Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Current Women's Health Reviews
  4. Volume 21, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 21, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1573-4048
  • E-ISSN:

Abstract

Aims

To research menstrual cycle characteristics and related factors among Vietnamese female medical students.

Background

Female medical students, juggling demanding academic schedules, face the additional challenge of managing the impact of their monthly cycles on daily routines, academic achievements, and professional obligations.

Objective

To investigate the factors influencing the menstrual cycle during this particularly stressful period by surveying these students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was from the 3rd year of female medical students studying full-time.

Results

Individuals in the severe stress group experienced irregular periods in 100% of cases. Dysmenorrhea was the next most prevalent abnormal symptom, affecting 39.7% of students. Furthermore, abdominal pain and lower back pain were the most common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The percentage of menorrhagia in the overweight-obesity group was almost 5 times higher than that of the other groups. Besides, central obesity increased the incidence of menorrhagia by a factor of 19. Average to high levels of physical activity can increase the risk of having dysmenorrhea. Remarkably, students who were affected by COVID-19 in terms of quality of life were also more likely to experience dysmenorrhea.

Conclusion

Although most medical students had normal menstrual cycles, abdominal pain and lower back pain were the leading PMS. Moreover, overweight-obesity, central obesity, physical activity, stress, and the COVID-19 pandemic may be relative factors of the menstrual cycle.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
2024-03-28
2024-11-26

