An observational study on different gynaecological problems in adolescents in a tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background: Adolescence (10–19 years) is a transformative period marked by significant biological and physiological changes. In India, adolescents constitute over 21.4% of the population. Gynaecological concerns, particularly menstrual irregularities, are prevalent during this phase due to the immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. This study aims to identify and analyse the wide spectrum of gynaecological disorders among adolescent females to improve reproductive health outcomes for future.

Methods: A hospital-based, single-centre cross-sectional observational study was conducted at LLRM Medical College and hospital in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, from September 2025 to February 2026. The study included 500 adolescent females (10-19 years) attending the outpatient department. Data were collected through detailed clinical histories, physical examinations, and necessary investigations (blood tests and imaging). Statistical analysis was performed using frequencies and percentages.

Results: The majority of participants belonged to the mid-adolescent group (14-16 years; 53.8%) and resided in urban areas (63%). A significant "dual burden" of nutrition was observed, with 18.6% underweight and 38.4% overweight/obese. Educational levels were notably low with 43.4% being school dropouts. Menstrual problems were the leading complaint (69.6%). Oligomenorrhoea being the most common specific disorder (54.31%) among menstrual disorder. The most common clinical diagnosis was Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (17.8%), followed by Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (11.4%) and simple ovarian cysts (9.6%). Other findings included vaginal discharge (13.8%) and pelvic inflammatory disease (6.8%).

Conclusions: Menstrual disturbances and PCOS constitute the primary gynaecological burden among adolescents in this region. The high prevalence of these conditions along with nutritional imbalances and low educational status highlights a critical need for targeted health education and adolescent-friendly reproductive health services. Early intervention and lifestyle modifications are essential to mitigate long-term reproductive morbidity.