Menstrual Suppression Using Oral Contraceptives by Female Hajj Pilgrims

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Deputy of Medical Centre Hajj and Plgrimage of Iranian Red Crescent Society, Tehran, Iran

2 Department Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

3 Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

4 Department of Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

5 Department of Clinical Psychology, Kar Higher Education Institute of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran

6 Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

7 Research center of Addiction and Behavioral sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

8 Diabetes Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The pilgrimage to Ka’beh (God’s house in Mecca) is a special opportunity in the life of most Muslims. Female pilgrims try to postpone menstruation during the pilgrimage by taking hormonal medicines. However, women are seen in this disorder. This paper aimed to determine the frequency of menstrual disorders and related factors among female pilgrims of Umrah Mufradah in 2012.
Methods: This study was a descriptive type, the population of which comprised 400 female Iranian pilgrims aged 15-50 years who were selected through random cluster sampling from Umrah caravans. Data was collected with a questionnaire developed by the researchers that contained questions about menstrual disorders. The questionnaire was distributed among participants at their hotels three days prior to their return to Iran.
Results: Among all the participants, 98.7% of them reported taking pills to suppress menstruation. Of this group, 74.7% successfully prevented menstruation, 26% reported spotting, and 11.6% reported menstruation. There was no significant difference between consumption of medicine and factors such as marital status, city, and educational background of the individuals. Participants reported that spotting and menstruation caused them to experience stress and anxiety when performing Umrah rituals.
Conclusion: Experiencing menstrual disorders during pilgrimage can be stressful for pilgrims. To reduce such problems, counseling sessions on menstruation postponement as part of the justification classes before departing for Hajj and compiling an equal and coordinated nationwide protocol seem necessary.

Keywords

References

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International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health
Volume 4, Issue 4 - Serial Number 15
November 2016
Pages 111-114

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 September 2016
  • Revise Date: 02 October 2016
  • Accept Date: 20 October 2016
  • First Publish Date: 01 November 2016

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