Menstrual Disorder: Overview
By
Medicover Hospitals /
11 Mar 2021
Menstrual cycles often cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms that lead to your menstruation. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) contains the most common problems, such as mild cramps and fatigue, but the symptoms usually disappear when you menstruate.
Menstrual cycles often cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms that lead to menstruation. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) contains the most common problems, such as mild cramps and fatigue, but the symptoms usually disappear when you menstruate.
What are Menstrual Disorders?
Menstrual disorders are disturbing physical and emotional symptoms just before and during menstruation, including heavy bleeding, missing periods, and unmanageable mood swings. Some women can quickly go through their menstrual periods with little or no worry. Your periods come as hours, start and end at the same time almost every month, causing more or less discomfort. However, other women experience many physical and emotional symptoms just before and during menstruation. These signs will dramatically alter a woman's life, from
excessive bleeding
to missing cycles to uncontrollable mood changes. Most menstrual cycle problems have simple explanations, and there are a variety of treatment options to relieve your symptoms. If you sometimes feel overwhelmed, discuss symptoms with your healthcare provider. As soon as your symptoms have been correctly diagnosed, she can help you choose the best treatment to make your menstrual cycle tolerable.
Causes of Menstrual Disorders
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS):
Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, cramps, chest pain,
headache,
back pain, acne, diarrhea, bloating,
insomnia,
anxiety, depression, stress, food cravings, and emotional mood swings. The symptoms of PMS can be different each month and different for each woman. Although PMS is uncomfortable, it is not a cause for concern. Symptoms usually disappear as soon as you menstruate.
Severe Periods:
In this condition, the bleeding is heavier than usual. You may also experience longer than average periods of 5-7 days. Heavy cycles are triggered mainly by hormonal imbalances, especially estrogen and progesterone. Changes in food or exercise, menstrual infections, hypothyroidism, fibroids, puberty, and cervix inflammation are among the other triggers.
Painful Periods:
Some physical aches and cramps occur frequently during the onset of your period. However, some women experience severe pain during their period. Pain during this time is typically the consequence of an underlying medical issue, such as
pelvic inflammatory disorders,
fibroids, or endometriosis.
Lack of Menstruation:
Sometimes, women do not menstruate. Amenorrhea is the term for this condition. There are primary and secondary forms of amenorrhea.
- Primary Amenorrhea: In cases where a 16-year-old girl does not get her first period, it is known as primary
amenorrhea.
This may be due to a problem with the pituitary gland, a congenital disability(Birth Defect) in the reproductive system, or postponement of puberty.
- Secondary Amenorrhea: If you miss your regular periods for six months or longer, this is known as secondary amenorrhea. The causes of secondary amenorrhea vary in adults and adolescents. In adolescent girls, it can be caused by sudden weight gain or loss, anorexia, suspension of birth control, ovarian cysts, pregnancy, or an overactive thyroid gland. In adults, it can be caused by pregnancy, premature ovarian failure, pelvic inflammatory disease, menopause, or interruption of birth control.
Diagnosis of Menstrual Disorders
A diagnosis can only be specific if the doctor has ruled out other menstrual disorders, medical conditions, or medications that may cause or aggravate the condition. Other diagnostic procedures may include:
Ultrasound
An imaging technique that creates an image of the pelvic organs using high-frequency sound waves.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
A diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of the reproductive organs.
Laparoscopy:
A minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is placed in an incision in the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope to view the
pelvic
and abdominal area, the doctor can detect abnormal growths.
Hysteroscopy:
Visual examination of the canal of the cervix and the inside of the uterus using a hysteroscope inserted through the vagina.
Biopsy (endometrium):
Tissue samples are removed from the lining of the uterus with a needle or during surgery to look for cancer or other abnormal cells.
Dilution and Horting (D&C):
A typical
gynecological operation
involves widening the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping the uterine cavity with a curette, a spoon-shaped surgical instrument used to remove tissue.
Delayed Menstruation is it Harmful?
Delayed menstruation, or late periods, can be caused by various factors such as stress,
hormonal imbalances,
changes in weight, or underlying medical conditions.
While occasional irregularities in the menstrual cycle are common and often not harmful, persistent or significant delays may warrant medical attention to rule out any underlying issues. If you're experiencing prolonged delays in menstruation or have concerns about your menstrual health, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.
Treatment for Menstrual Disorders
Treatment depends on the cause of your irregular periods and may require treatment for an underlying medical condition. One or more of the following treatments may be suggested by your doctor:
- Oral contraceptives
- Hormonal spirals
- Thyroid medication
- Metformin
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Exercise
-
Vitamin D
supplements
Stress reduction techniques can also help, including:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Job cuts and other lawsuits
Menstrual cycles often cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms that lead to menstruation.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
contains the most common problems, such as mild cramps and fatigue, but the symptoms usually disappear when you menstruate.
Preventions of Menstrual Disorders
- Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising moderately and eating nutritious food. If you need to
lose weight,
do so gradually rather than using diets that drastically limit your calorie and food intake.
- Make sure you get enough rest.
- Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques.
- If you are an athlete, you need to cut back on long or strenuous exercise routines. Excessive physical activity can result in irregular periods.
- Use birth control pills or other contraceptives as directed.
- Change your tampons or sanitary napkins approximately every four to six hours to prevent.
- Toxic shock syndrome and infections.
- See a doctor for regular checkups.
