Menstrual disorders and their association with stress, cortisol levels and physical activity in athletic and non-athletic girls

Pourhaghighi, Neda; Zarneshan, Azam; Vaghef, Ladan

doi:10.61186/JBUMS.31.3.223

Volume 31, Issue 3 (November 2024) J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2024, 31(3): 223-233 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.61186/JBUMS.31.3.223

Research code: طرح پژوهشی نمی باشد.

Ethics code: IR.AZARUNIV.REC.1401.023

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Pourhaghighi N, Zarneshan A, Vaghef L. Menstrual disorders and their association with stress, cortisol levels and physical activity in athletic and non-athletic girls. J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2024; 31 (3) :223-233
URL: http://journal.bums.ac.ir/article-1-3429-en.html

Menstrual disorders and their association with stress, cortisol levels and physical activity in athletic and non-athletic girls

Neda Pourhaghighi¹

, Azam Zarneshan ^*²

, Ladan Vaghef³

1- Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
2- Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran , zarneshan@azaruniv.ac.ir
3- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract: (662 Views)

Background and Aims: Menstrual disorders contribute significantly to infertility. The relationship between psychological stress, cortisol levels, physical activity, and these disorders remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare menstrual disorders and their association with stress, cortisol, and physical activity in female athletes and non-athletes.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 60 young girls aged 18 to 25, each with at least two menstrual disorders, were evaluated in two groups: athletes (VO2max > 40, 30 participants) and non-athletes (30 participants). We assessed the type of menstrual disorder, level of physical activity, perception of stress using the Cohen scale, and salivary cortisol levels.
Results: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of menstrual disorders between the two groups (P<0.05). Dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia were common in both groups. However, hypomenorrhea and amenorrhea were more common in athletic girls with high cortisol levels, while oligomenorrhea was more common in non-athletic girls with high stress (P<0.05). In non-athletic girls, a higher level of physical activity correlated with a decrease in dysmenorrhea, stress, and cortisol levels (P<0.05). In female athletes, longer daily training and higher training frequency were associated with an increased risk of amenorrhea and a reduced risk of metrorrhagia, respectively. Conversely, there was a significant negative correlation between a history of exercise and stress and cortisol levels (P<0.05).
Conclusion: A high level of physical activity in non-athletic girls and a long history of sports in athletic girls may be effective in reducing cortisol and stress and thus reducing the incidence of some menstrual disorders. For female athletes, prolonged daily exercise should be more considered by coaches and athletes to prevent the occurrence of some menstrual disorders.

Keywords: Cortisol, Menstrual disorders, Physical activity, Psychological stress

Full-Text [PDF 582 kb] (345 Downloads) | | Full-Text (HTML) (221 Views)

Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Gynecology & Obstetrics
Received: 2024/06/7 | Accepted: 2024/11/16 | ePublished ahead of print: 2024/12/3 | ePublished: 2024/12/5

References

1. Odongo E, Byamugisha J, Ajeani J, Mukisa J. Prevalence and effects of menstrual disorders on quality of life of female undergraduate students in Makerere University College of health sciences, a cross sectional survey. BMC Women's Health. 2023; 23(1): 1-9. https://doi.:10.1186/s12905-023-02290-7. [DOI:10.1186/s12905-023-02290-7] [PMID] []

2. Tufail A, Mustafa R, Munaver SA, Nawaz B. Frequency of psychological stress among women with new onset menstrual disorders amid corona pandemic lockdown. Pak J Med Sci. 2022; 38(5): 1159-64. https://doi.10.12669/pjms.38.5.4606. [DOI:10.12669/pjms.38.5.4606]

3. Vigil P, Meléndez J, Soto H, Petkovic G, Bernal YA, Molina S. Chronic stress and ovulatory dysfunction: implications in times of COVID-19. Front Glob Womens Health. 2022; 3: 866104. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2022.866104 [DOI:10.3389/fgwh.2022.866104.] [PMID] []

4. Mohamadirizi S, Kordi M, Shakeri MT, Salehi Fadardi J, Hafizi L. Relationship between Job Stress with Menstrual Bleeding Pattern among Midwives. Hayat. 2013; 18(5): 1-11. URL: http://hayat.tums.ac.ir/article-1-1-en.html.

5. Wdowiak A, Raczkiewicz D, Janczyk P, Bojar I, Makara-Studzińska M, Wdowiak-Filip AJIJoER, et al. Interactions of cortisol and prolactin with other selected menstrual cycle hormones affecting the chances of conception in infertile women. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(20): 7537. https://doi.10.3390/ijerph17207537. [DOI:10.3390/ijerph17207537] [PMID] []

6. Salari P, Alavian F, Habibi Rad A, Tara F. The relationship between stress, anxiety and pain with salivary cortisol levels in first stage of labor in primiparous women. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil. 2013; 16(55): 14-21. https://do.10.22038/IJOGI.2013.1174.

7. Kahal F, Alshayeb S, Torbey A, Al Helwani O, Kadri S, Al Helwani A, et al. The prevalence of menstrual disorders and their association with psychological stress in Syrian students enrolled at health‐related schools: A cross‐sectional study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2024; 164(3): 1086-93. https://doi.10.02/ijgo.15152. [DOI:10.1002/ijgo.15152] [PMID]

8. Heidarian Pour A, Zamiri Dalir F, Shorideh Yazdi M. The effects of eight week aerobic exercise on menstrual cycle disorders and hormones levels of FSH and LH. J Sabzevar Univ Med Sci. 2016; 23(2): 336-43. https://jsums.medsab.ac.ir/article_849.html?lang=en

9. Roupas ND, Georgopoulos NA. Menstrual function in sports. Hormones. 2011; 10: 104-16. https://doi.10.14310/horm.2002.1300. [DOI:10.14310/horm.2002.1300] [PMID]

10. Shangold MM. Sports and menstrual function. Phys Sportsmed. 1980; 8(8): 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.1980.11710955 [DOI:10.1080/00913847.1980.11710955.] [PMID]

11. Gudmundsdottir SL, Flanders WD, Augestad LB. A longitudinal study of physical activity and menstrual cycle characteristics in healthy Norwegian women-The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study. Norks Epidemiologi. 2011; 20(20): 163-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v20i2.1337 [DOI:10.5324/nje.v20i2.1337.]

