High Risk of Adolescents with Prolonged Menstruation for Vulvovaginitis Pruritus

Alivia Zahraturahma (Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.)
Bambang Purwanto (Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.)
Atika Atika (Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.)

JUXTA: Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Kedokteran Universitas Airlangga
Vol. 17 No. 2 (2026): IN-PROGRESS ISSUE (AUGUST 2026)

Highlights: Prolonged menstruation was associated with an increased risk of pruritus vulvae in adolescents. The highest percentage of respondents were those with prolonged menstruation who experienced pruritus vulvae.   Abstract Introduction: Pruritus vulvae, defined as itching of the vulva, is a common complaint among adolescent girls and can be influenced by various factors, including menstrual duration. Prolonged menstruation or menorrhagia, defined as menstrual bleeding lasting more than seven days or occurring in excessive volume, is suspected to increase the risk of pruritus vulvae due to excessive moisture in the genital area. This study examined the association between prolonged menstruation and vulvar pruritus among adolescent girls at Muhammadiyah 2 Senior High School in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods: This study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. Data collection was conducted using a structured questionnaire in July 2024 at Muhammadiyah 2 Senior High School, Surabaya, Indonesia. A total of 131 female students from grade 10 and 11 were recruited through total sampling, in accordance with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The independent variable was menstrual duration, while the dependent variable was the presence of pruritus vulvae. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test, applying a significance threshold of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. The data were analyzed statistically using the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. Results: The majority of respondents experienced normal menstrual duration (64.1%), while 35.9% had prolonged menstruation. A total of 48.1% reported experiencing pruritus vulvae. The statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between prolonged menstruation and pruritus vulvae (p<0.05). Conclusion: Prolonged menstruation was associated with pruritus vulvae in adolescent girls at Muhammadiyah 2 Senior High School, Surabaya, Indonesia.