Unveiling menarche: insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescent girls in Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city

Background: Menarche refers to the onset of first menstruation. Despite being a normal, physiological process, menarche is still regarded as a taboo topic in some communities and ethnic groups. This situation makes many adolescent females vulnerable because of lack of knowledge, products, and infrastructure to deal with menarche. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices on menarche among adolescent girls in government schools of Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city, a region where menstrual taboos are highly prevalent.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 adolescent school girls in Dhangadhi through a pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. Quantitative research method was applied through a self-administered questionnaire.Results: The study showed that the median age of menarche was 13 years. The main source of information about menarche was mother or grandmother (58.2%). Approximately, three fourth (71.4%) of the respondents had adequate knowledge, less than two third (61.6%) had positive attitude and nearly half (51.7%) of them had good practices on menarche. Factors like parents education and occupation, mother抯 age, age at menarche, grade and family type were found to be significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and practices on menarche.Conclusions: Despite the fact that the majority of respondents had an adequate level of knowledge on menarche, the level of practices on menarche was still poor. This study highlights the need for policy makers to focus on implementing knowledge and awareness programs in government schools to educate students and their parents about menarche and menstrual hygiene.

Menstrual cup awareness and preference among college going women in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu: a cross sectional survey

Background: Menstrual hygiene is an important aspect of women’s health. Every month, half of India's population experiences menstruation. However, still India has strong sociocultural taboos concerning menstruation. Menstruation cups (MC) have become more and more well-liked as an affordable and environmentally responsible replacement for conventional menstruation products in recent years. In India, they are still not widely recognized because of cultural constraints. The primary objective of this study was to identify the MC Awareness and preference among college-going women. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among college-going women in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, India between June 2023 and August 2023 with a predesigned structured questionnaire. The sample size of the study was 120 college-going women included in this study. SPSS software was used for the data analysis. Results: The participant's mean age was 19.08±3.14 years. More than half of the participants had low awareness of MC (56.6%). None of the participants were using MC as the choice for menstrual management currently. The main reasons for not preferring the MC as the future choice were leakage (65%), difficulty to use (58.3%), infection (56.6%), it might produce complications (56.6%), and pain and discomfort (50%). Conclusions: The awareness and future preferences for the MC were low. Young educated women have less awareness and less preference for MC shows the necessity of the creation of awareness programs at the community level. The healthcare sector needs to take the necessary steps to increase the utilization of MC to follow proper menstrual hygiene.

Effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on dysmenorrhea: a case-control study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that has an important impact on women of reproductive age and is diagnosed with various hormonal disorders. Menstrual pain is a common and often problematic problem for women during their reproductive age. Although these two problems may appear to be presented separately, they often overlap and lead to complex and multiple challenges in health care for women. This study was conducted with the aim of the effect of PCOS on dysmenorrhea.Methods: This case-control study was done on 92 women who visited Alavi hospital in Ardabil during 2022-2023. Data collected included age, body mass index, length of the menstrual cycle (in days), menstrual bleeding volume (number of pad changes during the menstrual cycle), duration of menstrual bleeding (in days), and the presence of menstrual pain. Additionally, the severity of menstrual pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.Results: Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference between subjects with PCOS and non-PCOS in terms of the frequency of pain scores (p=0.03). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the variable of pain intensity (p=0.70).Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the frequency of dysmenorrhea increases in people with PCOS, but the intensity of menstrual pain does not increase.

Knowledge, attitude and practice about menstruation and menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls of rural field practice area of tertiary care hospital, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh: a cross-sectional study

Background: As the reproduction starts from the puberty and in which most of the girls will be not aware of menstruation and they will lack the knowledge as most of the girls will be in school age group. This study is done to understand their knowledge, attitude and practice on menstruation and menstrual hygiene in school going girls. Methods: A school based cross sectional study was conducted after getting ethics committee clearance during August-September 2023 (2 months) in RHTC field area of Santhiram medical college, Nandyal among high school girls of 8th, 9th and 10th classes by simple random sampling method with sample size 230, study tool was pre-designed, pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire by interview method collected data and analysed by SPSS 25 version. Results: In this study out of 230 participants about 43% were under the age group 13 years, 57.8% were have knowledge on menstruation and 60% were not aware of origin of blood and 76.1% are attending school during the menses, 31% of girls Still feels embarrassing buying pads, 40% don’t attend to perform house activities and sitting at the corner. Only 51.7% are using dustbins for disposal. Conclusions: This study results shows that girls have a poor knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. There is a gap between knowledge and menstrual hygiene and usage of proper sanitation, school administration and health facilities should conduct awareness programmes on menstrual hygiene.

