Association between Non-Competitive Physical Exercise and Menstrual Disorders.

ABSTRACT

Menstrual disorders are highly prevalent and generate discomfort, anxiety, and more gynecological visits. There has been an increase in the practice of physical exercise among the general population. This study determined the association between physical exercise and menstrual disorders. An observational analytical study was conducted during 2016 in women of reproductive age from southeast Spain. Information was collected on sociodemographic, gynecological, and nutritional status variables, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to gather data on physical exercise. Quantitative/qualitative variables were compared using the non- parametric Mann-Whitney U test and categorical variables with the chi-square (χ2) or Fisher's exact test, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The study included 122 women; physical exercise was practiced by 50%; menstrual disorders were reported by 53.28 %. The practice of physical exercise, h/week of physical exercise, body type, level of physical exercise, and marital status were associated with the presence of menstrual cycle disorders (p˂0.05). This association persisted (p=0.042) after adjustment of the analysis for impaired nutritional status, medication consumption, the presence of disease, age, marital status, age at menarche, and number of children. A high physical activity not related to the practice of sport is associated with menstrual disorders.