Epidemiological Survey Of The Changes Of Psychology,Endocrine Hormones And Menstruation In Female Seafarers During Long Term Voyage

Objective: To study psychological stress situation of the female during long term voyage, and detect the changes of their hormones and menstruations. To investigate their psychological changes, hormones and menstrual changes during long term voyage.Methods: A total of Thirty three female seafarers were chosen. Their emotional status were investigated with Symptom Check-List 90(SCL-90); COR、TSH、PRL、FT3、FT4、FSH、LH、E2 and T were detected. Menstrual changes were researched before and after sailing.1.Their psychological evaluations were investigated with Symptom Check-List 90(SCL-90) on the periods of a week before sailing and a month before returning.2.The following hormones were detected: COR、TSH、 FT3、FT4、PRL、FSH、LH、E2 and T on the periods of a month before sailing, a month before returning and three months after sailing.3.These seafarers filled out their menstrual details,such as the menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea,etc in their corresponding menstrual cycle, on the period of a month before sailing, a month before returning and three months after sailing. Evaluate their menstrual changes.4.Statistical methods: We use SPSS18.0 software for statistical analysis. We use t-test for measurement data. We use 2c test for count data.Results:1. Thirty three seafarers subjects average age 32.1 ± 5.2 years old. By using SCL-90, the data results can be concluded that the total score, somatization, anxiety, paranoia and other factors before returning is higher than that before sailing(P <0.05, P <0.01).2. The COR, PRL before returning were higher than before the sailing(P <0.01, P <0.05),FT3、FSH、LH、E2 before returning were lower than before the sailing(P <0.01);Three months after sailing, COR, TSH, FT3, FT4, PRL, FSH, LH, T, E2 levels were not significant compared with before sailing.(P > 0.05).3. During the long voyage, the rate of menstrual abnormalities, the incidences of dysmenorrhea, and abnormal of menstrual cycles were higher than the period before sailing(P <0.05, P <0.01); Comparising with the period before sailing, the female menstrual cycle abnormalities, abnormal of menstruation and dysmenorrhea incidences during the period before sailing, were not significant(P > 0.05). During the sailing, the frequency of occurrence in menstrual flow reduced was about 27.3%, the frequency of occurrence in menstrual flow increased was about 6.1%,the frequency of occurrence in menstrual flow of no change was about 66.7%.Conclusion: Female seafarers may feel chronic psychological stress after long term voyage, and this stress may have significant effect on the secretion of hormones and menstrual function. This effect is functional, not organic damages,and it can be restored after the long voyage. Although long term voyage will not do permanent physical harm on Female seafarers, it is still important to provide better healthcare to them.