12. Zarneshan A, Salehzadeh K, Ghorbanian B, Sharabiani S, Shirpour S. The Role of Exercise Indices on Menstrual Dysfunctions inFemale College Athletes. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil. 2013; 16(46): 20-7. https://doi.10.22038/IJOGI.2013.765.

13. Aandstad A. Relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical fitness in young men and women. Eur J Sport Sci. 2021; 23(2): 301-9. https://doi.10.1080/17461391.2021.2012597. [DOI:10.1080/17461391.2021.2012597] [PMID]

14. Rimmele U, Zellweger BC, Marti B, Seiler R, Mohiyeddini C, Ehlert U, et al. Trained men show lower cortisol, heart rate and psychological responses to psychosocial stress compared with untrained men. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007; 32(6): 627-35. https://doi.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.005. [DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.005] [PMID]

15. Rashid Almasi B, Alipour A, Character NS, Journal E. The effect of positive psychotherapy intervention on depression, stress and happiness infertile women. J Family Pathology, Counseling. 2019; 4(2): 75-88. URL: http://fpcej.ir/article-1-218-en.html.

16. Ehrenthal D, Hoffman M, Hillard P A, & American College of Physicians. Menstrual disorders: [a practical guide]. American College of Physicians. 2006. P.18-9. https://search.worldcat.org/title/menstrual-disorders-a-practical-guide/oclc/62381581.

17. Tajmiri M, Rahmani-Nia F. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and physical activity level with risk factors in women with myocardial infarction. J Shahrekord Univ Med Sci. 2018; 20(4): 1-11. URL: https://www.magiran.com/p1879691

18. Talebpour M, Aghaei M, Azimkhani A, Abbasian S, Ashkani A. A relationship between physical activity and healthy quality of life in students. Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise. 2014; 16(2): 15-21. https://profdoc.um.ac.ir/paper-abstract-1045344.html. [DOI:10.15314/TJSE.201428100]

19. Williams N. The Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Occup Med. 2017; 67(5): 404-5. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx063 [DOI:10.1093/occmed/kqx063.]

20. Rostami Dovom M, Ramezani Tehrani F, Farahmand M, Hashemi S, Rezaee N, Azizi F. Prevalence of menstrual disorders and its related factors in 18-45 year-old Iranian women in four selected provinces. Hakim Journal. 2014; 17(3): 192-9. http://hakim.tums.ac.ir/article-1-1365-en.html.

21. Shahoei R, Nouri B, Darvishi N, Rezaie K, Zandi H, Bayazidi S, et al. Prevalence of menstrual disorders and its related factors in the students of Kurdistan University Of Medical Science in 2018. Sci J Kurdistan Univ Med Sci. 2020; 25(4): 31-41. URL: http://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-5137-en.html. [DOI:10.52547/sjku.25.4.31]

22. Eidi KM, Afzalpour ME, Ghanbarzadeh N, Nadjafi SA. Investigating variations of β-endorphin serum levels and pain caused by primary dysmenorrhea following a course of aerobic training with and without consumption of cumin supplement. J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2018; 25(1): 10-20. URL: http://journal.bums.ac.ir/article-1-2361-en.html.

23. Hashemzadeh M, Keramat A, Molla AL, Ghiasi A, Mottaghi Z. Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and its related factors in young girls in iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Payesh (Health Monitor). 2017; 16(3): 325-34. URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-106-en.html

24. Akbarzadeh M, Naderi T, Dabagh Manesh MH, Tabatabaee H, Zare Z. Prevalence of Menstrual Disorders in 14 to 18 years-old Girls and Its Association with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil. 2012; 15(31): 13-9. https://doi.0.22038/IJOGI.2012.101.

25. Ding J-H, Sheckter CB, Drinkwater BL, Soules MR, Bremner WJ. High serum cortisol levels in exercise-associated amenorrhea. Ann Intern Med. 1988; 108(4): 530-4. https://doi.10.7326/0003-4819-108-4-530. [DOI:10.7326/0003-4819-108-4-530] [PMID]

26. Naz MSG, Dovom MR, Tehrani FR. The menstrual disturbances in endocrine disorders: a narrative review. Int J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020; 18(4): e106694. https://doi.10.5812/ijem.106694). [DOI:10.5812/ijem.106694] [PMID] []

27. Oganesyan M, Drozdova G, Skuratovskaya L. Reproductive function of women after psycho-emotional stress. Pathophysiology. 1998; 1001(5): 185. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0928-4680(98)81010-9 [DOI:10.53260/grem.22302035.]

28. Herbert C, Meixner F, Wiebking C, Gilg V. Regular physical activity, short-term exercise, mental health, and well-being among university students: the results of an online and a laboratory study. Front Psychol. 2020; 11: 509. https://doi.10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509. [DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509] [PMID] []

29. De Nys L, Anderson K, Ofosu EF, Ryde GC, Connelly J, Whittaker AC. The effects of physical activity on cortisol and sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022; 143: 105843. 105843 [DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.] [PMID]

30. Wood CJ, Clow A, Hucklebridge F, Law R, Smyth N. Physical fitness and prior physical activity are both associated with less cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2018; 31(2): 135-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2017.1390083 [DOI:10.1080/10615806.2017.1390083.] [PMID]