Menstrual cycle length disorders in 18-to 40-y-old obese women

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the relation between menstrual cycle length disorders and degree of obesity. METHODS: We enrolled 120 obese patients ages 18 to 40 y from an outpatient obesity clinic in a cross-sectional study. Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome were excluded. Obesity was classified in five grades by relative weight.. Waist-to-hip ratio was measured and comorbidities were assessed in each patient. Patients were asked to record menstrual cycle characteristics for 3 mo. Logistic regression analysis was performed, with age and type 2 diabetes as confounding variables. The patients' mean age was 29.9 +/- 6.4 y, the mean relative weight was 159.2 +/- 26.6%, and the mean waist-to-hip ratio was 0.84 +/- 0.1. RESULTS: Twenty-two (18.3%) patients had oligomenorrhea and 14 (11.7%) had amenorrhea. The risks for amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea were increased twofold by each unit increase of obesity grade. The odds ratio by waist-to-hip ratio tertile was not statistically significant. Type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance were statistically significantly associated with amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Higher obesity grades were associated with higher probabilities of menstrual cycle disturbances such as amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea in this group of Mexican women.