Menstrual cycle disorders in girls living in environmentally disadvantaged areas of Kazakhstan: A cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37800/RM.3.2026.628Keywords:
ecological factors, adolescent girls, reproductive health, menstrual disorders, hormonal imbalanceAbstract
Relevance: Environmental pollution is an important determinant of population health. Adolescents are a vulnerable group, and pubertal girls are particularly sensitive to external factors that may affect the maturation of the reproductive system.
The study aimed to assess the relationship between living in ecologically unfavorable areas and menstrual cycle characteristics and individual reproductive health indicators among adolescent girls in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional clinical and laboratory study involved 150 girls aged 12-17 years residing in ecologically distinct regions of the Turkestan region, Kazakhstan. Of them, 80 girls (53.3%) were from environmentally unfavorable areas and 70 (46.7%) were from environmentally favorable control areas.
This study comprised a secondary analysis of previous questionning date, as well as clinical, gynecological, and laboratory data obtained within the state-registered research project No. 0115RK00694 and grant project No. 1341/GF4, as documented in the 2016 interim research report. The present study methodology included selecting relevant records from the existing database, grouping participants by region of residence, and a comparative analysis of available socio-demographic, lifestyle, clinical, gynecological, and laboratory indicators. No new survey, clinical examination, or laboratory testing was conducted specifically for this study.
Results: Menstrual disorders were more frequent among girls from environmentally unfavorable areas than among controls: cycle irregularity was reported in 45% vs. 22%, painful menstruation in 52% vs. 27%, and hormonal imbalance in 38% vs. 15%, respectively. The mean age at menarche was lower in the environmentally unfavorable group than in the control group (13.2 ± 0.8 vs. 13.7 ± 0.6 years).
Conclusion: Living in environmentally unfavorable areas was associated with earlier menarche and a higher frequency of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls. These findings suggest that environmental conditions may contribute to disturbances in menstrual function and hormonal regulation during puberty. Strengthening preventive healthcare, environmental monitoring, and reproductive health education may help reduce reproductive health risks in adolescents living in polluted areas.
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