National Journal of Community Medicine│Volume 11│Issue 5│May 2020 Page 222 ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE pISSN 0976 3325│eISSN 2229 6816 Open Access Article www.njcmindia.org DOI: 10.5455/njcm.20200207073310 A Cross-Sectional Study on Menstrual Pattern among Adolescent Girls in Aligarh Farha Tarannum 1 , Najam Khalique 2 , Uzma Eram 3 Financial Support: None declared Conflict of Interest: None declared Copy Right: The Journal retains the copyrights of this article. However, re- production is permissible with due acknowledgement of the source. How to cite this article: Farha Tarannum, Najam Khalique, Uzma Eram. A Cross-Sectional Study on Menstrual Pattern among Adoles- cent Girls in Aligarh. Natl J Communi- ty Med 2020;11(5):222-226 Author’s Affiliation: 1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Commu- nity Medicine, Mamta Academy Of Medical Sciences, Bachupally, Hydera- bad; 2 Professor; 3 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Ja- waharlal Nehru Medical College, Amu, Aligarh Correspondence Farha Tarannum farha.amu88@gmail.com Date of Submission: 07-02-2020 Date of Acceptance: 26-05-2020 Date of Publication: 31-05-2020 ABSTRACT Background: Adolescents (10-19 years) constitute 21.3% of total population of India. Major biological milestone in this period is the beginning of menstruation The menstrual cycle are characterized by variability in volume, pattern and regularity. There are few re- search on menstrual pattern of adolescent girls. Hence this study will highlight the menstrual pattern and factors affecting it. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study in schools under Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh was undertaken. A total of 422 girls were taken by systematic random sampling with prob- ability proportionate to size. Data was analysed statistically by bivariate analysis and multivariate (binary) logistic model by backward LR method using SPSS Version 20. Results: 39.1% of girls experienced irregular cycle. Heavy bleeding was reported by 25.6% girls and 18.7% had scanty bleeding. Ir- regular cycle was 4.25 times in underweight and 2.19 times in overweight/obese compared to normal body mass index. There was 46% reduction in irregular cycle for those who attained men- arche for more than 2 years. Conclusion: There are many host factors which influence men- strual pattern in girls. These factors increases the girls risk for various reproductive disorders in future. Keywords: menstrual cycle, menstruation, obese, irregular cycle INTRODUCTION Adolescents (10-19 years) constitute 21.3% i.e. near- ly 1/5th of total population of India .1 Adolescence is the transitional period between childhood and adulthood when endocrinological, somatic, meta- bolic and psychological changes occur in the fe- male. Major biological milestone in this period is the beginning of menstruation. Menstruation is a monthly endometrial shedding leading to the dis- charge of blood from the uterus occurring in every 28 ± 7 day. 2,3 The average menstrual bleeding lasts about 5 days, which sums up to females having approximately67 months of menstruation throughout her reproductive age. 4 Menstruation, and the menstrual cycle are characterized by vari- ability in volume, pattern and regularity. It acts as a significant tool in the monitoring of normal de- velopment as well as diagnosis of pathological conditions in adolescent girls. Since there is paucity of documented research on menstrual pattern of adolescent girls in and around Aligarh, this study will highlight the men- strual pattern and factors affecting it. The present study can also act as a guide in framing health pol- icy of adolescent girls. OBJECTIVES The research was undertaken to study the men- strual pattern among adolescent girls and also to find out the factors affecting the menstrual pattern in study group.