Menstrual problems of adolescent girls attending urban tertiary care hospital: One-year study

Abstract

Many adolescent girls with menstrual disturbances never present to their family doctor or gynaecologist due to embarrassment about discussing menstruation and fear of disease. This may lead to delayed presentation. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the socio-demographic aspects of adolescent girls having menstrual problems as well as type of menstrual problems and its management.This retrospective study was carried out at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of tertiary care teaching hospital from July 2019 to July 2020. Total of 141 adolescent girls visited our hospital with menstrual problems. Amongst them 90(63.8%) belonged to the late adolescent group, 135(95.7%) were residing at urban areas, 70(49.6%) were from middle socio-economic class and 126(89.3%) were unmarried. Dysmenorrhoea, menstrual irregularities and amenorrhoea were present in 86(61%), 38(27%) and 17(12%) respectively. Patients were managed either medical and/or surgical management along with proper counselling. Majority of the adolescent girls in our study were anaemic. Hence, prevention and management of anaemia along with health education regarding normal physiology, various menstrual problems and importance of nutrition is necessary. In India attempts and success to develop adolescent friendly health services in public and private systems have met with partial success. Hence, counselling and management of menstrual problems in adolescents needs to be provided in existing health and medical care services.