Analysis of symptoms and management modalities of endometriosis in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Endometriosis is a progressive disease characterized by the growth and placement of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis affects 10-15% of all women of reproductive age and 70% of women with chronic pelvic pain. We have aimed to study the demographic factors, symptoms and management of endometriosis. Certain risk factors are discussed which may be helpful in early diagnosis of the same.Methods: A one year hospital based retrospective study involving detailed medical records of patients presenting with endometriosis between 1st November 2022 and 31st October 2023.Results: Majority of cases of endometriosis were found in the reproductive age group. Several patients presented with multiple symptoms, of which common ones were pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility. Management modalities include medical management using GnRH agonist like injection leuprolide and surgical management techniques involving laparoscopy and laparotomy depending upon the extent of involvement. The most common site of endometriosis was found to be the ovary, while other peroperative findings included distorted anatomy and a concomitant infective focus owing to pelvic inflammatory diseases.Conclusions: Endometriosis can decrease quality of life due to severe pain, fatigue, infertility. No preventative measures have yet been found. But early diagnosis and management may be extremely helpful in improving the quality of life.

Prevalence of hygiene awareness during menstruation period among rural women of West Bengal, India

Background: Menstruation is a physiological process of women. Reproductive infection during the menstrual period is a common phenomenon in women in rural areas of India. The present study was conducted to find out the prevalence of hygiene awareness in rural women of West Bengal. Methods: Fifty rural women from the West Medinipur District of West Bengal were studied. Questioner methods were followed to know the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards menstruation hygiene. Results: Proper knowledge of menstruation was absent in a large number of women but a large number of women (80%) took care of their hygiene during menstrual periods. 70% of women agreed to maintain personal hygiene to prevent reproductive-related diseases. 44% of women had a positive attitude towards the cleanness of genital areas with clean water whereas 56% of women did not show any interest. 96% of women change sanitary pads for 2-4 times a day to maintain menstrual hygiene. For disposing of used sanitary pads, 80% of women use home garbage areas whereas 20% of women use open fields outside the home. Conclusions: From the above study it could be concluded that hygiene awareness during the menstruation period among rural women of West Bengal, India is not satisfactory. Educational intervention is required.

Prevalence of dysmenorrhoea and its management strategies among females: a cross-sectional study in the tribal district, Koraput

Background: Menstruation is a major and frequently incapacitating health problem that affects women all over the world. Tribal communities often possess unique cultural, socioeconomic, and healthcare disparities, which can affect the experience of dysmenorrhea in these populations. This paper presents an exploration of dysmenorrhea's prevalence, impact, and management among tribal women Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted with a total of 341 participants with an age range between 15 to 49. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to identify the prevalence of dysmenorrhoea, menstrual characteristics, and strategies to manage dysmenorrhoea. Data collection was done for the period of 4 months (March 2020 to June 2020) and analysed using SPSS version 16. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among tribal women (69.25%). The most common symptoms. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a significant association was found between dysmenorrhoea and the presence of a family history of dysmenorrhoea (AOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.18-3.42; p=0.009), the odds of developing dysmenorrhoea was 2.01 times higher among the female presence of a family history of dysmenorrhoea than absent and dysmenorrhoea with the presence of the clot (AOR: 2.99; 95% Cl: 1.81-4.94; p=0.000), the odds of developing dysmenorrhoea was 2.99 times higher among the female it history of present clot it than absent. Conclusions: According to this study, tribal women are not well-prepared to deal with dysmenorrhea. The current findings not only clarify the detrimental effects of social stigma on menstrual health literacy, but they also have significant implications for evaluating and reforming current menstrual education standards.

