All issues > Volume 37(11); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(11):1586-1595. Published online November 15, 1994.

A Study for Menstruation of School Girl in Ansan

Ae Yeon AY Lim¹, Dae Hun DH Pee¹, Baik Lin BL Eun¹, Sang Hee SH Park¹, Soon Kyum SK Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Menstruation is a great part as the procedure for physiological, psychological development and physical growth, and menstrual disorders are very common problems in adolescence period. These problems can be resolved by interview or appropriate education of normal pubertal development. However unlike other developed countries, systematic report or appropriate education for menstruation may not be performed in our country. Therefore, our pediatric department investigated for menstruation of normal pubertal age women as an information educating adolescence.
Methods
: In cross-sectional study(ex, questionnaire), 4112 junior high and high school girl students (12~18 years old) in Ansan, Kyungki-do were investigated for menarcheal age, menstrual cycle, duration, amount, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea and relation to family history.
Results
: 1) Mean Menarcheal age was 12.9¡¾1.2 years. According to menarcheal age by present age, menarcheal age was younger when present age was young as menarcheal age 11.8¡¾0.6 years at 12 years, 13.3¡¾1.1 years at 16 years, and 13.7¡¾1.1 years at 18 years, respectively (p<0.001). 2) The month during which menarche occurs most frequently was August (14.7%), followed by July, December and January. 3) Considering menstrual cycle, mixed type (regular and irregular cycle) was most common (39.0%), and menstrual cycle became regular after mean 8.8¡¾8.4 months. 4) In women having regular menarcheal cycle, most women (53.0%) had menstrual cycles between 26 and 30 days, next was 21~25 days and 31~35 days according to frequency. 5) Menstrual duration was 5~6 days by 49.6% of the women. 6) Premenstrual syndrome was noted in 56.0% of the women, in that 42.5% experienced occasionally and 13.5% always, respectively. 7) Dysmenorrhea was showed in 85.0% of the women. A total of 63.7% of the respondents suffered from dysmenorrhea was unaffected on daily activity as grade 1 and was needed no medication to relieve pain. Grade 2 (20.5%) was defined that limited daily activity and was needed medication to relieve pain. Grade3(0.9%) was defined that inhibited daily activity seriously, and was unimproved by analgesics. 8) The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 78.0% at 12 years, 85.9% at 15years and 94.0% at 18 years, respectively. Getting older, frequency of dysmenorrhea was increasing. 9) Dysmenorrhea was experienced for the first time during the first year after the menarche by 65.3% of the women.The amount of menstrual bleeding was significantly correlated to the severity of dysmenorrhea (p<0.001), and dysmenorrhea reported by the women was significantly correlated to maternal dysmenorrhea (p<0.01) and to sisters with dysmenorrhea(p<0.001).
Conclusion
: We found that Korean adolescent girls had earlier menarcheal age than past period, and they had many problems for menstruation. This study suggested that it may be needed adolescent education and appropriate treatment of menstrual disorders.

Keywords :Menarche, Premenstrual syndrome, Dysmenorrhea