Survey study, 2009
Does job stress affect periods and hormone levels in female workers?
Women with higher job stress had more period problems and some hormone changes, with longer work hours linked to lower estrogen levels.
What they did
Researchers studied 415 female knitting workers. They measured job stress using a standard questionnaire. They collected blood samples to measure 6 sex hormones. They compared menstrual problems and hormone levels between groups with different levels of stress, depression, and work hours.
What they found
36.24% of workers had abnormal menstruation overall, including 19.80% with abnormal blood volume, 14.43% with abnormal cycle length, and 11.41% with abnormal period length. 29.19% had premenstrual syndrome and 1.01% had painful periods. Women with more depression had higher rates of menstrual disorders. Women working longer hours had lower estrogen levels and more abnormal periods. More job demands were linked to higher FSH levels and lower testosterone. Physical symptoms, lack of control over resources, and negative life events were identified as risk factors for menstrual disorders.
What it means for you
Job stress appears to affect women's periods through multiple pathways including depression, work hours, and hormone changes. The hormone changes suggest stress affects the reproductive system directly. The study looked only at workers in one industry in one country, so results may not apply to other workers.
36.24%
had abnormal menstruation
29.19%
had premenstrual syndrome
415
workers studied
About the study
- Original title
- [Effect of occupational stress on menses and sex hormones of female knitting workers]
- Authors
- Yao SQ, Wu QF, Yang JY et al.
- Journal
- Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 415
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21141127/
Topics
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