Background: Many women in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria have been presenting with different menstrual disturbances and some with infertility problems that are associated with abnormal uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, premature menopause and premature syndrome. Menstruation is an important indication of possible pregnancy as well as the reproductive health women and it is recognized universally that menstrual disturbances may accompany and most times, succeed endocrine disorders. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the various endocrine disorders associated with women of reproductive age experiencing different menstrual disturbances attending the different specialist hospitals in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This was with the interest of establishing the different hormone disorders and its prevalence in these women of Bayelsa State. Method: A total of 1852 subjects (women with menstrual disturbances) were randomly selected using a questionnaire design containing the information of age, last menstrual date, degree of irregularity, whether on medication for any infertility problem or preventive measures and have had any form of surgery. Excluded from the study were pregnant women, women above 45 years of age, those on infertility and contraceptive medication. Women who had undergone hysterectomy or have had abortion in the last three months. Analyses of the different hormones of the hypothalamic – pituitary- gonadal reproductive axis were measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: From the study, it was observed that the menstrual disturbances were accompanied with female reproductive hormone fluctuations; with a high significant 79.97% of the women having one form of the endocrine disorders (P=0.012). The study has shown that 63.17% of the studied subjects had hypoestrogenism (P=0.019), 38.66% had hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (P=0.037) and a non-significant (P=0.063) 1.35% with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Analysis of the results also showed 15.12% of the subjects had hypothalamic amenorrhea (P=0.047), 30.62% with hyperprolactinaemia (P=0.033) and non-significant value of 1.30% with hypoprolactinaemia (P=0.064). From the study, 10.91% of the women with menstrual disturbances studied in Bayelsa State had hyperthyroidism (P=0.048), 4.75% with hypothyroidism (P=0.061), 3.73% with T3 thyrotoxicosis (P=0.060) and 2.37% with TBG excess (P=0.062). Conclusion: This study therefore concluded that a significant number (p<0.05) of women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria with menstrual disturbances are associated with different endocrine disorders, especially hypoestrogenism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism probably due to life style (diet, obesity, stress), environmental factors and an underlying illness( infections, cancer and polycystic ovarian syndrome).
