[Menstrual disorders. Is this a problem to be handled by occupational medicine physician?]. / Zaburzenia cyklu miesiecznego. Czy jest to problem, którym powinien sie interesowac lekarz sluzby medycyny pracy?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to define the frequency of menstrual disorders and identify risk factors, especially those associated with the work environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group was composed of 142 women, aged 22-45 years. Some of them were employed in a cosmetics manufacture plant and a bank, others were hospital and ambulatory nurses and auxiliary personnel. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed irregular cycles in one third and prolonged bleeding in one fourth of the women. Long cycles were observed in one fifth of the women and short cycles were noted in every tenth women. It was found that occasional or frequent contact with ethylene oxide increased the risk of irregular cycles and oligomenorrhea, whereas work around X-ray apparatus was responsible for the risk of long cycles and heavy bleeding. Long rest pauses during work (in this study correlated with work load) were regarded as a factor inducing the risk of oligomenorrhea and prolonged bleeding. A randomly sampled group of 33 women measured morning temperature during two consecutive cycles. Of this number, 15 women (45.5%) showed ovulation in both cycles, 11 (33.3%) in one cycle only, and 7 both anovulatory cycles. The risk of ovulation disorders was enhanced by a two-shift work system (mostly night shift) and strong job stress. Energy expenditure for leisure time activity > 1000 kcal/week and smoking also contributed to an enhanced risk. In summing up, it should be stressed that because of varied frequency of irregular cycles determined by the intensity of environmental factors, occupational medicine physicians should gather data on the occurrence of such disorders and undertake relevant preventive measures.

[Perimenstrual complaints--is this a problem to be handled by occupational medicine physicians]. / Dolegliwosci zwiazane z miesiaczkowaniem. Czy jest to problem, którym powinien sie interesowac lekarz sluzby medycyny pracy?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to define associations between intensity of perimenstrual complaints, the type of job performed and working conditions, taking also account of non-occupational factors. The study preceding the development of a preventive program was carried out in a group of women employed in work settings different in the character and burden of adverse agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The group was composed of 142 women, aged 21-45 years, employed in a cosmetics manufacture plant (27%) and a bank (27%), as well as of hospital and ambulatory nurses and auxiliary personnel (50%). A questionnaire on premenstrual and menstrual complaints, working conditions, characteristics of the women and their household duties load was the main tool of the study. RESULTS: The study revealed that about 80% of women experienced premenstrual and about 75% menstrual symptoms, which were strongly intensified in 40% of women. After applying logistic regression, it was found that physical workload and occupational stress were the major occupational risk factors, whereas chronic diseases, age, household duties load and alcohol consumption were the major non-occupational risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The evidenced relationship between complaints and adverse agents typical of the job performed should prompt occupational medicine physicians to more comprehensive analysis of individual jobs in view of reducing occupational load.