Title: The Relationship between Marijuana Use and Menstrual Health among US women in the General Fertility Bracket. An Examination of NHANES Data 2017 -2018

Abstract: 

The escalating prevalence of marijuana use among women of reproductive age in the United States has raised concerns about its potential impact on reproductive health. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies cannabis as the most widely cultivated, trafficked, and abused illicit drug globally, with around 147 million individuals, constituting approximately 2.5% of the world's population, admitting to annual cannabis consumption (WHO, 2023). In the U.S. marijuana use is decriminalized in most States and holds the distinction of being the most frequently used psychoactive substance, emphasizing the urgency of investigating its impact on reproductive health among the population.

Menstrual irregularities can be a sign of reproductive health challenges. This thesis investigates the association between marijuana use and menstrual irregularities (a proxy for reproductive

health) among U.S. women aged 20 to 44 years, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Menstrual irregularities, defined as the absence of regular periods in the past 12 months, serve as the main dependent variable, while marijuana use, characterized by monthly use for a year, is the primary independent variable. Control variables include demographic factors, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, drug use, moderate physical activity, hormone use, contraceptive use, and treatment for pelvic inflammation. The analysis involves descriptive statistics and logistic regression (alpha = 0.05). In this study, compared to their counterparts, we find a non-significant positive association between marijuana use and menstrual irregularities (OR:3.91, p-value = 0.158), and inconsistent relationships between marijuana use and other factors of reproductive health (ever being pregnant (OR:1.43, p-value = 0.481), diabetes in pregnancy (OR: 0.20, p-value = 0.236 and ever having a cesarean section (OR: 2.14, p-value = 0.247). We fail to reject the null hypothesis based on this model. Marijuana use may not be related to menstrual irregularities in this population or could have a complex relationship with reproductive health factors including menstrual health that cannot be explained by cross-sectional studies alone. This research involving 913 females underscores the need for research on marijuana use and reproductive health to reveal the hidden association between marijuana use and reproductive health factors. Findings can help inform targeted interventions and personalized healthcare approaches for reproductive well-being, acknowledging potential data and definition limitations

Chair: Dr. Barbara Yankey