Abstract

USAGE OF HORMONAL AGENTS FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF MENSTRUATION IN MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATES

Jeel Shah, *Dr. Darshan J. Dave, Abhisha Shah and Jainal Shah

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Abstract

Background: Even though menstruation is a physiological monthly cyclic discharge, which doesn’t hamper day to day function but sometimes causes significant concern. Especially in countries like India, menstruation may interfere with the attainment of certain social events. Present study was planned to identify the perception, usage, knowledge and adverse drug reaction of various hormonal agents for the postponement of menstruation among medical undergraduates vis-à-vis interns. Methodology: Study was conducted through predesigned and approved structured questionnaire after approval of institutional ethics committee. After considering the changes in the pilot study, a total 19 multiple choice questions and open ended type regarding the knowledge, usage, adverse events and satisfaction rate regarding the use of hormonal agents for the postponement of menstruation were asked through google form. Total of 67 first year and 27 interns were selected for the study. Results were analyzed in numbers and percentages. Results: Around 49% of first year students used hormonal agents for postponement of menstruation with 51.51% for only one occasion. For interns the numbers were at around 55.55% and 40% respectively. Allopathic doctors were ranked first regarding the source of information about hormonal agents for both 1st year students (23%) and interns (68%). Despite belonging to Schedule H drug class, more than 40% of study participants were able to acquire hormonal agents without prescription. Knowledge about preparation of hormonal agents is very low with only 07% first year students, with significant improvement in interns (48%). The rate of adverse drug reactions due to usage of hormonal agents was very low (less than 20%) during usage and nil after stoppage of the agents. Discussion and Conclusion: Oral Contraceptive pills and Norethisterone were the most commonly used agents followed by Depot Medroxy Progesterone Acetate. Sizable number of both first year as well as interns were used hormonal agents for the postponement of menstruation. Higher proportion of usage in interns with efficacy and satisfaction were observed which could be due to their teaching learning in MBBS curriculum. Over the counter usage despite of schedule H drug is a major concern especially for first year MBBS students.

Keywords: Postponement of menstruation Hormonal agents OC Pills Satisfaction.