title: Differences in anthropometric and ultrasonographic parameters between adolescent girls with regular and irregular menstrual cycles: a case-study of 835 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exploring the relation between the age, time since menarche, anthropometric parameters and the growth of the uterus and ovaries in postmenarcheal girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Human reproduction at a tertiary pediatric referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred thirty-five adolescent girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenarcheal girls were classified according to the regularity of their menstrual cycles in 2 groups (regular and irregular cycles) and compared. Anthropometric measurements and ultrasonographic examination of the pelvis was conducted with all participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric and ultrasonographic parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of our study showed that girls with regular and irregular cycles differed in height, weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat and ovarian volumes. The size of the ovaries decreases in the group of girls with regular cycles (r = 0.14; P < .005), while it increases in girls with irregular cycles (r = 0.15; P < .001) with advancing age. Uterine volume in all patients increases gradually with age reaching consistent values at 16 years (r = 0.5; P < .001). Age at menarche, the time elapsed since menarche, the height, weight, body mass index and percentage of body fat in patients correlated with uterine volume. Ovarian volume correlated with patients' weight, BMI and percentage of fat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uterus continues to grow in postmenarcheal years, with increasing height and weight of girls, regardless of the regularity of cycles. Postmenarcheal girls with irregular cycles were found to have heavier figures and larger ovaries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Reproduction, Mother and Child Healthcare Institute "Dr Vukan Cupic," Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: radivojevic.ubavka@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ubavka D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Radivojevic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Lazovic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tamara K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kravic-Stevovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Reproduction, Mother and Child Healthcare Institute "Dr Vukan Cupic," Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zarko D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Puzigaca
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Gynecological Department Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Fadil M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Canovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Reproduction, Mother and Child Healthcare Institute "Dr Vukan Cupic," Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Rajko R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Srboljub M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Milicevic
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Adolescents; Anthropometry; Body composition; Growth; Menstrual cycles; Ovary; Ultrasonography; Uterus