Williams Sharon R
Center on the Demography and Economics of Aging, University of Chicago, IL 60208, USA.
J Physiol Anthropol. 2006 Jan;25(1):85-90. doi: 10.2114/jpa2.25.85.
Although a woman's menstrual history can have significant implications for health outcomes, few studies have examined menstrual cycle variability in non-western, non-clinically based populations. This study presents menstrual cycle characteristics from Bhutia women living in Gangtok, Sikkim, India. The Bhutia are one of two indigenous populations residing in this small, northeastern state of India. A total of 1067 cycles were recorded by 200 Bhutia women over the course of 12 months. Mean cycle length in this population was similar to reported mean cycle lengths for populations in the U.S (30 days vs. 28 days). Menstrual cycles in this sample were highly variable with most women experiencing more than one short or long menstrual cycle. The frequency of irregular menstrual cycles experienced by individuals also varied significantly by season. A body mass index (BMI) above or below the WHO defined normal range was associated with higher rates of irregular cycles. Leutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were also determined from urine samples collected just before mid-cycle, based on median cycle lengths. Although menstrual cycles in this sample were highly variable, median cycle length was still useful in predicting timing of the pre-ovulatory hormone surges of LH and FSH. Frequency of irregular cycles did impact the successful capture of the LH and FSH peak values.
尽管女性的月经史对健康结果可能有重大影响，但很少有研究在非西方、非临床的人群中考察月经周期的变异性。本研究呈现了居住在印度锡金邦甘托克的菩提亚族女性的月经周期特征。菩提亚族是居住在印度这个东北部小邦的两个本土族群之一。200名菩提亚族女性在12个月的时间里共记录了1067个月经周期。该人群的平均周期长度与美国人群报告的平均周期长度相似（30天对28天）。这个样本中的月经周期高度可变，大多数女性经历了不止一个短周期或长周期。个体经历的月经周期不规律的频率在不同季节也有显著差异。体重指数（BMI）高于或低于世界卫生组织定义的正常范围与更高的月经周期不规律率相关。还根据中位数周期长度，从中周期前收集的尿液样本中测定了促黄体生成素（LH）和促卵泡生成素（FSH）水平。尽管这个样本中的月经周期高度可变，但中位数周期长度在预测LH和FSH排卵前激素激增的时间方面仍然有用。月经周期不规律的频率确实影响了LH和FSH峰值的成功捕捉。