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. HuongH.T.L. PathiranaA. Urbanization and climate change impacts on future urban flooding in Can Tho city, Vietnam.Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.201317137939410.5194/hess‑17‑379‑2013
     [Google Scholar]
  2. McNultyK.L. Elliott-SaleK.J. DolanE. SwintonP.A. AnsdellP. GoodallS. ThomasK. HicksK.M. The effects of menstrual cycle phase on exercise performance in Eumenorrheic Women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sports Med.202050101813182710.1007/s40279‑020‑01319‑3 32661839
     [Google Scholar]
  3. NewhouseP. AlbertK. Estrogen, stress, and depression: A neurocognitive model.JAMA Psychiatry201572772772910.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.0487 26018188
     [Google Scholar]
  4. NegiP. MishraA. LakheraP. Menstrual abnormalities and their association with lifestyle pattern in adolescent girls of Garhwal, India.J. Family Med. Prim. Care20187480480810.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_159_17 30234057
     [Google Scholar]
  5. De KockJH LathamHA LeslieSJ A rapid review of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers: implications for supporting psychological well-being.BMC Public Health202121110410.1186/s12889‑020‑10070‑3
     [Google Scholar]
  6. MullerAE HafstadEV HimmelsJPW The mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review.Psychiatry Res.202029311344110.1016/j.psychres.2020.113441
     [Google Scholar]
  7. MulitaF. SotiropoulouM. VailasM. A multifaceted virus. Non-reducible and strangulated effects of COVID-19.J. Trauma Acute Care Surg.2021911e3410.1097/TA.0000000000003219 33797481
     [Google Scholar]
  8. MulitaF. VailasM. TchabashviliL. LiolisE. IliopoulosF. DrakosN. MaroulisI. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on emergency surgery: A Greek emergency department experience.Prz. Gastroenterol.20211619510.5114/pg.2021.104739 33986894
     [Google Scholar]
  9. TarkarP. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education system.Int. J. Adv. Sci. Technol.202029938123814
     [Google Scholar]
  10. SchleicherA. The impact of COVID-19 on education: Insights from Education at a Glance 2020.2020Available From: http://hdl.voced.edu.au/10707/550385
    [Google Scholar]
  11. LongE. PattersonS. MaxwellK. BlakeC. Bosó PérezR. LewisR. McCannM. RiddellJ. SkivingtonK. Wilson-LoweR. MitchellK.R. COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social relationships and health.J. Epidemiol. Community Health202276212813210.1136/jech‑2021‑216690 34413184
     [Google Scholar]
  12. PhilpotLM RamarP RoellingerDL BarryBA SharmaP EbbertJO Changes in social relationships during an initial “stay-at-home” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey study in the U.S.Soc. Sci. Med.202127411377910.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113779
     [Google Scholar]
  13. RafiqueN. Al-SheikhM.H. Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences.Saudi Med. J.2018391677310.15537/smj.2018.1.21438 29332111
     [Google Scholar]
  14. CostanzoL.S. Endocrine Physiology. BRS Physiology.5th edPhiladelphiaLippincott Williams & Wilkins2011253
     [Google Scholar]
  15. ReadJ.R. PerzJ. UssherJ.M. Ways of coping with premenstrual change: Development and validation of a premenstrual coping measure.BMC Womens Health2014141900010.1186/1472‑6874‑14‑1 24383580
     [Google Scholar]
  16. AgarwalA. AgarwalA. A study of dysmenorrhea during menstruation in adolescent girls.Indian J. Community Med.201035115916410.4103/0970‑0218.62586 20606943
     [Google Scholar]
  17. WeirC.B. JanA. BMI Classification Percentile And Cut Off Points.Treasure Island, FLStatPearls Publishing2022
     [Google Scholar]
  18. WHOWaist circumference and waist-hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation.2008Available From: https://www. who.int/publications/i/item/9789241501491
    [Google Scholar]
  19. ArmstrongT. BullF. Development of the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).Z. Gesundhwiss.2006142667010.1007/s10389‑006‑0024‑x
     [Google Scholar]
  20. LovibondP.F. LovibondS.H. The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories.Behav. Res. Ther.199533333534310.1016/0005‑7967(94)00075‑U 7726811
     [Google Scholar]
  21. TranT.H.Y. NguyenH.H.A. HuynhU.G. Stress and some related factors in medical students of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2021.Can Tho J. Med. Pharm.202354313710.58490/ctump.2022i54.352
     [Google Scholar]
  22. NgocN.B. TuanN.V. Stress among nursing students in Vietnam: Prevalence and associated factors.Int. Nurs. Rev.2023711inr.1283110.1111/inr.12831 36696254
     [Google Scholar]
  23. SaeedF MunirR TariqS Body image dissatisfaction in healthy medical students and its association to body mass index, gender and age. Annals King Edward Med.Uni.20212711523
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Syed MuhammadM. MalikT. Hussain BuxK. Munir AhmedS. Body Mass Index (BMI) of International Medical Student in OJHA Campus Karachi, Pakistan.2013Available From: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Body-Mass-Index-(BMI)-of-International-Medical-in-Maqsood-Tajuddin/734bb51d81400c3c77e4329286110f8c20361ee3?utm_source=direct_link
  25. WattanapisitA. FungthongcharoenK. SaengowU. VijitpongjindaS. Physical activity among medical students in Southern Thailand: A mixed methods study.BMJ Open201669e01347910.1136/bmjopen‑2016‑013479 27678548
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Al-IsaA.N. CampbellJ. DesapriyaE. WijesingheN. Social and health factors associated with physical activity among kuwaiti college students.J. Obes.20111610.1155/2011/512363 21603221
     [Google Scholar]
  27. QuekT.T. TamW.W. TranB.X. ZhangM. ZhangZ. HoC.S. HoR.C. The global prevalence of anxiety among medical students: A meta-analysis.Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health20191615273510.3390/ijerph16152735 31370266
     [Google Scholar]
  28. AlmojaliA.I. AlmalkiS.A. AlothmanA.S. MasuadiE.M. AlaqeelM.K. The prevalence and association of stress with sleep quality among medical students.J. Epidemiol. Glob. Health20177316917410.1016/j.jegh.2017.04.005 28756825
     [Google Scholar]
  29. RayS. TaH.T. Investigating the effect of biomaterials such as Poly-(l-Lactic Acid) Particles on collagen synthesis in vitro: Method is matter.J. Funct. Biomater.20201135110.3390/jfb11030051 32722074
     [Google Scholar]
  30. PeyronyO. HutinA. Truchot, J Impact of panelists’ experience on script concordance test scores of medical students.BMC Med. Educ.202020131310.1186/s12909‑020‑02243‑w
