Menstrual Adjustment Administering Hormonal Agents: A Survey of Iranian Pilgrim Women During Long-Term Travel

Women’s activity in many social and religious events necessitates them to have their menstruation suppressed, including in yearly Hajj rites for Muslim women. According to the Islamic religious set-ups, Muslim women must be physically and morally clean during the Hajj rites in Mecca. In this research, the efficiency and side effects of extended consumption of hormonal agents in Iranian women during the Hajj rites in Mecca were examined.

The retrospective cross-sectional study involved a sum of 212 participants of pilgrim women recruited from 30 Sep. to 4 Nov. 2013, already prescribed with different types of hormonal agents for 35 - 36 days. Thereafter, they were assessed by questionnaires for the sake of success and side effects throughout the approach.

Out of 212 subjects, 161 (75.9%) had experienced menstrual delay during Hajj rites with no spotting. Women taking combined oral contraceptives within the first half of their menstrual cycle had a significant postponement of menstrual bleeding.

Majority of the pilgrim women who completed the Hajj rites thoroughly with no spotting were satisfied with the extended consumption of hormonal agents.