Analysis of menstrual conditions and influencing factors in 281 women infected with COVID-19 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the menstrual conditions of women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai and analyze the influencing factors. MethodsFrom December 2022 to March 2023， menstrual data from 281 women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai were collected with a questionnaire survey， including usual menstrual characteristics， the most recent menstrual period post-infection， symptoms of infection， and medication usage. According to the crossover period between the menstrual period and the infection period of the respondents， the samples were divided into two groups for comparative analysis： those whose menstrual and infection periods overlapped （positive group） and those whose menstruation started after conversion to virus-negative （negative conversion group）. ResultsAmong the 281 respondents， 196 （65.8%） experienced menstrual changes. Among them， 145 （51.6%） had changes in menstrual volume， color and texture， and 109 （38.8%） had changes in menstrual duration or cycle. Decreased menstrual volume （22.1%）， darker color （23.49%）， thicker texture （21.0%）， increased blood clots （16.7%）， and prolonged duration （21.8%） were observed in both groups. The rate of changes in menstrual volume， color， and texture was higher in the positive group （56.8%， 69/110） than that in negative group （37.3%， 76/171） （P<0.05）. Regarding the menstrual cycle changes， the rate of early onset was higher in the positive group （14.5%） compared to the negative conversion group （3.5%）（P<0.05）， while the rate of delayed menstruation was higher in the negative conversion group （25.1%） than that in the positive group （5.5%） （P<0.05）. Correlation analysis showed a weak association between sore throat and menstrual changes （r=0.154， P<0.05）. ConclusionSome women infected with COVID-19 experience short-term changes in their menstrual conditions， characterized by reduced volume， darker color， thick texture， increased clots， and prolonged menstrual duration， reflecting a pathogenesis of blood stasis. Menstruation during the infection period tends to occur earlier， while delayed menstruation is more prevalent at post-conversion.

Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in female nursing students at a public university: cross-sectional study / Prevalência da síndrome pré-menstrual em acadêmicas do curso de enfermagem de uma universidade pública: estudo transversal

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a set of physical, mood, cognitive and behavioral changes which happens between the two weeks before menstruation, which can hinder a woman's personal, academic, and professional performance. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of PMS in female nursing students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a virtual questionnaire on sociodemographic and gynecological characteristics and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) questionnaire, which looks for physical and psychological symptoms of PMS, interference of symptoms in daily life and establishes a positive screening for PMS. RESULTS: A total of 114 students participated in the study. The most prevalent characteristics were being between 18 and 23 years old, single and in their 5th or 6th academic year. In addition, the majority went through the menarche between 11 and 13 years of age, with menstrual flow of 3-5 days. Of these, 40.4% used hormonal contraceptive methods and 37.7% did not use any type of contraceptive method. The prevalence of PMS was 61.4%. The most frequent symptoms were physical symptoms (93.9%), anger/irritation (91.2%), urge to cry/increased sensitivity (88.6%), anxiety/tension (86.8%) and decreased interest in social activities (85.1%). These symptoms interfere with relationships with family (81.6%), social life activities (80.7%), efficiency at work or college/productivity (79.8%), relationships with colleagues at work/college (77.2%) and responsibilities at home (75.4%). CONCLUSION: PMS is prevalent among female nursing students and its symptoms affect the daily lives of this population, interfering with their personal and social relationships as well as academic activities.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A síndrome pré-menstrual (SPM) é um conjunto de alterações físicas, de humor, cognitivas e comportamentais, iniciadas entre as duas semanas prévias a menstruação, que podem causar desgastes no rendimento pessoal, acadêmico e profissional da mulher. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalência da SPM em acadêmicas do curso de enfermagem. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado por meio de um questionário virtual sobre características sociodemográficas e ginecológicas e o questionário Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), que busca sintomas físicos e psicológicos da SPM, interferência dos sintomas no cotidiano, e estabelece uma triagem positiva para SPM. RESULTADOS: Foram recrutadas 114 acadêmicas da graduação em enfermagem. As características mais prevalentes foram a faixa etária entre 18 e 23 anos, solteiras e cursando o 5° ou 6° período do curso. Ademais, a maioria com menarca entre 11 e 13 anos, com fluxo menstrual de 3 a 5 dias. Destas, 40,4% usavam métodos contraceptivos hormonais e 37,7% não usavam nenhum tipo de método contraceptivo. A prevalência encontrada de SPM foi de 61,4%. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram sintomas físicos (93,9%), raiva/irritação (91,2%), vontade de chorar/aumento da sensibilidade (88,6%), ansiedade/tensão (86,8%) e interesse diminuído nas atividades sociais (85,1%). Estes sintomas interferem no relacionamento com a família (81,6%), nas atividades de vida social (80,7%), na eficiência no trabalho ou faculdade/produtividade (79,8%), nos relacionamentos com os colegas de trabalho/faculdade (77,2%) e nas responsabilidades de casa (75,4%). CONCLUSÃO: A SPM é prevalente entre as acadêmicas do curso de enfermagem e seus sintomas afetam o cotidiano desta população, interferindo nos seus relacionamentos pessoais, sociais e atividades acadêmicas.

