Menstrual bleeding patterns: A community-based cross-sectional study among women aged 18-45 years in Southern Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundPopulation variation in the duration and amount of menstrual bleeding has received little attention in the literature. This study describes these characteristics and investigates the distribution of self-perceived amount of menstrual bleeding according to socio-demographic, behavioral, and reproductive characteristics.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 18-45 years old women users of the 31 primary health care (PHC) facilities in Pelotas city (Brazil). Interviews with structured questionnaire were carried out in the waiting rooms during two work shifts. Heaviness of menstrual bleeding was determined through the answer to the question: "Usually how much blood do you lose in every period?" Crude and adjusted analyses through Poisson regression took into account the aggregation per PHC facility.ResultsA total of 865 women were enrolled. Prevalence of heavy menstrual flow was 35.3% (95% CI 32.1-38.6%). In adjusted analyses, heavy menstrual bleeding was higher among the older, less educated and obese women, with higher number of pregnancies and who reported longer menstrual periods, extra-menstrual bleeding and clots in the flow. Use of hormonal contraceptive methods was protective against heavy menses.ConclusionHeavy menstrual bleeding is highly prevalent at the community level, and is associated with socio-demographic and anthropometric women's characteristics, as well as with duration of menstruation, extra-bleeding and presence of clots.

Distúrbios menstruais entre mulheres de 15-54 anos de idade em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: estudo de base populacional

“…Poucos estudos avaliam a ocorrência de um distúrbio menstrual isolado. Quando isso ocorre, a maioria descreve a ocorrência de sangramento menstrual excessivo 21,23,24,25,26 , possivelmente, por esse ser o distúrbio mais frequente ou por sua presença ser mais incômoda para a mulher do que os demais distúrbios. Até onde sabem os autores, este é o primeiro estudo de base populacional realizado no país com o objetivo de investigar a prevalência de diferentes distúrbios menstruais entre mulheres de 15-54 anos de idade.…”

“…No atual estudo, a menor escolaridade (0-4 anos), maior paridade (≥ 4 partos), IMC ≥ 30,0 e a ligadura tubária estiveram associadas com aumento na prevalência de sangramento menstrual excessivo. Corroborando esses achados, uma pesquisa realizada entre mulheres atendidas em postos de saúde na cidade de Pelotas 21 , demonstrou que mulheres com menor nível de escolaridade (0-4 anos), maior paridade (≥ 4 partos) e com ligadura tubária apresentaram maiores frequências de sangramento menstrual excessivo, sendo a prevalência entre essas de 40,2%, 51,5% e 68,5%, respectivamente.…”

“…Tais achados poderão auxiliar no planejamento de ações e serviços de saúde, especialmente os de atenção básica, que são a porta de entrada do maior contingente de mulheres que referiram a presença de distúrbios menstruais (menos escolarizadas, com maior paridade e fumantes) 21 (43,4). El sangrado menstrual excesivo fue el más prevalente (23,2%; 20,5-25,8), seguido por ciclo menstrual corto (19,2%; 16,6-21,8), durante los ciclos menstruales (14,8%; 12,7-16,9), hemorragia (11,1%; 9,1-13,2) y prolongada menstruación (7,9%; 6,3-9,4 …”

Association Between Menstrual Disorders and Obesity-Related Anthropometric Indices in Female High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Studies have shown that various factors such as economic and social status, body mass index, age, education, and age of menarche affect menstruation (12,14). Adams et al found in their findings that women at lower ages are more likely to suffer from menstrual problems (15).…”

“…Increasing or decreasing the interval between menstruation (polymenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea) is often one of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and requires medical attention. The reduction or increase in the interval between menstruation and severe bleeding is most common in the first 3 years after menarche and is 1 of the reasons for school absensability in young girls (11,12). Menstrual disorders include a wide range of problems such as menstrual irregularities, hyper and hypomenorrhea, polymenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, and menorrhagia (13).…”