Association Between Obesity and Menstrual Irregularities in Women of Reproductive Age
Saba Sharif, Maryam Mumtaz, Nadia Saman
DOI: http://doi.org/10.63139/aqamc.v2i1.0018
Keywords: body mass index, menstrual disorders, obesity, reproductive health
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Obesity has become a growing public health concern globally and in Pakistan, especially among women of reproductive age. It is increasingly linked to hormonal imbalances and menstrual dysfunction. Menstrual irregularities, such as amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, are common indicators of underlying metabolic or endocrine disturbances, often associated with obesity-related conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Objective: To assess the association between obesity and menstrual irregularities and to identify socio-demographic factors influencing menstrual patterns among women aged 18–49 years.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Department of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim yar khan, from June 2024 to December 2024. A total of 280 women were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Participants were categorized by BMI as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. Menstrual irregularity was defined as cycles <21 or >35 days or absence of menstruation for ≥3 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding variables.
Results: Of the 280 participants, 86 (30.7%) reported menstrual irregularities with 40.4% of obese women experiencing cycle disturbances compared to 11.9% of non-obese women (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, obesity remained independently associated with menstrual irregularities (aOR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.9–6.1, p<0.001). Other significant predictors included physical inactivity and parity ≥2.
Conclusion: Obesity is strongly associated with menstrual irregularities in women of reproductive age. These findings highlight the need for early screening and lifestyle interventions to mitigate reproductive health risks associated with excess weight.
Keywords: body mass index, menstrual disorders, obesity, reproductive health