Pobreza menstrual: uma revisão sistemática para identificar populações vulneráveis e ferramentas de mensuração / Menstrual poverty: a systematic review to identify vulnerable populations and measurement tools

O objetivo foi apresentar uma síntese da literatura sobre o tema "pobreza menstrual". A busca incluiu as bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO Brasil e Google Scholar como fontes. Pares de pesquisadores conduziram a revisão de acordo com as diretrizes PRISMA e avaliaram a qualidade das evidências utilizando a ferramenta Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Um total de 2.457 publicações foram identificadas, das quais 22 foram incluídas na revisão. O conceito emergente desta revisão sugere que "pobreza menstrual corresponde a uma condição multidimensional, simbolicamente materializada pela falta de produtos de cuidado genital, refletindo principalmente a vulnerabilidade psicossocial de indivíduos que menstruam, decorrente da privação de acesso a bens fundamentais necessários para uma vida digna e respeitosa." A idade e as condições socioeconômicas são os principais marcadores de vulnerabilidade à "pobreza menstrual". Uma ampla gama de questões explora o tema, concentrando-se principalmente no acesso, custo e disponibilidade de produtos de higiene durante a menstruação. Ao sintetizar os conceitos e achados dos estudos incluídos nesta revisão, foi possível confirmar que fatores socioeconômicos desfavoráveis são os indicadores mais significativos da pobreza menstrual. Embora o fenômeno da pobreza menstrual se manifeste como privação de bens essenciais e falta de dignidade humana, os instrumentos de pesquisa e as soluções propostas têm se concentrado predominantemente no acesso e fornecimento de produtos de higiene. Esse foco restrito oferece visibilidade limitada às questões mais amplas de desigualdade e injustiça social que fundamentam a pobreza menstrual.

The objective was to present a synthesis of the literature on the topic 'menstrual poverty'. The search considered the sources PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO Brazil and Google Scholar site. Pairs of researchers conducted the review steps according to the PRISMA guidelines, and assessed the quality of the evidence using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A total of 2,457 publications were identified, and 22 of them were included in the review. The concept outlined from this review suggests that "menstrual poverty corresponds to a multidimensional condition symbolically materialized by the lack of genital care products, which expresses, above all, the psychosocial vulnerability of the person who menstruates caused by the deprivation of the right to fundamental goods necessary for the enjoyment of a dignified and respectful life". Age and socioeconomic conditions are the main markers of vulnerability to 'period poverty'. A vast list of questions delves into the subject, primarily exploring aspects such as access, affordability, and availability of hygiene products to use during the menstrual flow period. By synthesizing the concepts and findings provided by the studies included in this review, it was possible to verify that the unfavorable socioeconomic factors are the most important makers of menstrual poverty. Although the menstrual poverty phenomenon is manifestation of essential goods deprivation and lack of human dignity, the research instruments and the solutions focused on access and supply of hygiene products. This reduction gives little visibility to the inequalities and social injustice that underlie the phenomenon of menstrual poverty.

Desafios da gestão menstrual: uma revisão integrativa / Challenges of menstrual management: an integrative review / Desafíos de la gestión menstrual: una revisión integrativa

Objetivo: analisar as evidências disponíveis na literatura sobre os desafios da gestão menstrual. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, BVS, SciELO e Mendeley, utilizando os descritores "Menstruação", "Produtos de Higiene Menstrual" e "Saúde", para responder à questão norteadora "Quais são as dificuldades e os impactos encontrados pelas pessoas na gestão de suas menstruações?". Resultados: foram incluídos dezessete estudos os quais permitiram a construção de infográfico, que destacou como principais desafios da gestão menstrual.: barreiras culturais e sociais, acesso a produtos de higiene menstrual, infraestrutura e ambientes adequados, educação e conscientização, e impacto na saúde e bem-estar. Considerações finais: barreiras culturais, falta de educação menstrual e acesso limitado a produtos e infraestrutura prejudicam a saúde e o bem-estar das mulheres, impactando suas atividades diárias, no âmbito escolar e/ou profissional. Reconhecer essas questões é crucial para a proposição de intervenções e políticas públicas.

Objective: To analyze the available evidence in the literature regarding the challenges of menstrual management. Method: Integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, BVS, SciELO, and Mendeley databases, using the keywords "Menstruation," "Menstrual Hygiene Products," and "Health," to answer the guiding question "What are the difficulties and impacts encountered by individuals in managing their menstruation?" Results: Seventeen studies were included, allowing the construction of an infographic that highlighted the main challenges of menstrual management: cultural and social barriers, access to menstrual hygiene products, adequate infrastructure and environments, education and awareness, and health and well-being impact. Final considerations:cultural barriers, lack of menstrual education, and limited access to products and infrastructure negatively impact women's health and well-being, affecting their daily activities, both in educational and/or professional settings. Recognizing these issues is crucial for proposing interventions and public policies.

