The effect of shift-workers in menstrual function

• Main Authors: Liu Jing-Tsung, 劉錦聰
• Other Authors: Chen Pau-Chung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1999
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/87998632049740545892

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 職業醫學與工業衛生研究所 === 87 === The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of different patterns of shift work on menstrual function. Due to rapid industrialization, there were approximately 7.3 million shift workers in United States and 35.4% workers have carried out shifting work system in Taiwan. Short-term difficulties are associated with sleep disorder, poor sleeping quality, and psychological distress. Long-term effects include the complication of cardiovascular diseases (arrhythmia, and shortness of breath), gastrointestinal diseases (gastrointestinal ulceration), the increase of triglyceride, sleep-wake disorder, irregular menstrual cycles, the increase of psychological disorder, change of eating behavior, and endocrine disorder. There is a potentially reproductive hazard to female shift workers, especially menstrual dysfunction. It will lead to the decrease of fecundability, infertility, osteoporosis, breast cancer, emotional unsteadiness, and the increase of cardiovascular diseases. This study focused on four different patterns of shift work involving flight attendants (oscillating shifts), hospital nurses (three rotating shifts), wafer workers (two fixed shifts), and primary school teachers (permanent day work) and college nursing students. We randomly selected 200 subjects with 20-30 years of age form each group and excluded those with their working years less than 1 year, the history of chronic diseases or gynecological diseases, or the current use of oral contraceptives or intrauterine devices, and dietary restraints and sportswomen. Firstly, we used a questionnaire interview to conduct a cross-sectional study. Secondly, we will conducted a follow-up study for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles using the basal body temperature and diary recording.Multiple logistic regression and linear regression analyses were performed on menstrual function. Women whose work were three rotating shifts had twice of the risk for long menses (more 7 days) compared with women who were permanent day workers (adjusted odds ratio =2.22, 95% confidence intervals 1.06-4.64). Those who were oscillating shift workers had 2.53 of the risk for short cycle length (<24 days)(adjusted odds ratio =2.53, 95% confidence intervals 1.09-5.88). The association was evident that sleep quality was a important factor. In following study, we found that there was negative linear relation between the standard deviations of sleep quality and follicular phase, positive linear relation between the means of total stress ,menses and follicular phase. Shift work was related to an increased risk for menstrual dysfunction. And sleep quality was a important risk factor.