---
title: Does height affect menstrual patterns in adolescent girls? | Niyora
description: Yes, girls with shorter height had more severe menstrual cramps. However, the age when periods started was similar across all heights, ranging from 12.2 to 12
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-short-stature-and-menstrual-pattern-in-a-large-cohort-2020/
---

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- Does height affect menstrual patterns in adolescent girls?

Case-control study, 2020

# Does height affect menstrual patterns in adolescent girls?

Yes, girls with shorter height had more severe menstrual cramps. However, the age when periods started was similar across all heights, ranging from 12.2 to 12.7 years.

 Moderate study design

841 adolescent girls in northeastern Iran who had experienced menarche (first period)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 841 adolescent girls in northeastern Iran who had started their periods. Researchers measured height, weight, age at first period, menstrual cycle length, menstrual flow, and severity of menstrual cramps.

## What they found

Menstrual cramp severity was significantly related to height. Shorter girls had worse cramps. There were clear differences in age, height, weight, and body mass index between girls who had started periods and those who hadn't. Age at first period ranged from 12.2 to 12.7 years across different height groups.

## What it means for you

Shorter adolescent girls tend to have more severe menstrual cramps. The study was large and included many girls, which is a strength. However, it was done in one region of one country. The researchers noted that environmental factors like nutrition and socioeconomic status should also be studied to understand why height affects menstrual patterns.

841

girls who had started their periods

10.5%

had short stature

12.2-12.7

years, age range at first period

## About the study

Original title The relationship between short stature and menstrual pattern in a large cohort of Iranian girls Authors Farahmand SK, Emadzadeh M, Hassankhani GG et al. Journal Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Year 2020 Study design Case-control study Participants 841 What was tested None - observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1621806](https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1621806)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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