Objetivos:analizar las evidencias disponibles en la literatura sobre los desafíos de la gestión menstrual. Método: revisión integrativa de la literatura realizada en las bases de datos PubMed, BVS, SciELO y Mendeley, utilizando los descriptores "Menstruación", "Productos de Higiene Menstrual" y "Salud", para responder a la pregunta guía "¿Cuáles son las dificultades y los impactos encontrados por las personas en la gestión de sus menstruaciones?". Resultados: se incluyeron diecisiete estudios que permitieron la construcción de un infográfico, que destacó como principales desafíos de la gestión menstrual: barreras culturales y sociales, acceso a productos de higiene menstrual, infraestructura y entornos adecuados, educación y concienciación, e impacto en la salud y el bienestar. Consideraciones finales: barreras culturales, falta de educación y acceso limitado afectan la salud y bienestar femenino, impactando actividades diarias y profesionales. Reconocer estas cuestiones es crucial para proponer intervenciones y políticas públicas.

Socio-cultural practices and experiences of menstruation among adolescents and women of Kurichiya tribe of Wayanad: an ethnographic study

Background: Menstruation and related cultural practices are widespread in Indian communities, particularly in tribal settlements. Past studies have highlighted the negative impact of these practices on women's mental health and well-being. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the specific effects of these practices on women's lives. Methods: This study utilised an urban ethnographic research design to explore cultural practices and lived experiences within urban settings. It focused on Kurichiya settlements in Wayanad's Chennalode area, part of Kalpetta municipal town in Kerala's Wayanad district. Fourteen participants, women and adolescent girls aged 15 to 50, were involved in the study. Results: The qualitative analysis identified three core themes: cultural practices of menstruation, women’s menstrual experiences, and perspectives on menstrual practices. The examination of cultural practices revealed subthemes: menarche celebration and monthly period rituals. Women's menstrual experiences encompassed emotional experiences during menarche and each monthly period. Perspectives on menstrual practices highlighted effects on mental well-being and participant’s advocacy for change. Conclusions: The study portrayed how traditional practices affect daily life for Kurichiya women, causing emotional disruption. Despite some liberalisation, a full shift in these customs remains elusive in current times.

Hemolacria or bloody tears in presumed lacrimal endometriosis: a case report / Hemolacria o lágrimas hemáticas en sospecha de endometriosis lacrimal: reporte de un caso

Background: Hemolacria or the presence of blood in tears is a rare condition, and there are only a few cases reported in the literature. Hemolacria is associated with multiple underlying diseases, including vicarious menstruation due to extragenital endometriosis. Case report: We present a 26-year-old woman with hemolacria and abdominal pain related to her menstrual cycle. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral ovarian endometriomas. After ruling out other possible causes of hemolacria, a progestin-only treatment was applied, with improvement of the abdominal pain and complete remission of hemolacria. Conclusions: When faced with hemolacria, a thorough anamnesis and physical examination must be performed, sometimes involving more than one specialist to reach a diagnosis. Considering hemolacria is a sign of a subjacent pathology, its treatment should be specific one for the disease in each case.

Antecedentes: La hemolacria o presencia de sangre en las lágrimas es una afección poco frecuente y sólo hay unos pocos casos descritos en la literatura. La hemolacria se asocia a múltiples enfermedades subyacentes, incluida la menstruación vicaria debida a endometriosis extragenital. Caso clínico: Presentamos a una mujer de 26 años con hemolacria y dolor abdominal relacionado con su ciclo menstrual. La paciente fue diagnosticada de endometriomas ováricos bilaterales. Tras descartar otras posibles causas de hemolacria, se aplicó un tratamiento sólo con progestágenos, con mejoría del dolor abdominal y remisión completa de la hemolacria. Conclusiones: Ante una hemolacria se debe realizar una anamnesis y exploración física minuciosa, en la que a veces interviene más de un especialista para llegar al diagnóstico. Teniendo en cuenta que la hemolacria es signo de una patología subyacente, su tratamiento debe ser el específico para la enfermedad en cada caso.

