scholarly journals Connecting the Dots Between Mental and Menstrual Health: An Exploratory Review

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Ejiroghene Ajari

Context: Mental and menstrual health, two emerging aspects of health critical to the female population, are bidirectionally linked. But there is limited empirical evidence that establishes the association between these entities. This essay aims to draw the attention of researchers to this healthcare niche. Evidence Acquisition: An exploratory review was carried out on literatures sourced from medical databases (e.g. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science), and gray sources-popular and reputable institutional and journalistic websites that publishes mental or menstrual health research. The key words used for the search are “menstruation, menstrual hygiene, menstrual disorders, premenstrual syndrome, period poverty, menarche, menopause, mental health, mental disorder, mental illness, depression, anxiety, phobia, mania, mood, and affect”. The initial search generated 368 results. But after the duplicates were removed, the exclusion criteria (publication before 2000, and in languages other than English) was applied, and manual review of abstract (for relevance) was done, 21 publications from the databases and 5 from gray sources were included in this review. Results: Associations were found between menstrual cycle irregularities and disorders; and mental disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, major depressive disorder, major anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, sleep disorder, substance use/abuse, and suicidal ideation and attempts. Few positive associations between mental and menstrual health were recorded, and several research and treatment gaps were identified. Conclusions: Research into the links between mental and menstrual health should not remain a fringe area of scientific curiosity, as it shows tremendous promise in improving healthcare offered to women/girls globally.

Author(s):  
Esther Ajari

Context: Mental and menstrual health, two emerging aspects of health critical to the female population, are bidirectionally linked. But there is limited empirical evidence that establishes the association between these entities. This essay aims to draw the attention of researchers to this healthcare niche. Evidence Acquisition: A systematic review was carried out on literatures sourced from medical databases (e.g. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science), and gray sources—popular and reputable institutional and journalistic websites that publishes mental or menstrual health research. The key words used for the search are “Menstruation, menstrual hygiene, menstrual disorders, premenstrual syndrome, period poverty, menarche, menopause, mental health, mental disorder, mental illness, depression, anxiety, phobia, mania, mood, and affect”. The initial search generated 368 results. But after the duplicates were removed, the exclusion criteria (publication before 2000) was applied, and manual review of abstract (for relevance) was done, 21 publications from the databases and 5 from gray sources were included in this essay. Results: Associations were found between menstrual cycle irregularities and disorders; and mental disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, major depressive disorder, major anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, sleep disorder, substance use/abuse, and suicidal ideation and attempts.Few positive associations between mental and menstrual health were recorded, and several research and treatment gaps were identified. Conclusion: Research into the links between mental and menstrual health should not remain a fringe area of scientific curiosity, as it shows tremendous promise in improving healthcare offered to women/girls globally.


Author(s):  
Kathryn Holmes ◽  
Christina Curry ◽  
Sherry Sherry ◽  
Tania Ferfolja ◽  
Kelly Parry ◽  
...  

Background: Poor menstrual health literacy impacts adolescents’ quality of life and health outcomes across the world. The aim of this systematic review was to identify concerns about menstrual health literacy in low/middle (LMIC) and high-income (HIC) countries. Methods: Relevant social science and medical databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers from January 2008 to January 2020 identifying 61 relevant studies. Results: A thematic analysis of the data revealed that LMICs report detrimental impacts on adolescents in relation to menstrual hygiene and cultural issues, while in HICs, issues related to pain management and long term health outcomes were reported more frequently. Conclusions: In order to improve overall menstrual health literacy in LMICs and HICs, appropriate policies need to be developed, drawing on input from multiple stakeholders to ensure evidence-based and cost-effective practical interventions.


2017 ◽  
Vol Ano 7 ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
Leiliane Aparecida Diniz Tamashiro ◽  
Bianca Cristina Tunes Nakad ◽  
Joel Rennó ◽  
Antônio Geraldo da Silva ◽  
Renan Rocha ◽  
...  

Objetivo: Elucidar as principais hipóteses atuais sobre o transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual (TDPM), a síndrome pré-menstrual (SPM) e a terapia cognitiva comportamental (TCC) como tratamento. Método: Foi realizada uma pesquisa nos bancos de dados PubMed, Cochrane e BIREME (LILACS/BVS), nos idiomas português, espanhol e inglês, no período de 2000 a 2017, utilizando os seguintes descritores: transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual, síndrome prémenstrual e terapia cognitiva comportamental. Resultados: Um total de 107 estudos enquadrou-se nos critérios de inclusão – artigos de revisão da literatura, estudos do tipo corte transversal, estudos do tipo coorte prospectivo e estudo do tipo coorte retrospectivo. Cento e cinco estudos identificaram fatores fundamentais para o desenvolvimento da TDPM – as hipóteses da função ovariana, função hormonal, neurotransmissores, genética e fatores ambientais e vulnerabilidade. Desde 2009, temos estudos sobre a TCC como tratamento de primeira linha. Conclusão: Os fundamentos do TDPM podem ser vistos como uma complexa multiplicidade de fatores. Ainda não há nada conclusivo; futuras pesquisas são necessárias para definir os processos etiopatogênicos do TDPM. A TCC demonstrou sua eficácia como tratamento de primeira linha para SPM e TDPM.


Author(s):  
Laura Rossouw ◽  
Hana Ross

Menstrual hygiene management and health is increasingly gaining policy importance in a bid to promote dignity, gender equality and reproductive health. Effective and adequate menstrual hygiene management requires women and girls to have access to their menstrual health materials and products of choice, but also extends into having private, clean and safe spaces for using these materials. The paper provides empirical evidence of the inequality in menstrual hygiene management in Kinshasa (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rajasthan (India), Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda using concentration indices and decomposition methods. There is consistent evidence of wealth-related inequality in the conditions of menstrual hygiene management spaces as well as access to sanitary pads across all countries. Wealth, education, the rural-urban divide and infrastructural limitations of the household are major contributors to these inequalities. While wealth is identified as one of the key drivers of unequal access to menstrual hygiene management, other socio-economic, environmental and household factors require urgent policy attention. This specifically includes the lack of safe MHM spaces which threaten the health and dignity of women and girls.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Takeda ◽  
Yoko Imoto ◽  
Hiroyo Nagasawa ◽  
Miyuki Muroya ◽  
Masami Shiina

2021 ◽  
pp. 40-42
Author(s):  
Manjula M ◽  
M.K.C. Nair ◽  
Babu George ◽  
Leena M L ◽  
Preeja B

Background: Menstrual problems are common among adolescent girls which can affect their daily routine and quality of life. Early detection and intervention for the menstrual problems can improve future reproductive health. Aims: To nd the prevalence and type of menstrual disorders, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder among adolescents in the primary care setting. This was a community based cross sectional survey done covering Materials and methods: the whole of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala..Anganwadis were the primary data collecting units, selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected using pretested structured questionnaire and validated premenstrual symptoms screening tool. Mean, standard deviation and simple percentage were used. Chi square test was used for nding associations and signicance level. P value <0.05 was taken as signicant. The most common reported Results: problems during menstruation were dysmenorrhoea (73.6%), moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome (13.5%), oligomenorrhoea (12.5%), menorrhagia (8.4%) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (6.2%).The prevalence of menstrual problems increased as the age increased Conclusions: Majority of adolescents suffer from one or other menstrual problem which can affect their academic and social life. It can also affect their future reproductive health. So school health programs should give emphasis on adolescent menstrual health for a healthy future generation.


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