Reproduction in women reporting chronic musculoskeletal disorders

The present population based study assessed aspects of female health as a p art of a national cardiovascular screening program in 40-42 year old women in the Sor-Trondelag county. Fertility, events related to the menstrual cyc le, reproduction, and the use of contraceptive methods in women reporting m usculoskeletal diseases (MSD) were compared to women without these disorder s (references). A higher proportion of women with MSD reported subfertility . No significant difference in mean age of menarche or menstrual cycling pa ttern was found, however women reporting MSD had significantly more often m etrorrhagia than references. Mother's age at birth of the first and last ch ild differed from references only in two of the patient groups, and interva l between pregnancies was longer in women with MSD. Women with MSD more oft en chose sterilisation as a contraceptive method. Conclusion: Reproduction was altered in women with MSD. It remains to elucidate the interrelationshi p between rheumatic disorders and gynecological dysfunction.