Highlights
- •There is no difference regarding menstrual characteristics in MS patients before onset of the disease and healthy controls.
- •Irregular menstrual cycle happens more after the disease occurrence.
- •Almost all perimenstrual symptoms are reported more frequently by MS patients.
Abstract
Background
Menstruation is suggested to affect multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, while the effect
of MS on menstruation is not studied before. Here, we aimed to compare the pattern
of menstrual cycle and its symptoms between MS patients and healthy controls.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study conducted during 2015–2016 in MS clinic of Kashani
hospital, Isfahan, Iran. We included female patients > 14 years with diagnosis of
relapsing-remitting MS, and healthy subjects as the control group. We collected data
regarding menarche age, menstrual characteristics, history of premenstrual syndrome,
the amount of menstrual bleeding, and the possible perimenstrual symptoms from all
subjects. Also, MS patients were asked to report changes in menstrual characteristics
after MS occurrence.
Results
The final study population contained 181 MS patients and 202 healthy subjects. The
mean age in MS and control group were 36.04 ± 9.86 and 35.16 ± 11.30, respectively
(P-value = 0.426). Menarche age in MS patients and control group were not statistically
different (13.59 ± 1.87 and 13.29 ± 1.53, respectively; P-value = 0.087). Changing
menstrual characteristics was reported in 70 MS patients (38.7%). Irregular menstrual
cycle increased from 21% to 40.3% after occurrence of MS (P-value < 0.001) and was
reported 24.7% in the control group. MS patients versus controls reported more symptoms
before, during, and after their menstrual period (P-values < 0.001).
Conclusion
We found no difference regarding menstrual characteristics in MS patients before onset
of the disease and healthy controls. Irregular menstrual cycle was observed more after
the disease occurrence while other menstrual characteristics did not change. Moreover,
MS patients reported many more perimenstrual symptoms.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 02, 2018
Accepted:
January 21,
2018
Received in revised form:
January 5,
2018
Received:
November 6,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.
