Case-control study, 2026
Do adolescents with heart disease have worse menstrual problems than healthy teenagers?
Adolescents with congenital heart disease had similar menstrual cycles and period pain to healthy controls. However, healthy controls were significantly more likely to miss school due to period pain and experienced more premenstrual bloating, anxiety, and mood swings.
What they did
A case-control study comparing 108 adolescents with congenital heart disease (41 mild, 42 moderate, 25 severe) to 76 healthy controls aged 12 to 21 years who had started periods at least two years earlier. Researchers recorded menstrual histories and clinical data.
What they found
No significant differences between groups in age at first period, cycle length, period duration, or pad use per day. Period pain severity and frequency were similar. School absenteeism due to period pain was significantly higher in the healthy control group (p=0.037). Premenstrual physical symptoms, especially bloating, anxiety, and mood swings, were more frequent in healthy controls (p<0.05). Both groups received very little menstrual education from healthcare professionals.
What it means for you
Adolescents with heart disease experienced similar menstrual symptoms to healthy peers but seemed to cope better or tolerate symptoms better, missing less school. The main limit is this is a specific population with heart disease, so results may not apply to all adolescents.
108
adolescents with congenital heart disease
76
healthy control adolescents
p=0.037
significance of school absenteeism difference
About the study
- Original title
- Menstrual Health in Adolescents with Congenital Heart Disease
- Authors
- Aygün Arı D, Pehlivantürk Kızılkan M, Ertuğrul İ et al.
- Journal
- Journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 108
- What was tested
- Not applicable (observational study)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2026.2026-2-11
Topics
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