Menstrual Cycle Characteristics and Relative Factors Among Vietnamese Female Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aims To research menstrual cycle characteristics and related factors among Vietnamese female medical students.Background Female medical students, juggling demanding academic schedules, face the additional challenge of managing the impact of their monthly cycles on daily routines, academic achievements, and professional obligations.Objective To investigate the factors influencing the menstrual cycle during this particularly stressful period by surveying these students.Method This cross-sectional study was from the 3rd year of female medical students studying full-time.Results Individuals in the severe stress group experienced irregular periods in 100% of cases. Dysmenorrhea was the next most prevalent abnormal symptom, affecting 39.7% of students. Furthermore, abdominal pain and lower back pain were the most common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The percentage of menorrhagia in the overweight-obesity group was almost 5 times higher than that of the other groups. Besides, central obesity increased the incidence of menorrhagia by a factor of 19. Average to high levels of physical activity can increase the risk of having dysmenorrhea. Remarkably, students who were affected by COVID-19 in terms of quality of life were also more likely to experience dysmenorrhea.Conclusion Although most medical students had normal menstrual cycles, abdominal pain and lower back pain were the leading PMS. Moreover, overweight-obesity, central obesity, physical activity, stress, and the COVID-19 pandemic may be relative factors of the menstrual cycle.