Relationship between Age at Menarche and Menstrual Irregularities in Reproductive Age

Factors associated with menstrual irregularities are highly important. This study aimed to determine the association between age at menarche and menstrual irregularities in reproductive period.

This prospective longitudinal study, was done in women participating in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study who did not reach menarche at the time of enrollment, but their age of menarche was recorded later during follow-up visits. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the age of menarche: 1- menarcheal age< 11 years; 2- menarcheal age 11-15 years, and 3-menarcheal age>15 years. The odds of menstrual irregularities were compared between these groups considering group 2 as reference. Statistical analyses were performed in STATA V13.

The odds of menstrual irregularities in women of group 1 was two times higher than those in group 2 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.8) that was 2.2 times higher (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.2) after adjusting for age and body mass index.

Menarcheal age <11 years increases the risk of menstrual irregularities in reproductive women and should be considered as an influential factor in assessment of women with menstrual irregularities.