Risk factors for menstrual cycle disorders in women of optimal reproductive age

Abstract

Menstrual function is one of the key indicators of women’s quality of life. Menstrual cycle disorders are caused by various forms of ovarian dysfunction, which may develop in response to factors such as stress, sleep–wake cycle disruption, sleep deprivation, disordered eating, and others. Identifying and assessing the main triggers of menstrual irregularities is essential for early determination of the underlying etiology and the initiation of effective treatment. Objective. To investigate risk factors for menstrual cycle disorders in women of optimal reproductive age. Patients and methods. A total of 91 patients were examined. The study group included 56 patients with menstrual cycle disorders of various etiologies who met the inclusion criteria. The comparison group consisted of 35 patients with regular periods and no clinical or laboratory signs of hormonal disturbances. The mean age of patients was 20.4 ± 1.7 years in the study group and 20.5 ± 1.8 years in the comparison group. Results. Among the significant anamnestic risk factors for menstrual cycle disorders, the impact of stress was statistically confirmed (OR = 11.394; 95% CI: 4.154–31.249; p = 0.000000), as well as sleep deprivation (OR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.670–10.068). Among patients with underweight (BMI <18), menstrual irregularities occurred twice as often as in the control group (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.123–8.017; p = 0.00148). The prevalence of anemia and vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher (by 4.8 and 3.5 times, respectively) in the study group compared with the control group (OR = 6.182; 95% CI: 2.305–16.582; p = 0.000037 and OR = 1.661; 95% CI: 0.694–3.979; p = 0.000520). The prevalence of gynecological conditions such as dysmenorrhea (OR = 8.000; 95% CI: 3.071–20.841; p = 0.000002) and excessive menstruation (OR = 2.788; 95% CI: 1.042–7.462; p = 0.036707) was also significantly higher among women with irregular periods – by 4 and 3.2 times, respectively. Conclusion. Risk factors for menstrual cycle disorders in women of optimal reproductive age include stress exposure (OR = 11.394; 95% CI: 4.154–31.249; p = 0.000000), sleep deprivation (OR = 4.100; 95% CI: 1.670–10.068), BMI <18 (OR = 3.000; 95% CI: 1.123–8.017; p = 0.00148), anemia (OR = 6.182; 95% CI: 2.305–16.582; p = 0.000037), vitamin D deficiency (OR = 1.661; 95% CI: 0.694–3.979; p = 0.000520), dysmenorrhea (OR = 8.000; 95% CI: 3.071–20.841; p = 0.000002), and excessive menstruation (OR = 2.788; 95% CI: 1.042–7.462; p = 0.036707). Key words: amenorrhea, anemia, vitamin D, gynecological diseases, menstrual cycle disorders, ovulatory dysfunction, oligomenorrhea, stress