title: Menstrual Disturbances in Women With Congenital Heart Diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) may experience menstrual disturbances secondary to hemodynamic instability during the mensturation phase.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the menstrual bleeding pattern and its relationship with certain clinical findings in adult women with CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data and menstrual bleeding pattern of adult women ≥15 years old who were referred to adult CHD clinic between March and September 2014 were recorded. Patients with syndromic congenital anomalies were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 304 women (151 and 153 with simple and complex CHD groups, respectively) were recorded. Their mean (SD) age was 25.2 (1) years (range, 15 - 46 years). The median (IQR) age at menarche was 13 (12 - 14.25) years. Menarche was later in patients with CHD than in the normal population. Furthermore, the simple group showed earlier menarche than the complex group. The most common menstrual abnormality was menorrhagia in both groups (14.5% and 20.5% in the simple and complex groups, respectively). The incidence of menstrual abnormality was higher, though not significantly, in the complex group (40% vs. 25% in the simple group; P = 0.2). Menorrhagia was associated with the severity of oxygen desaturation (P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menstrual abnormalities are common in women with CHD, and therefore this group of patients should be aware of the menstrual function and its abnormalities.
authors: Adult Congenital Heart Disease Department, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Khajali
authors: Adult Congenital Heart Disease Department, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Soheila
authors: S
authors: Ziaei
authors: Adult Congenital Heart Disease Department, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Maleki
keywords: Congenital Heart Disease; Cyanosis; Menstrual Cycle Abnormality; Menstruation