Prevalence and related factors of irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women: the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V, 2010–2012)

Abstract

Introduction: There have been few population-based studies reporting medical, lifestyle and psychological factors associated with irregular menstrual cycles. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence and related factors of irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Eligible women were 19–40 years old, not currently taking oral contraceptives or using intrauterine devices, and not currently pregnant or breast feeding, and had no medical history of hysterectomy, thyroid diseases, cancers or renal failure. Finally, 3194 premenopausal women were recruited in this study. The prevalence and related factors of irregular cycles were obtained using a general linear model and logistic regression analyses in a complex sampling design.

Results: The prevalence of irregular cycles was 14.3%. Age and high-education level were associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) for irregular cycles (OR 0.91, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.87–0.96, and OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.88, respectively). The ORs of body mass index, perceived stress and depressive mood were 1.05 (95% CI 1.01–1.10), 1.46 (95% CI 1.11–1.92) and 2.07 (95% CI 1.18–3.63), respectively.

Conclusions: Age, perceived stress, body mass index, depressive mood and education level, rather than obstetric factors or metabolic diseases were significant factors associated with irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women. Of these factors, perceived stress is the most significant factor associated with increased irregular menstrual cycles.

Keywords:

• Depression
• irregular menstruation
• mental health
• prevalence
• stress

Disclosure statement

The authors report that there are no conflicts of interest.

Current knowledge on the subject

• Previous studies have suggested that irregular menstrual cycles were associated with obesity and various chronic diseases.

• Psychological problems, such as stress or depression could also result in dysfunction of the normal menstrual cycle.

• Some results on age, life style, metabolic diseases, obesity, obstetric and gynecologic factors were inconsistent.

What this study adds

• The prevalence of irregular menstrual cycles was 14.3% in Korean adult women.

• Analyses examining full interactions of possible significant factors suggested that younger age, higher body mass index, perceived stress and depressive mood were associated with irregular menstrual cycles.

• Mental health, such as perceived stress and depressive mood, rather than metabolic diseases was a more important factor associated with irregular menstrual cycles in this study.