Prevalence of Menstrual Irregularities in Women with Psoriasis Taking Systemic Medications

Background: A prevalence of menstruation irregularities in patients with psoriasis taking systemic therapy was a complex issue that depends upon a variety of factors, which include the type of drug utilized and the unique characteristics of every patient, where certain systemic treatments may make menstruation problems worse, while others can assist with reproductive health. Objective: Our study contributed to assess all the clinical outcomes of the effect of menstrual irregularities in women with psoriasis who are taking systemic medication. Methods: All 77 Iraqi women were having psoriasis along with menstrual disorders who were undergoing systemic therapy were enrolled in the study. Also, demographic and clinical information of the participants was obtained from different hospitals in Iraq, where the follow-up period spanned from January 2023 to January 2024, with a duration of one year. In addition, the outcomes of the women with psoriasis were documented, along with the menstrual cycle data and its impact on their lives. The menstrual symptoms, duration, and impact on patients' lives were evaluated. Results: Our outcomes enrolled a total of 77 women diagnosed with menstrual irregularities and psoriasis, with the objective of investigating the correlation between these conditions and various clinical outcomes, which determine all factors, including smoking (36.36%), obesity (51.95%), medical history (27.27%), and systemic medications such as oral contraceptives (76.62%), were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Moreover, postmenopausal hormone therapy regimens, comprising estrogen monotherapy (40.26%) and estrogen plus progestin (25.97%), were also analyzed, where the severity of symptoms had an effect on menstruation, with a mean value of 7.21 ± 0.33. Conclusion: According to the study, there can be a connection between women's risk for psoriasis and hormonal variables such as irregular menstrual cycles and surgical menopause, which could affect menstrual health and make it difficult to assess the effects of medications.