A study of the menstrual patterns of adolescents in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Questionnaires and interviews with 768 female students in residence at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria revealed that the mean and median ages of menarche were respectively 13.4 +/- 1.4 and 13.5 years and 80.8% had menstrual cycles between 25 and 35 days. The duration of menstrual bleeding was 4.5 +/- 0.8 days; 72.3% had dysmenorrhea and 17.8% complained of nausea and vomiting during menstruation.