Correlation of Anthropometric Indices with Menstrual Characteristics and Female Reproductive Hormones

Introduction: Excess body adiposity is an essential public health problem because it is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, reproductive dysfunction, certain type of cancers and other disorders. The contribution of not only general measures of adiposity but also central measures of adiposity have been observed. Aim: To compare and correlate the body mass index BMI and central adiposity with menstrual characteristics and female reproductive hormones of oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. 332 adult females aged between 20-50 were selected using the multi-stage sampling method. Data was collected on menstrual characteristic using questionnaire. Collection of blood samples was done using standard protocols. Data was analysed with SPSS version 25.0, differences in mean was done with analysis of variance ANOVA. Relationship among variables was done with Pearson’s correlation, chi square P≤ 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Menarcheal age was positively correlated with AC, WC, HC, W-HT-R, CI, BAI, AVI, ABSI and HI and was negatively correlated with WHR. Estrogen was negatively correlated with VAI, while progesterone was negatively correlated with ABSI. Prolactin was positively correlated with BMI, AC, WC, HC, WHR, W-HT-R, CI, BAI and AVI. Conclusion: Adiposity is linked to menarcheal age, oestrogen, progesterone and the hormone prolactin adiposity could be used to detect poor fertility outcomes or obesity induced hyperprolactinaemia.