Work schedule and physically demanding work in relation to menstrual function: the Nurses' Health Study 3

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chavarro JE ; Grajewski, Barbara A. ; Johnson CY ; Lawson, Christina C. ; Lividoti Hibert EN ; Rich-Edwards JW ; Rocheleau CM ; Schernhammer ES ; Whelan, Elizabeth A.
• Description:
  Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate occupational exposures and menstrual cycle characteristics among nurses. Methods: Using cross-sectional data collected in 2010.2012 from 6309 nurses aged 21.45 years, we investigated nurses' menstrual function in the Nurses' Health Study 3. We used multivariable regression modeling to analyze the associations between occupational exposures and prevalence of irregular cycles and long and short cycle lengths. Results: The cohort reported cycle length as <21 (1.5%), 21.25 (15.6%), 26.31 (69.7%), and 32.50 (13.2%) days. In addition, 19% of participants reported irregular cycles. Working .41 hours/week was associated with a 16% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 4.29%] higher prevalence of irregular cycles and a higher prevalence of very short (<21-day) cycles [prevalence odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 95% CI 1.24.3.01] in adjusted models. Irregular menstrual cycles were more prevalent among women working nights only (32% higher; 95% CI 15.51%) or rotating nights (27% higher, 95% CI 10.47%), and was associated with the number of night shifts per month (P for trend <0.0001). Rotating night schedule was associated with long (32.50 day) cycles (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03.1.61). Heavy lifting was associated with a higher prevalence of irregular cycles (34% higher), and the prevalence of cycles <21 days and 21.25 day cycles increased with increasing heavy lifting at work (P for trend <0.02 for each endpoint). Conclusion: Night work, long hours, and physically demanding work might relate to menstrual disturbances. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Health Personnel Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Shift Work Schedule Women
• Keywords:
  Age-groups Author Keywords: Circadian Rhythm Exposure-limits Heavy Lifting Humans Long Work Hours Manual-lifting Menstrual Cycle Variation Menstrual Function Models Night Shift Work Night Work Nurses Nurses' Health Study Nurses' Health Study 3 Occupational-exposure Physically Demanding Work Prolonged Standing Rotating Night Shift Work Shift-work Shift-workers Shift Work Statistical-analysis Work Schedule

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• ISSN:
  0355-3140
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  194-203
• Volume:
  41
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045774
• Citation:
  Scand J Work Environ Health 2015 Mar; 41(2):194-203
• Contact Point Address:
  Christina C Lawson, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS R-15, Cincinnati, OH 45226
• Email:
  clawson@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1a1d1c94e5d419a39d275b74460fb8df2712cc41a82c7a7448728fa82bf986ace3684f696e1bb28e4eb60c6bcc538b8ab8027f2e5412452a8a52e153539dfc0d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/201062/cdc_201062_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 302.62 KB ]