Prevalence of oligomenorrhea among women of childbearing age in China: A large community-based study

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and the related characteristics of oligomenorrhea among women within childbearing age in China.

Study design: A large-scale community-based investigation was conducted from 2013 to 2015. A total of 12,964 women aged 18-49 years from 9 provinces/municipalities in China were recruited for healthcare screening in local community health centers. Outcome measures include clinical history, ultrasonographic exam, and hormonal and metabolic parameters.

Results: Among women within childbearing age in China, the prevalence of oligomenorrhea was 12.2% (1,579/12,964). Both sociodemographic factors and medical history were significantly associated with oligomenorrhea (P < 0.05). In such women, the prevalence of obesity, acne, seborrhea, acanthosis, larger ovarian size, and polycystic ovarian morphology was higher when compared with normal women; the prevalence of anti-Mullerian hormone, total testosterone, and androstenedione (P < 0.05) was higher as well. The infertility rates of all women were higher in the oligomenorrhea group (17.2%, 272⁄1,579) than in the non-oligomenorrhea group (9.0%, 1,024⁄11,385), and among women without contraception, for the oligomenorrhea group, the infertility rate was 32.5% (128⁄394), and for the non-oligomenorrhea group, 17.9% (400⁄2,240). In the oligomenorrhea group, 57.4% (156/272) of the women underwent treatments for infertility, which was higher than the non-oligomenorrhea group 36.1% (370/1,024).

Conclusions: Obesity, acne, seborrhea, acanthosis, larger ovarian size, and polycystic ovarian morphology were significantly associated with oligomenorrhea. The increase of anti-Mullerian hormone, total testosterone, and androstenedione level was also demonstrated in the oligomenorrhea group. Higher prevalence of infertility and medical treatment rate was observed in women with oligomenorrhea.