Relationship Between Stress Levels and Menstrual Irregularities Among Female Medical Students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Psychosocial stress has been shown to influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, potentially disrupting menstrual regularity among young women. This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress levels and menstrual irregularities among female medical students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, South West Nigeria. One hundred and twenty female medical students were recruited using systematic sampling. The Perceived Stress Scale was used to quantify stress levels, while menstrual irregularities were assessed through a structured menstrual history questionnaire covering cycle length, duration, volume of flow, and associated symptoms. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were applied. Results indicated that 42.5 percent of participants reported some form of menstrual irregularity, including delayed cycles, oligomenorrhoea, and dysmenorrhoea. Perceived stress scores were significantly higher among students with irregular cycles. Academic workload, examination periods, and inadequate sleep were the most commonly cited stressors. Stress score was identified as a significant predictor of menstrual irregularity after controlling for body mass index and physical activity. The study concludes that academic-related psychosocial stress significantly contributes to menstrual dysfunction in female medical students and recommends integration of mental health support services and stress management education into medical school wellness programmes. Keywords: stress, menstrual irregularity, medical students, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, Ile-Ife.