Effect of HIV infection on menstrual cycle length

HIV serostatus and menstrual function were examined using prospectively col lected menstrual data from 802 HIV-seropositive and 273 HIV-seronegative wo men, ages 20 to 44, enrolled in two cohort studies of HIV infection in Nort h American women. The associations between HIV serostatus and the probabili ties of having a cycle lasting >40 days (n = 541 cycles), >90 days (n = 67 cycles), <18 days (n = 315 cycles) and mean length and variability of 18 to 30 day cycles (n = 3634) were assessed. After adjustment for demographic c haracteristics, body mass index, and substance use, seropositivity increase d the odds of having a very short cycle (<18 days, odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 9 5% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.11) and a very long cycle (>90 days, OR , 1.32; 95% CI, 0.68-2.58) slightly, although the latter CIs include one. S eropositivity did nor increase the odds of having a moderately long cycle ( >40 days, OR, 1.14) or affect mean cycle length or variability (beta, 0.30 +/- 0.20: between-woman standard deviation [SD]. 2.2 days [HIV-seronegative ] and 1.9 days [HIV-seropositive]: within-woman SD, 3.5 days for both). Alt hough seropositivity may slightly increase the probability of very short cy cles, HIV serostatus has little overall effect on amenorrhea, menstrual cyc le length, or variability. Among HIV-seropositive women, higher viral loads and lower CD4(+) counts were associated with increased cycle variability a nd polymenorrhea.