Acceso y prácticas de higiene menstrual en América Latina: revisión de alcance / Menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America: scoping review / Acesso e práticas de higiene menstrual na América Latina: revisão de escopo

Objetivo: sintetizar la evidencia disponible relacionada con el acceso y las prácticas de higiene menstrual en América Latina y el Caribe. Método: revisión de alcance de la literatura con protocolo de investigación registrado en el Open Science Framework, realizada en las bases de datos bibliográficas: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science y Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva simple y análisis temático. Resultados: se incluyeron 15 publicaciones, la mayoría de las cuales trataban sobre adolescentes en Brasil: 12 artículos, dos informes técnicos y una monografía de trabajo de conclusión de curso. Como temas recurrentes en las publicaciones se destacan: acceso a condiciones dignas para el manejo de la higiene menstrual; necesidad de acceso a información sobre el manejo de la higiene menstrual; y prácticas para el manejo de la higiene menstrual. Conclusión: adolescentes informan dificultades para acceder a baños, agua y materiales absorbentes, y falta de información sobre la salud menstrual, incluso en las escuelas, lo que lleva al ausentismo escolar. De esta manera, las lagunas en la literatura científica latinoamericana revelan desigualdades y diversidad en las experiencias menstruales interseccionadas por categorías como género, clase social y etnia.

Objective: to synthesize available evidence related to menstrual hygiene access and practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Method: literature scoping review with research protocol registered in the Open Science Framework, carried out in the bibliographic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: 15 publications were included, the majority of which addressed adolescents in Brazil: 12 articles, two technical reports and a course conclusion monograph. As recurring themes in the publications, the following stand out: Access to dignified conditions for managing menstrual hygiene; Need for access to information on menstrual hygiene management; and Practices for managing menstrual hygiene. Conclusion: adolescents report difficulties in accessing toilets, water and absorbent materials, and lack of information about menstrual health, including in schools, leading to school absenteeism. Thus, gaps in the Latin American scientific literature reveal inequalities and diversity in menstrual experiences intersected by categories such as gender, social class and ethnicity

Objetivo: sintetizar evidências disponíveis relacionadas ao acesso e práticas de higiene menstrual na América Latina e Caribe. Método: revisão de escopo da literatura com protocolo de pesquisa registrado no Open Science Framework, realizada nas bases de dados bibliográficas: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science e Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva simples e análise temática. Resultados: foram incluídas 15 publicações, cuja maioria abordava adolescentes no Brasil: 12 artigos, dois relatórios técnicos e uma monografia de trabalho de conclusão de curso. Como temas recorrentes nas publicações, destacam-se: acesso a condições dignas para o manejo da higiene menstrual; necessidade de acesso à informação sobre manejo da higiene menstrual; e práticas para manejo da higiene menstrual. Conclusão: adolescentes relatam dificuldades de acesso a sanitários, água e materiais absorventes, e falta de informação sobre saúde menstrual, inclusive nas escolas, levando ao absenteísmo escolar. Assim, lacunas na literatura científica latino-americana revelam desigualdades e diversidade nas experiências menstruais interseccionadas por categorias como gênero, classe social e etnia.

Understanding menstrual health and related health-seeking behavior in adolescent girls at a tribal welfare school in Vikarabad: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: Adolescent girls often lack adequate knowledge and comfort when accessing reproductive health care and information. A woman’s health at different stages in her life is interconnected, such that the state of her menstrual health at present can influence her reproductive, sexual, and maternal health in the future. Therefore, possessing adequate understanding and awareness regarding menstruation and recognizing the significance of seeking healthcare will help in managing menstruation hygienically and with dignity. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a tribal welfare residential school in a rural setting among female adolescent girls in classes 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, during September 2022 for 10 days, with objectives to assess knowledge about menstruation and to determine the health-seeking behaviour for menstrual health among them. Results: In our study of 73 adolescent tribal girls (mean age: 13.86±1.33), 73.9% had a high knowledge level about menstruation. Self-medication was reported by 26%, while only 9.6% consulted a doctor. Higher menstrual pain was linked to a 3.25 times higher likelihood of consulting a doctor and a 5.5 times higher likelihood of self-medication. Conclusions: While a majority of tribal adolescent girls demonstrated a good level of knowledge regarding menstruation, only 9.6% of them sought medical consultation from a doctor. A comprehensive approach that combines health education, challenging cultural taboos, and improving access to healthcare services is necessary to promote better healthcare-seeking behaviour among adolescent girls regarding menstruation.

Exploring the salient factors influencing menstrual health and hygiene: a review

Menstruation is a process that induces a series of hormonal and structural changes in the female reproductive system to foster pregnancy. Pre-menstrual syndromes usually occur 5-7 days before a menstrual period with altered levels of estrogen, progesterone, and serotonin at the beginning of the cycle as well as ovarian steroids that modulate cognitive activity. Around 150 known symptoms of PMS may be experienced in women during menstruation varying from cramps, mood swings, breast soreness, bloating, acne, food cravings, excessive thirst and fatigue, influencing the quotidian routine of women. About 3� of women experience more drastic problems like premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Even though half of the global female population is of reproductive age, menstruation is still one of the most stigmatized topics from a societal perspective. Lack of proper awareness about menstruation and the factors affecting it may precipitate misconceptions or discrimination, leading to physical health risks, hence preventing the development of public health habits. This article aims to explore the probable complementary or contrary factors influencing the cycle of a woman that may help to safeguard her health without any stress, menstrual shame or barriers to information during menstruation which is a fundamental issue of human rights, dignity and public health.

