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.
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
Topics
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