Psychosocial Factors at Work and Menstrual Disorders: a Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Menstrual abnormalities, such as menstrual cycle disorders or related symptoms (e.g., pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome [PMS], menopausal symptoms), affect female workers’ quality of life and work capacity. The fertility of female workers is also a worldwide concern. However, the association between psychosocial factors at work and menstrual abnormalities or fertility is not well understood. To address this relationship, we will conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the literature that has utilized a longitudinal or prospective cohort design.Methods and analysis: The inclusion criteria for this systematic review and meta-analysis are defined as follows: (P) Adult female workers (over 18 years old), (E) Presence of adverse psychosocial factors at work, (C) Absence of adverse psychosocial factors at work, and (O) Any menstrual cycle disorders, menstrual-related symptoms, or fertility. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society electronic databases will be used to search for published studies. The statistical synthesis of the studies included in the meta-analysis will be conducted to estimate pooled coefficients and 95% CIs. We will use the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) to determine the quality of selected studies. To assess meta-bias, Egger’s test, along with a funnel plot, will be used to check for publication bias. Lastly, we will examine heterogeneity using the χ² test with Cochran’s Q statistic and I2.Ethics and dissemination: The results and findings will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal and will be disseminated broadly to researchers and policymakers interested in the translatability of scientific evidence into good practices.Trial registration: The study protocol was registered at the UMIN registry (registration number: UMIN000039488). The registration date is 14th Feb 2020.URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr/ctr_view_reg.cgi?recptno=R000044704