Objective: To investigate the menstruation status of reproductive age women of Han Nationality in Liaoning province.
Methods: From Apr. 2008 to Dec. 2008, 1611 women at age of 19-45 years from Shenyang, Yingkou, Benxi, Zhangwu were enrolled in this study according to epidemiologic cluster sampling method. The study was performed by questionnaire consisting of age of menarche, regularity of menstruation, menstrual cycle and dysmenorrhea, et al.
Results: In the survey of 1611 women, the average menarche age is 14.4 years old, there were significant difference on menarche between (14.2 +/- 1.5) years in women from city and (14.6 +/- 1.5) years in women from country (t = 6.58, P < 0.01). The linear regression statistic method was used to analyze the relationship between age and menarche age, the linear regression equation was gotten as Y = 0.074X + 11.855, which means 1 year increase was associated with decrease by 0.074 years in menarche age approximately. About 86.34% (1391/1611) of women have normal and regular menstrual cycle at range of 21 to 35 days, while 11.05% (178/1611) of women have longer menstrual cycle (> 35 days) and 2.61% (42/1611) of women have shorter menstrual cycle (< 21 days). Of which 65.67% (1058/1611) women have regular menstrual cycle just after menarche, 94.97% (1530/1611) of women would have regular menstruation in 2 years after menarche. The rate of dysmenorrhea was 42.09% (678/1611), of which 13.6% (92/678) women have high severe pelvic pain.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that the trend went toward younger ages of menarche, which was younger menarche age in women from city than country. About 95% women would have regular menstrual cycle within 2 years after menarche.