Menstrual Disorders

Content of This Page

1- Introduction

2- Causes

3- Symptoms

4- Types of Menstrual Disorders

5- Treatment

6- What Should You Avoid

Introduction

Menstrual disorders are a group of conditions that affect the normal menstrual cycle in women. These can include a range of issues such as:

Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation, either due to a delay in the start of menstruation in young women or the stopping of periods in women who previously had them.
Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods, often with severe cramps, that can interfere with daily activities.
Menorrhagia: Excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
Oligomenorrhea: Infrequent or irregular menstrual periods.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): A group of symptoms, including mood swings, bloating, and fatigue, that occur before menstruation.

Causes

Hormonal Imbalances:
- Imbalances in hormones like estrogen and progesterone can lead to irregular or painful periods. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often cause such imbalances.
Thyroid Disorders:
- Both hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can disrupt the menstrual cycle.
Stress:
- High levels of stress can interfere with the hormones that regulate menstruation, leading to irregular cycles or missed periods.
Weight Changes:
- Significant weight loss, gain, or eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia can affect menstruation. Low body fat can disrupt estrogen production.
Uterine Fibroids or Polyps:
- Non-cancerous growths in the uterus can cause heavy or prolonged bleeding.
Endometriosis:
- A condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside it, leading to painful periods and potentially heavy bleeding.
Infections:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause irregular or painful periods.
Medications:
- Certain medications, like birth control pills, blood thinners, or chemotherapy drugs, can affect menstrual cycles.
Chronic Conditions:
- Conditions like diabetes or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also impact the menstrual cycle.
Age and Menopause:
- As women approach menopause, hormonal changes can cause irregular periods or heavier bleeding. Adolescents may also experience irregular periods as their bodies adjust after menarche.

Symptoms

Amenorrhea (Absence of Menstruation):
- No periods by age 15 (primary amenorrhea).
- Missing three or more periods in a row (secondary amenorrhea).
Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods):
- Severe menstrual cramps, often radiating to the lower back or thighs.
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea during menstruation.
- Fatigue and dizziness.
Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding):
- Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
- Needing to use double sanitary protection.
- Bleeding for more than seven days.
- Passing large blood clots during menstruation.
- Fatigue or shortness of breath (symptoms of anemia due to heavy blood loss).
Oligomenorrhea (Infrequent or Irregular Periods):
- Menstrual cycles longer than 35 days.
- Fewer than eight periods a year.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS):
- Mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
- Bloating and breast tenderness.
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances.
- Headaches and food cravings.
- Difficulty concentrating.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD):
- Severe mood swings, depression, or anxiety.
- Irritability and anger.
- Physical symptoms similar to PMS but more intense.
- Difficulty functioning in daily life due to symptoms.
Polymenorrhea (Frequent Periods):
- Menstrual cycles shorter than 21 days.
- More frequent periods than usual.
Metrorrhagia (Intermenstrual Bleeding):
- Bleeding between periods or spotting.
- Irregular timing of bleeding, not related to the normal menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis:
- Severe pelvic pain, especially during menstruation.
- Pain during or after intercourse.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods.
- Infertility.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS):
- Irregular periods or no periods.
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) on the face and body.
- Acne and oily skin.
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

Types of Menstrual Disorders

1. Amenorrhea

Primary Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation by age 15 in girls who have not started their period.
Secondary Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation for three or more consecutive cycles in women who previously had regular periods.

2. Dysmenorrhea

Primary Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods caused by natural uterine contractions during menstruation, not associated with any other medical condition.
Secondary Dysmenorrhea: Menstrual pain resulting from underlying conditions, such as endometriosis, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease.

3. Menorrhagia

Excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, often accompanied by the passage of large blood clots.

4. Oligomenorrhea

Infrequent or irregular menstrual periods, typically defined as cycles longer than 35 days or fewer than eight periods a year.

5. Polymenorrhea

Frequent menstrual periods, occurring at intervals of 21 days or fewer.

6. Metrorrhagia

Irregular bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods, not associated with the normal menstrual cycle.

7. Hypomenorrhea

Unusually light menstrual flow, sometimes occurring at regular intervals but with significantly less blood than normal.

8. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

A group of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that occur in the luteal phase (the time between ovulation and the start of menstruation), often resolving once menstruation begins.

9. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

A severe form of PMS characterized by extreme mood swings, irritability, depression, and other debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily life.

10. Anovulation

The absence of ovulation, where the ovaries do not release an egg during the menstrual cycle. This can lead to irregular or missed periods.

11. Endometriosis

A condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing severe pain during menstruation and potentially leading to infertility.

12. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

A hormonal disorder characterized by irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne, and cysts on the ovaries.

Treatment