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Phan VietH. Tran DucL. Vo VanT. Anxiety, depression and stress of medical students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy during the 4th COVID-19 pandemic.Can Tho J. Med. Pharm.202248114148
     [Google Scholar]
  32. DuckittK. CollinsS. Menorrhagia.BMJ Clin Evid20120805
     [Google Scholar]
  33. AgarwalA. VenkatA. Questionnaire study on menstrual disorders in adolescent girls in Singapore.J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Gynecol.200922636537110.1016/j.jpag.2009.02.005 19647453
     [Google Scholar]
  34. TaufiqF.H. HasnawiH. HidayatR. Association of stress level with menstrual disturbance among female students in medical faculty Sriwijaya University.Biosci. Med.: J. Biomed. Translat. Res.20193111310.32539/bsm.v3i1.82
     [Google Scholar]
  35. NajmabadiS. SchliepK.C. SimonsenS.E. PorucznikC.A. EggerM.J. StanfordJ.B. Menstrual bleeding, cycle length, and follicular and luteal phase lengths in women without known subfertility: A pooled analysis of three cohorts.Paediatr. Perinat. Epidemiol.202034331832710.1111/ppe.12644 32104920
     [Google Scholar]
  36. AnsongE. ArhinS.K. CaiY. XuX. WuX. Menstrual characteristics, disorders and associated risk factors among female international students in Zhejiang Province, China: A cross-sectional survey.BMC Womens Health20191913510.1186/s12905‑019‑0730‑5 30777053
     [Google Scholar]
  37. AcikgozA. DayiA. BinbayT. Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its relationship to depressive symptoms in first-year university students.Saudi Med. J.201738111125113110.15537/smj.2017.11.20526 29114701
     [Google Scholar]
  38. AbdulghaniH.M. AlKanhalA.A. MahmoudE.S. PonnamperumaG.G. AlfarisE.A. Stress and its effects on medical students: A cross-sectional study at a college of medicine in Saudi Arabia.J. Health Popul. Nutr.201129551652210.3329/jhpn.v29i5.8906 22106758
     [Google Scholar]
  39. ItriyevaK. The effects of obesity on the menstrual cycle.Curr. Probl. Pediatr. Adolesc. Health Care202252810124110.1016/j.cppeds.2022.101241 35871162
     [Google Scholar]
  40. SeifM.W. DiamondK. Nickkho-AmiryM. Obesity and menstrual disorders.Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol.201529451652710.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.10.010 25467426
     [Google Scholar]
  41. TangY ChenY FengH ZhuC TongM ChenQ Is body mass index associated with irregular menstruation: A questionnaire study?BMC Womens Health202020122610.1186/s12905‑020‑01085‑4
     [Google Scholar]
  42. HoffmanB.L. SchorgeJ.O. BradshawK.D. HalvorsonL.M. SchafferJ.I. CortonM.M. Endometrial Cancer.2016Available From: https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1758&sectionid=118172898
    [Google Scholar]
  43. SolimanP. LuK. Neoplastic Diseases of the Uterus.comprehensive gynecology: expert consult.6th edPhiladelphia, PA, USAElsevier Mosby201293610.1111/aogs.12214
     [Google Scholar]
  44. BakerF.C. SibozaF. FullerA. Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle.Temperature20207322626210.1080/23328940.2020.1735927 33123618
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Diamanti-KandarakisE. BergieleA. The influence of obesity on hyperandrogenism and infertility in the female.Obes. Rev.20012423123810.1046/j.1467‑789X.2001.00041.x 12119994
     [Google Scholar]
  46. PasqualiR. GambineriA. Metabolic effects of obesity on reproduction.Reprod. Biomed. Online200612554255110.1016/S1472‑6483(10)61179‑0 16790096
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Peinado-MolinaR.A. Peinado-MolinaM.D. Molina-IbañezM.D. Martínez-GalianoJ.M. Association between non-competitive physical exercise and menstrual disorders.Afr. J. Reprod. Health2020241818610.29063/ajrh2020/v24i1.8 32358939
     [Google Scholar]
  48. KumarSS VithiavathiS ParameswarenP KumarSR Measures of generalized and central obesity among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Int. J. Adv. Med.2018551124112710.18203/2349‑3933.ijam20183820
     [Google Scholar]
  49. SternfeldB. JacobsM.K. QuesenberryC.P.Jr GoldE.B. SowersM. Physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in two prospective cohorts.Am. J. Epidemiol.2002156540240910.1093/aje/kwf060 12196309
     [Google Scholar]
  50. CritchleyH.O.D. BabayevE. BulunS.E. ClarkS. Garcia-GrauI. GregersenP.K. KilcoyneA. KimJ.Y.J. LavenderM. MarshE.E. MattesonK.A. MaybinJ.A. MetzC.N. MorenoI. SilkK. SommerM. SimonC. TariyalR. TaylorH.S. WagnerG.P. GriffithL.G. Menstruation: Science and society.Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.2020223562466410.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.004 32707266
     [Google Scholar]
  51. AbdulghaniH.M. SattarK. AhmadT. AkramA. Association of COVID-19 Pandemic with undergraduate Medical Students’.Perceived Stress and Coping. Psychol. Res. Behav. Manag.20201387188110.2147/PRBM.S276938 33154682
     [Google Scholar]
  52. SruthiM.V. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression and its associated factors among undergraduate medical students of Thrissur district during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.Int. J. Commun. Med. Pub. Health202310103679368310.18203/2394‑6040.ijcmph20233099
     [Google Scholar]
  53. LovkinaO.L. MasibrodaN.G. MuntyanO.A. KlivakV.V. VozniukA.V. The impact of today’s chronic stress on a woman’s menstrual function.Rep. Vinnytsia Nat. Med.Uni.202327233133510.31393/reports‑vnmedical‑2023‑27(2)‑26
     [Google Scholar]
  54. SanaI. A study of menstruation and stress: The biological and psychological overview on menarche and menstrual disorders.EPRA Int. J. Multidis. Res.202283859010.36713/epra9706
     [Google Scholar]
  55. HarlowS.D. MatanoskiG.M. The association between weight, physical activity, and stress and variation in the length of the menstrual cycle.Am. J. Epidemiol.19911331384910.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115800 1983897
     [Google Scholar]
  56. TranV.D. NguyenT.K. DeweyR.S. LeM.H. PhamD.T. Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in Vietnamese pharmacy and non‐pharmacy students during COVID‐19 pandemic.J. Am. Coll. Clin. Pharm.20236326727510.1002/jac5.1745
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
Loading
Menstrual Cycle Characteristics and Relative Factors Among Vietnamese Female Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Current Women's Health Reviews 21, E280324228445 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
/content/journals/cwhr/10.2174/0115734048305970240325154923
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

file format download Download

  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): COVID-19; medical students; menorrhagia; Menstrual cycle; premenstrual syndrome

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test