Obesity and menstrual disorders in Hong Kong Chinese women

Abstract

As a preliminary study to analyze the relationship of obesity to menstrual disorders in Hong Kong Chinese women, the incidence of obesity in 219 patients with menstrual disorders attending the University of Hong Kong Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in two years' period (1981-1982) were reported. The incidence of obesity was 33.7% in 92 patients with hypothalamic secondary amenorrhoea, and 30.5% in 59 patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, both being significantly (p < 0.001) higher than the 3% incidence in the control group of normal menstruating women attending the Family Planning Association. The mechanisms of menstrual dysfunction in obese women were discussed. It was stressed that other disorders with associated menstrual disorders and obesity should be excluded before attributing the menstrual disorder to simple obesity.