Reproductive health of future doctors: Assessment of the state and influencing factors

Background. Preserving the reproductive health of medical university students and their awareness of key prevention issues and maintenance of reproductive potential are relevant. Aim. To analyze the state of reproductive health of female medical students and identify adverse factors. Materials and methods. The study included 115 female medical students, who filled a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating frequencies and fractions. To identify correlations, the Pearson contingency coefficient was calculated. Chi-square test was used to check the significance of the relationships. Results. During the study, key indicators reflecting the state of the reproductive organs were identified. The analysis of correlations between lifestyle factors of female students and menstrual symptoms showed a positive correlation between the presence of chronic diseases and the age of students, cyclic mastalgia, and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Conclusion. Low physical activity and stress (especially chronic stress) activate the sympathetic nervous system and release cortisol, which also has an adverse effect on hormones and aggravates menstrual symptoms such as dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), premenstrual syndrome, and menstrual irregularities. The combination of several adverse factors typical for a medical student creates a vicious circle with physiological and psychological problems enhancing each other, leading to a significant decrease in the quality of life and academic performance of female students.