Keywords
menstrual cycle
reproductive health
sexual maturation
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: The menstrual cycle is a key indicator of a woman’s reproductive health. Its regularity, length, and the characteristics of individual phases reflect the maturation of the reproductive system and the maintenance of hormonal balance. Adolescence is a particularly dynamic period, during which menstrual cycles often show considerable variability in length, irregularity, and ovulatory patterns. Despite its clinical significance, few studies have analysed the menstrual cycle in adolescents based on self-recorded cycle observation charts. The aim of this study was to characterize selected menstrual cycle parameters in girls aged 12–19 years and to compare these parameters according to the participants’ gynaecological age. Method: The study included 103 girls aged 12–19 who completed menstrual cycle observation charts. They recorded parameters such as cycle length, duration of bleeding, presence of cervical mucus, basal body temperature changes, and additional symptoms such as dysmenorrhea or intermenstrual spotting. Statistical analysis of the empirical data was conducted, taking into account the participants’ biological and gynaecological age. Results: The average cycle length among girls who had been menstruating for ≤3 years was approximately 28.7 days, while in those menstruating for >3 years, it was approximately 30.8 days. The shortest recorded cycle lasted 18 days, and the longest 54 days. A 6-day bleeding duration was reported by 31.1% of participants, making it the most frequently observed length. The most frequently observed luteal phase length was 13 days. Fertile-type cervical mucus was typically observed around day 16 of the cycle, with peak mucus secretion occurring on days 19–20. Menstrual pain was recorded in 17.5% of all charts; however, information on the presence or absence of menstrual pain was missing in 46.6% of charts. Cycles without features suggestive of ovulation were more frequently observed among girls in the early years following menarche. Conclusions: Menstrual cycles in adolescent girls show considerable variation in length and associated symptoms, consistent with literature describing the immaturity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis during this stage of life. Following prior training, most participants were able to record selected menstrual cycle parameters in accordance with the adopted self-observation protocol. However, interpretation of these findings should take into account that the study focused on the recording of cycle parameters and did not include independent validation of the accuracy of self-observation.
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