--- title: What factors are linked to irregular periods in college students? description: 32.6% of college women had irregular periods. Being anemic, drinking alcohol, sleeping very little, feeling stressed, iodine deficiency, and being underweight url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/magnitude-and-associated-factors-of-menstrual-irregularity-among-undergraduate-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What factors are linked to irregular periods in college students? Survey study, 2021 # What factors are linked to irregular periods in college students? 32.6% of college women had irregular periods. Being anemic, drinking alcohol, sleeping very little, feeling stressed, iodine deficiency, and being underweight were all linked to irregular periods. Early or limited evidence 620 undergraduate female students (response rate 93.9%) from Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia ## What they did 620 female students at Debre Berhan University in Ethiopia completed a questionnaire about their menstrual cycles. They also had physical exams and their weight was measured. Researchers looked at what factors were linked to having irregular periods. ## What they found 32.6% of students had irregular menstrual cycles. The following were linked to menstrual irregularity: anemia, alcohol intake, sleeping less than 5 hours, sleeping 6-7 hours, feeling stressed, iodine deficiency, and being underweight. ## What it means for you Several lifestyle and health factors are linked to irregular periods. If these apply to you, managing them might help regulate your cycle. Results are from one university in Ethiopia, so they may vary in other places. 620 students studied 32.6% with irregular menstrual cycles ## About the study Original title Magnitude and associated factors of menstrual irregularity among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia Authors Zeru AB, Gebeyaw ED, Ayele ET Journal Reproductive health Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 620 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01156-1](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01156-1) Original abstract Background: Menstrual irregularity is a common problem among women aged from 21 to 25 years. Previously published work on menstrual irregularity used inconsistent definition which results in a difference in prevalence. Therefore the study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of menstrual irregularity among undergraduate students of Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out among 660 undergraduate female students at Debre Berhan University. To get representative study participants, a stratified sampling technique was used. To collect the data self-administered questionnaire was used. Physical examination and anthropometric measurement were also done. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analysis was done. A significant association was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Result: A total of 620 students participated in the present study with a response rate of 93.9%. Out of the total study participants, 32.6% (95% CI 29-36.5) participants had irregular menstrual cycle. Significant association was found between anemia (AOR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.337-3.441), alcohol intake (AOR = 2.4; 95%CI 1.25-4.666), < 5 sleep hours (AOR = 5.4; 95%CI 2.975-9.888), 6-7 sleep hours (AOR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.291-2.907), Perceived stress (AOR = 3.3; 95%CI 1.8322-5.940), iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) (AOR = 3.9; 95%CI 1.325-11.636) and underweight (AOR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.109-2.847) with menstrual irregularity. Conclusion: The finding of this study reported a low magnitude of menstrual irregularity as compared to previous studies. Students should adopt healthier lifestyle practices (weight control, stress control, anemia control, and avoid alcohol intake) to control menstrual irregularity. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2026 What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Cohort study, 2026 Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students? Survey study, 2026 What factors most strongly drive PMS severity in female engineering students? Study, 2024 How do lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress affect menstrual health and PMS? Survey study, 2024 Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