PROFILE OF MENSTRUAL CYCLES AMONGST EDUCATED YOUNG ADULT FEMALES IN A METROPOLITAN CITY

Michelle Susan Jiju; Srabani Bhattacharya; Sundaram Kartikeyan

Volume : IX, Issue : VI, June - 2020

PROFILE OF MENSTRUAL CYCLES AMONGST EDUCATED YOUNG ADULT FEMALES IN A METROPOLITAN CITY

Michelle Susan Jiju, Srabani Bhattacharya, Sundaram Kartikeyan

Abstract :

This cross–sectional interview–based study was conducted on 93 women (education: 12th Standard and above; average age: 20.08 +/– 1.75 years) in a metropolitan city in Maharashtra, India. Their average ages at menarche and awareness of menstruation were 12.96 +/– 1.33 years and 11.85 +/– 1.57 years, respectively. The average duration of menstrual bleeding was 4.97 +/– 1.52 days, with a majority reporting moderate flow. Peri–menstrual symptoms included fatigue / tiredness, craving for foods, east tenderness and mental irritability. Only 23 out of 59 symptomatic respondents (38.98%) had sought treatment. Nearly one–half of the respondents changed sanitary pads two times or less per day and cleaned the genital area only while bathing. 47 (50.53%) disposed off their used sanitary pads along with household waste. The menstrual practices and problems divulged by the educated respondents indicate the need for a larger study for devising interventional programmes.