Assessment the effect of menstrual symptoms among female medical students In Tikrit medical college in 2012

Abstract

Menstruation (period) considered as major stages in puberty in girls, it is one of many physical signs that the girls turning into women. Cross-sectional study carried out in Tikrit University College Of Medicine among 120(16%) female medical students during three period, 2012 as stratified simple random sample. A certain questionnaire was given for each students. The range of menarche that reported as common one was between 11-13years by 66.7%(80). 89.2% (107) female students have symptoms associated with menstrual cycle. The most disturbed symptoms was abdominal pain by 72.9%(78). Most of these female use analgesic to relieve symptoms by 72%(77). The highest rate for irregular menstrual cycle reported among those from 1St stage by 26.9%(7)and 50% (8) can't identify the regularity. The menstrual cycle affected by stress 45.9% (55), anemia 14.2%(17) and family history with 45.9%(55). Out of the total (107), 35.5%(38) students had school absent, and 31.8%(34) experienced social withdrawal. Health education on menstrual problems targeting female students and their parents , and routine screening for menstrual problems by healthcare providers , can help prevent the absenteeism .