Menstrual symptoms in women infected by the human immunodeficiency virus.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a higher prevalence of menstrual symptoms in women seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to a matched control group and to examine the relation between menstrual symptomatology and immunosuppression.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 55 HIV-seropositive women and a matched control group underwent detailed gynecologic assessment. The prevalence of regular cycles, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia was assessed in the two groups. Any association with clinical disease or CD4 lymphocyte count was sought.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the prevalence of oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, or dyspareunia between the groups. Furthermore, no differences were demonstrated between symptomatic and asymptomatic women infected by HIV, nor was any correlation found between CD4 lymphocyte count and menstrual loss or dysmenorrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection with HIV and related immunosuppression do not seem to have a clinically significant effect on menstruation.
Shah
P N
PN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Smith
J R
JR
Wells
C
C
Barton
S E
SE
Kitchen
V S
VS
Steer
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence