title: [Variability of the menstrual cycle in Mexican women according to the weight and the distribution of the adipose fabric].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menstrual cycle characteristics have been studied throughout the world in several populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the frequency of occurrence of menstruation, duration and volume loss during it and its relationship with age, weight and body fat distribution in Mexican women.
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study conduced in women which accompanied patients to hospital consultation, with menstrual cycles considered normal by them, age was documented; body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. They were questioned about: periodicity of the cycle, duration, number and type of pads used per day, and the quantity of menstrual bleeding was calculated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Central tendency and dispersion measurements, as well as percentages were calculated. For the comparison between the groups ANOVA was used and Pearson correlation analysis was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  161 women were studied. Average age was 23.9 +/- 6.1 years, BMI 26.1 +/- 4.3 and WHR 0.9 +/- 0.1. The cycle periodicity was 29.3 +/- 3.1 days, being 86.4% between 28 and 30 days. The periodicity of menstrual bleeding was affected neither by age nor by BMI and WHR. Bleeding duration was 4.9 +/- 1.6 days, and the most common was from 4-7 days, only in those older than 35 years was from 1-3 days. The calculated average volume was 151.5 +/- 81.0 mL. In those with BMI < 20 loses were between 81and 120 ml, and in those with BMI > 35 from 121-160 ml; 85.5% of women with WHR < or = 0.85 had loses between 81 and 160 ml and 39.3% of those with WHR > 0.85.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI greater than 35 is associated with more abundant bleeding, and android distribution of body fat with smaller bleeding.
authors.affiliation: División de Educación en Salud, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia Luis Castelazo Ayala, Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, México, DF. dr.sebastian.carranza.lira@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carranza-Lira
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Flores-Hernández
authors.forename: Martha Patricia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Barragán
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martínez-Chéquer
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008800:Mexico; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult