purpose:
This study identifies the menstrual cycle irregularities of Latinx child and adolescent farmworkers.
Methods:
Child and adolescent farmworkers aged 13 to 20 years completed questionnaires about menstrual cycle patterns in 2019, and wore silicone passive collection wristbands for pesticide detection in 2018. Menstrual cycle irregularities were determined from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists committee opinion.
Results:
Half of participants experienced any menstrual cycle irregularity; the most frequent irregularities were cycle length (38.6%) and having gone 90 days or more without a menstrual period (20.4%). Pesticides were detected in 92.9% of the wristbands; most participants were exposed to an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) pesticide.
Conclusion:
Half of Latinx children and adolescents hired farmworkers experience irregular menstrual cycles, and most are exposed to EDCs. Inclusion of occupational and menstrual histories in child and adolescent medical visits is critical.
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