By: MOUMITA PAUL, SADARUDDIN BISWAS
Menstruation is defined as the monthly shedding of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. During the pubertal stage, young women frequently encounter menstrual irregularities, which can have a substantial impact on their daily lives. The prevalence of irregular menstruation varies across the country. Such irregularities are generally considered a minor health problem, yet inadequate attention to this issue is a risk factor for many kinds of life-threatening lifestyle diseases. The objective of this paper is to review the potential factors influencing menstruation, including sleep patterns, physical activity, anthropometry, dietary habits, and other lifestyle factors such as smoking patterns and alcohol consumption. This review encompasses the period from 2000 to 2024, encompassing a comprehensive search of computerized databases utilizing various search engines. The search was conducted using the following keywords: “menstrual abnormalities,” “anthropometry,” “socio-economic,” “ethnic variation,” “malnutrition,” “diet,” and “sleep pattern.” The present review revealed that sleep patterns, physical activity, anthropometry, dietary habits, and other lifestyle factors, including smoking patterns and alcohol consumption, have a significant impact on menstrual health. These factors can disrupt the regularity of the cycle. The review determined that inadequate sleeping habits, suboptimal and over-optimal body fat levels, frequent consumption of junk food, skipping meals, insufficient micronutrient intake, and elevated alcohol and caffeine consumption disrupt the menstrual cycle and menstrual health among adolescent girls.
