Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: It is believed that overweight and obesity are involved in the etiology of menstrual problems by changing the balance of steroid hormones and sex hormone binding globins. This study examined the association between anthropometric indices with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its severity in female students. 

Methods: This cross-sectional study involving 365 women living in student dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences,, was conducted in 1391. Sampling was random cluster. Seca stadiometer and scale to measure height and weight at standard conditions and non-elastic tape to measure waist and hip circumferences were used. Then waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and index Conicity (C-Index) were calculated. To assess PMS and its’ severity provisional diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome form and Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool-PSST were employed. Data was analyzed with statistical software SPSS v.16 using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. To investigate the relationship between variables Spearman correlation coefficient was used and 0.05> P-value was considered significant.

Results: There was a significant correlation between waist circumference (P-value: 0.046, r: 0.123) WHR (P-value: 0.043, r: 0.125), and WHtR (P-value: 0.045, r: 0.123) and PMS risk, but there was no significant association between other indicators and PMS.

Conclusions: Increase in waist circumference, WHR, and WHtR associated with increased risk of PMS and its severity.