Prevalence and predictors of iron deficiency anaemia in adolescent girls in India

Background: In India, iron deficiency anaemia is highly prevalent, particularly among women of reproductive age group. Following early childhood, during adolescence, the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia reappears for both boys and girls, but remains more susceptible to girls because of menstrual loss. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence and predictors of iron deficiency anaemia in adolescent girls in India. Methods: This study was a descriptive form of review of literature on data from comprehensive national nutrition survey (CNNS 2016-2018). CNNS was conducted to collect data on the nutritional status of Indian children from 0-19 years of age. The data collection period was from 26 February 2016 to 24 October 2018 and data was collected using individual and household questionnaires. Results: In the study, prevalence of various levels of anaemia (mild, moderate and severe) was higher in adolescent girls as compared to adolescent boys. Adolescent girls had 31.3% iron deficiency whereas adolescent boys had 11.5% iron deficiency. Anaemia prevalence was also higher in the age group 15-19 years as compared to 10-14 years. Conclusions: It was concluded that iron deficiency anaemia was more prevalent in adolescent girls than boys. Inadequate intake of iron rich foods and vitamin C, less knowledge about anaemia, low socio economic conditions along with poor hygiene and sanitation practices are the major factors that contribute to iron deficiency anaemia.

Vacuna contra la COVID-19 y menstruación, desde el desconocimiento a la información: revisión sistemática / Vaccine against COVID-19 and menstruation, from ignorance to information: a systematic review

La creación de una vacuna para enfrentar la pandemia de COVID-19 conllevó un vacío de información sobre las posibles alteraciones del ciclo menstrual. El objetivo fue verificar las posibles alteraciones que se pudiesen haber generado en el ciclo menstrual de las mujeres posterior a la inoculación de la vacuna contra la COVID-19. Se realizó una revisión sistemática en las bases bibliografías Medline, Medline Complete, LILACS, CINAHL y ScIELO, utilizando los descriptores “Women”, “Woman”, “Fertile period”, “Vaccination”, “Mass vaccination”, “Immunization”, “COVID-19 vaccines”, “SARS-CoV-2 infection”, “COVID-19”, “Menstrual cycle”, “Menstruation”, “Endometrial cycle”, “Dysmenorrhea” y “Menstruation disturbances”. Mediante la utilización del protocolo PRISMA, de los 319 artículos localizados, 17 fueron incluidos en el análisis. La mayoría de los estudios incluyeron, principalmente, las vacunas Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca y Johnson&Johnson/Janssen con una a tres dosis administradas. El porcentaje de ciclos menstruales alterados fue del 8,0% al 77,8%, y la alteración con mayor frecuencia referida fue la duración del ciclo menstrual, que fue desde 0,3 hasta 12 días de retraso de la menstruación. Todos los estudios refieren cambios en el ciclo menstrual con diversas prevalencias, con y sin significación estadística; sin embargo, también concluyen que estas alteraciones son reversibles y en un corto periodo de tiempo.

The creation of a vaccine to face the COVID-19 pandemic, led to an information gap on possible alterations of the menstrual cycle. The objective was to verify the possible alterations that could have been generated in the menstrual cycle of women, after the inoculation of the vaccine against COVID-19. A systematic review was carried out in the Medline, Medline Complete, LILACS, CINAHL and ScIELO bibliographic databases, using the descriptors “Women”, “Woman”, “Fertile period”, “Vaccination”, “Mass vaccination”, “Immunization”, “COVID-19 vaccines”, “SARS-CoV-2 infection”, “COVID-19”, “Menstrual cycle”, “Menstruation”, “Endometrial cycle”, “Dysmenorrhea” and “Menstruation disturbances”. Using the PRISMA protocol, of the 319 articles located, 17 were included in the analysis. Most of the studies mainly included the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson/Janssen vaccines with one to three doses administered. The percentage of altered menstrual cycles ranged from 8.0% to 77.8%, and the most frequently reported alteration was the length of the menstrual cycle, which occurred from 0.3 to 12 days late in menstruation. All the studies refer to changes in the menstrual cycle with different prevalences, with and without statistical significance; however, the same studies also conclude that these alterations are reversible and in a short period of time.

