Resumen

ROJAS, Maritza  y  GUEVARA, Harold. Preliminary Study on Occupation and Lifestyle as Conditioning Factors in Women Menstrual Cycle in a Region of Venezuela. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2014, vol.12, n.3, pp.385-400. ISSN 1692-7273.  https://doi.org/dx.doi.org/10.12804/revsalud12.03.2014.07.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of menstrual cycle (MC) of Venezuelan women of childbearing age, according to socio-demographic (with emphasis on occupation) and medical variables, obstetric history, chemical agents exposure and lifestyles. Material and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study in 180 childbearing women was conducted, using a previous validated questionnaire. Results: MC duration had a median of 28.0 days, 25^th percentile was at 28.0 days and the 75^th percentile was 30.0 days, with a percentage of short (< 24 days) and long cycles (≥ 33 days) of 3.9 and 2.2%, respectively. Menstrual bleeding duration had a median of 5.0 days, 25^th percentile was 4.0 days and 75^th percentile was 5 days. 151 women (83.9%), experienced irregularity of the MC and 146 (81.1%) had irregular bleeding duration. Both irregularities were significantly greater among 20 to 34 years old and single women. A negative and significant correlation between age and duration of menstrual bleeding was detected (p = 0.035).When comparing bleeding duration with profession/occupation, a significant difference was established (Kruskal-Wallis: p < 0.05). This is consistent with some publications that show that menstrual alterations are more frequent in working women in some specific occupations and also in the ones working in shifts. According to chemical use, women that use pesticides show a significant difference between pesticides exposure and MC duration, which is consistent with previously reported studies. In the same way, there was a significant association between coffee consumption and menstrual disturbances, in both cases, bleeding and MC duration. However, there was no significance when that association was calculated based on the amount of estimated caffeine intake. Conclusions: Within the limitations concerning a descriptive study, both MC duration and bleeding, theoretically were within normal limits. However, the variability percentage was important and should be considered. Occupation is an influencing factor over bleeding duration as well as coffee consumption and pesticide exposure. The methodology used is suitable for MC characterization and represents the beginning of further investigations in Venezuela using a larger sample and including other possible factors that could influence MC characteristics.

Palabras clave : Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Conditioning Ffactors.

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