New Onset Oligomenorrhea as a Consequence of Trauma among Syrian Women Refugees in Turkey

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a common psychological response to trauma and stress, and research suggests that depression may play a role in the development of menstrual irregularities in women, including oligomenorrhea. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the gynecological symptom of oligomenorrhea as a consequence of traumatic events and its relation with depression and sexual dysfunction in Syrian refugee women in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study was held in one of the refugee camps in Turkey (Cevdetiye, Osmaniye) in April 2013. A total of 404 Syrian refugee women were interviewed during their medical visits at the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic located in the refugee camp for menstrual cycle irregularities, depression and sexual dysfunction in regard to the parameters such as the level of linguistic communication skills, ethnic origin, marital status, active involvement of husband or loss of any first degree relative in civil war. Results: A total of 404 refugee women of different ethnicities (Turkish n=310 and Arabic n=94) were interviewed. Out of 404 participants, 200 (49.5%) had secondary oligomenorrhea (study group) and 204 (50.5%) had normal menstrual cycles (control group). Oligomenorrhea was found to be significantly associated with decreased sexual function, active involvement of husband in civil war and higher depression scores. Conclusion and suggestion: Depression is one of the major component of post-traumatic events and one of the known reasons of menstrual irregularities in women. Menstrual irregularities, particularly oligomenorrhea, may be an objective and initial gynecological sign in refugee women alerting the clinicians to refer the women for further psychiatric evaluation

Keywords

• Beck Depression Inventory II
• Depression
• Oligomenorrhea
• Posttraumatic stress
• Syrian refugee women

Türkiye'deki Suriyeli Kadın Mülteciler Arasında Travmanın Bir Sonucu Olarak Yeni Başlayan Oligomenore

Abstract

Giriş: Depresyon, travma ve stresin yaygın psikolojik bir tepkisi olup, araştırmalar depresyonun oligomenore dahil olmak üzere kadınlarda adet düzensizliklerinin gelişiminde bir rol oynayabileceğini göstermektedir. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Suriyeli mülteci kadınlarda ortaya çıkan oligomenore ve bunun depresyon ve cinsel işlev bozukluğu ile ilişkisini araştırmaktı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma, Nisan 2013'te Türkiye'deki bir mülteci kampında (Osmaniye, Cevdetiye) gerçekleştirildi. Menstrüel döngü düzensizlikleri, depresyon ve cinsel işlev bozukluğu nedeniyle jinekoloji ve obstetrik polikliniğine başvuran 404 Suriyeli mülteci kadın çalışmaya dahil edildi. Etnik köken, medeni hal, eşin savaşta aktif rol alıp almaması veya birinci derece yakınının kaybı gibi parametreler değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya Türk (n=310) ve Arap (n=94) olmak üzere toplam 404 kadın dahil edildi. Katılımcıların %49.5’inde (n=200) sekonder oligomenore (çalışma grubu) saptanırken, %50.5’inin (n=204) normal menstrüel döngüleri (kontrol grubu) olduğu belirlendi. Oligomenore; cinsel işlev bozukluğu, eşin savaşta aktif rol alması ve daha yüksek depresyon skorları ile ilişkili bulundu. Sonuç ve Öneriler: Depresyon, travmatik olayların önemli bir bileşenidir ve kadınlarda menstrüel düzensizliklerin bilinen nedenlerinden biridir. Özellikle oligomenore, mülteci kadınlarda jinekolojik bir belirti olarak görülebilir ve klinisyenlerin kadınları daha ileri psikiyatrik değerlendirmeye yönlendirmeleri için bir uyarı işareti olabilir.

Keywords

• Beck Depresyon Envanteri II
• Depresyon
• Oligomenore
• Travma sonrası stres
• Suriyeli mülteci kadınlar

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