Características e diferenças nos sintomas dos períodos menstrual e pré-menstrual em mulheres sedentárias / Characteristics and differences in the symptoms of themenstrual and premenstrual periods in sedentary women

Objetivo: estabelecer as diferenças de sintomas físicos e mentais nos períodos menstrual e pré-menstrual em mulheres sedentárias. Métodos: estudo transversal, por questionário, respondido por 77 mulheres saudáveis, de 18 a 35 anos, sedentárias e que não fizessem uso de anticoncepcional continuamente. O questionário incluiu questões sobre dados antropométricos, sintomas físicos e mentais nos períodos menstrual e pré-menstrual. O teste Mann-Whitney comparou os momentos menstrual e pré-menstrual. Resultados: no período menstrual, em uma escala numérica de 0 a 10 pontos, observou-se maiores queixas de dor (7/10), mau humor (7/10), desânimo (8/10), irritabilidade (8/10), ansiedade (7/10), choro (7/10), raiva (9/10) e impacto nas atividades de vida diárias (AVDs) (7/10). Já no período pré-menstrual observou-se queixas de cefaleia (5/10), edema/retenção hídrica (6/10), mau humor (6/10), tristeza (6/10), irritabilidade (7/10), choro (7/10) e raiva (6/10). Quando comparados os períodos menstrual e pré-menstrual, o período menstrual apresentou piores sintomas de dismenorreia (P<0,05), lombalgia (P<0,05), dor nos membros inferiores (P<0,05), dificuldade de concentração (P<0,05), aumento do sono (P<0,05) e desânimo (P<0,05). As voluntárias apontaram 14 sintomas piores, com intensidade igual ou maior que 7 no período menstrual, e apresentaram 9 sintomas com intensidade igual ou maior que 7 no período pré-menstrual. Conclusão: os sintomas no período menstrual são mais intensos quando comparados ao período pré-menstrual e podem afetar AVDs. O presente estudo destaca a importância de análises e cuidados em relação ao período menstrual, já que tem grande impacto nos fatores físicos, mentais e emocionais das mulheres sedentárias.

Objective: to establish the differences in physical and mental symptoms in menstrual and premenstrual periods in sedentary women. Methods: cross-sectional study, through questionnaire, answered by 77 healthy women, aged 18 to 35 years, sedentary and who did not use contraceptives continuously. The questionnaire included questions about anthropometric data, physical and mental symptoms in menstrual and premenstrual periods. The Mann-Whitney test compared menstrual and premenstrual times. Results: in the menstrual period, on a numerical scale from 0 to 10 points, there were more complaints of pain (7/10), bad mood (7/10), discouragement (8/10), irritability (8/10), anxiety (7/10), crying (7/10), anger (9/10) and impact on ADLs (7/10). In the premenstrual period, there were complaints of headache (5/10), edema/water retention (6/10), bad mood (6/10), sadness (6/10), irritability (7/10), crying (7/10) and anger (6/10). When comparing the menstrual and premenstrual periods, the menstrual period had worse symptoms of dysmenorrhea (P<0.05), low back pain (P<0.05), pain in the lower limbs (P<0.05), difficulty concentrating (P<0.05), increased sleep (P<0.05) and discouragement (P<0.05). The volunteers reported 14 worse symptoms, with intensity equal to or greater than 7 in the menstrual period, and 9 symptoms with intensity equal to or greater than 7 in the premenstrual period. Conclusion: the symptoms in the menstrual period are more intense when compared to the pre-menstrual period and can affect the ADLs. This study highlights the importance of analysis and greater care in relation to the menstrual period, as it has a great impact on physical, mental and emotional factors in sedentary women.

Effect of COVID-19 on Menstruation: An Observational Study

Introduction: COVID-19 patients have been reported to have systemic complications. Analyzing its effect on the endocrine system is essential to ensure women’s reproductive health. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19 disease on menstruation. Methods: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted from October 2021 to April 2022, using a validated questionnaire to collect the data. The study included females (15 to 49 years) who had confirmed COVID infection. Results: A total of 132 females participated in the study. For 29 (22%) patients presenting with menstrual cycle changes, most common change was prolonged cycle (14%). An increase in menstrual volume was reported by 12%, where as 35% of patients experienced more pain during menstruation. Menstrual irregularities were significantly higher in severe infection (p-value 0.04). Conclusion: There were transient changes in menstruation in COVID-19-infected patients, with a higher probability of menstruation abnormalities among severely infected patients.