Case-control study, 2018
Does a rare neurological disease affect menstrual patterns?
Women with NMOSD do not have different menstrual patterns than healthy women before the disease develops. After NMOSD starts, menstrual irregularities increase significantly.
What they did
Cross-sectional study in Iran comparing 32 women with NMOSD and 33 healthy controls. Researchers collected information on age at first period, menstrual patterns, PMS history, and whether periods changed after NMOSD diagnosis.
What they found
Before NMOSD onset, both groups were similar for menstrual patterns and age at first period (NMOSD: 13.31 years, controls: 13.48 years). Healthy controls reported PMS more often (78.8% vs 40.6%). After NMOSD started, menstrual irregularities increased from 15.6% to 43.7%.
What it means for you
NMOSD appears to disrupt menstrual regularity but not other aspects of periods. The disease itself, not hormonal differences before illness, triggers irregular cycles. This is one small study from one country, so results may not apply everywhere.
32
NMOSD patients
43.7%
with irregular cycles after disease onset
78.8%
healthy controls with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and menstruation
- Authors
- Badihian S, Manouchehri N, Mirmosayyeb O et al.
- Journal
- Revue neurologique
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2018.01.373
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2026
Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?
Cohort study, 2025
How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?
Systematic review, 2025
Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?
Lab study, 2026
Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?
Study, 2026
What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2026
Is worry about climate change linked to worse PMS symptoms?