ADOLESCENT AGE GROUP

NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND MENSTRUAL DISORDERS

Abstract

Introduction: Puberty in girls is the phase of transition from child
to mature woman. Menarche is the first menstrual period at puberty. The individual then becomes functionally capable
of reproduction. Normally, it is a coherent process involving estrogen production, increased somatic growth and
development of secondary sexual characteristics. Objective: To investigate the normal menstrual cycles and menstrual
disorders in adolescent age group. Study design: Population based survey. Setting: Study was conducted in the
various schools of Multan city. Material and Methods: 500 school going girls. Results: The pattern of menstrual
bleeding among Pakistani girls. Majority of the (i.e. 170 (34%) girls had normal pattern of bleeding. The day of heaviest
flow was day 2 i.e. 292(49%) followed by day 1 i.e. 192(38.4%) of the cases. Menorrhagia as revealed by passage of
clots was present in 65(13%) of the cases. Majority of girls had their cycle duration between 28-30 days. More than
85% of girls used home made pads during periods. Majority 156(48.4%) of girls had dysmenorrhoea for 1st and 2nd day
of the cycle. Dysmenorrhoea was found to be present in 322(64.4%) of the girls. About half of subjects developed
dysmenorrhoea with the onset of menarche and about quarter started having dysmenorrhoea 3 months after menarche.
Minority of the girls received education or information regarding periods prior to menarche. The majority was educated
either with or after the menarche. Majority of subjects belonged to middle socio-economic status. Majority of girls had
regular periods since menarche. Majority of the remaining had irregular periods for sometimes due to anovulatory
cycles which were spontaneously normalized. Those girls who had irregular periods, in majority of cases the irregularity
was corrected spontaneously after 3 months probably favouring earlier anovulatory cycles. Premenstrual symptoms
were complained by 258(51.6%) of the girls. Majority 248(49.6%) of girls took menstruation as normal change of life.
In majority 248(62.5%) of cases the mother and elder sister provided the information. Out of 500 girls, 397(79.4%) girls
were either informed or educated about periods.