Host factors that influence the duration of menstrual bleeding.
We assessed the association between weight, exercise, and stress and the duration of menstrual bleeding in a 1-year prospective menstrual diary study of 166 college first-year women, age 17-19 years. Low weight-for-height increased expected bleed duration by 0.39 day. Dieting to lose weight reduced bleed length by 0.43 day. Women who did no moderate or hard exercise bled about a quarter of a day longer than women at the median level of physical activity.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109.
S D
SD
Harlow
B C
BC
Campbell
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000503:physiopathology; D015985:Precipitating Factors; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*