Poor Correlation of Stress Levels and Menstrual Patterns among Medical Students

Main Article Content

Mini Sood
Ambigga Devi
Azlinawati Aqil Mohd Daher
Salmi Razali
Hapizah Nawawi
Sareena Hashim
Mohd Tahir

Abstract

Background: There are conflicting reports about the effect of psychological stress upon menstruation. We studied menstrual patterns and stress in 254 undergraduate medical students. Method: All girls of years one and two were included. The students maintained menstrual records over six months. DASS questionnaires measured stress. Salivary cortisol levels were also measured. Results: In year 1 and 2 students, persisting normal cycles were 39.4% and 36.5%; normal becoming abnormal were 28.8% and 23.1%; abnormal becoming normal were 19.2% and 17.3%; persisting abnormal were 12.5% and 23.1% . Students with moderate to severe stress (20% and 21%) had less stress at six months (13% and 15%) Comment: Most students have normal menstrual patterns, and no stress. Stress if present tends to decrease with time. There is no clear association between psychological stress and menstrual abnormality.

Article Details

How to Cite
Sood, M., Devi, A., Mohd Daher, A. A., Razali, S., Nawawi, H., Hashim, S., & Tahir, M. (2017). Poor Correlation of Stress Levels and Menstrual Patterns among Medical Students. Journal of ASIAN Behavioural Studies, 2(5), 73–78. https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v2i5.221

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