What does it mean to have irregular periods. Irregular Periods: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
What are the common causes of irregular periods. How can hormonal imbalances affect menstrual cycles. When should you consult a doctor about menstrual irregularities. What treatment options are available for managing irregular periods.
Understanding Irregular Periods: Definition and Prevalence
Irregular periods, medically known as oligomenorrhea, occur when menstrual cycles consistently fall outside the typical 24-38 day range or vary significantly from month to month. While occasional irregularity is common, persistent changes in menstrual patterns may signal underlying health issues.
How prevalent are irregular periods? Studies suggest that up to 14-25% of women of reproductive age experience some form of menstrual irregularity. The incidence tends to be higher during certain life stages, such as puberty, postpartum, and perimenopause.
What Constitutes an Irregular Period?
- Cycles shorter than 24 days or longer than 38 days
- Significant variation in cycle length from month to month
- Unpredictable or absent menstruation
- Changes in flow volume or duration
Hormonal Factors Influencing Menstrual Regularity
The menstrual cycle is intricately regulated by hormones, primarily estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Disruptions in the delicate balance of these hormones can lead to irregular periods.
How do hormones control the menstrual cycle? The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis orchestrates a complex interplay of hormonal signals. FSH stimulates follicle development in the ovaries, leading to estrogen production. As estrogen levels rise, they trigger a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), prompting ovulation. After ovulation, the corpus luteum produces progesterone, preparing the uterus for potential pregnancy.
Key Hormones and Their Roles
- Estrogen: Promotes endometrial growth and regulates FSH production
- Progesterone: Maintains the uterine lining and inhibits FSH
- FSH: Stimulates follicle development and estrogen production
- LH: Triggers ovulation and corpus luteum formation
Natural Life Stages and Menstrual Irregularity
Certain phases of life are characterized by hormonal fluctuations that can lead to irregular periods. Understanding these natural transitions can help alleviate concerns about menstrual changes.
Puberty and Adolescence
During puberty, the body undergoes significant hormonal shifts as it develops reproductive capabilities. How long does it take for periods to become regular after menarche? It’s not uncommon for menstrual cycles to remain irregular for 2-3 years after the first period, as the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis matures.
Postpartum and Breastfeeding
After childbirth, hormonal changes and breastfeeding can significantly impact menstrual patterns. Exclusive breastfeeding often suppresses ovulation through a process called lactational amenorrhea. When do periods typically resume postpartum? For non-breastfeeding mothers, menstruation usually returns within 6-8 weeks. Breastfeeding mothers may experience a delay of several months to over a year.
Perimenopause and Menopause
As women approach menopause, declining ovarian function leads to hormonal fluctuations and menstrual irregularities. What are the typical signs of perimenopause? Irregular periods, changes in flow, hot flashes, and mood swings are common symptoms. The perimenopausal transition typically lasts 4-8 years before menstruation ceases completely.
Medical Conditions Associated with Irregular Periods
While natural life stages can cause temporary menstrual irregularities, persistent changes may indicate an underlying medical condition. Identifying and addressing these issues is crucial for overall reproductive health.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a common endocrine disorder affecting 6-12% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by hormonal imbalances, particularly elevated androgen levels, which can disrupt ovulation and menstrual regularity.
What are the hallmark symptoms of PCOS?
- Irregular or absent periods
- Excess facial and body hair (hirsutism)
- Acne
- Weight gain and difficulty losing weight
- Insulin resistance
- Multiple small cysts on the ovaries (visible on ultrasound)
Thyroid Disorders
Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can impact menstrual regularity. The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and hormone production throughout the body, including reproductive hormones.
How do thyroid disorders affect menstruation? Hypothyroidism often leads to heavier, more frequent periods, while hyperthyroidism can cause lighter, less frequent, or absent periods. Proper diagnosis and management of thyroid function can help restore menstrual regularity.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining. This condition can cause painful, heavy, or irregular periods.
What are the common symptoms of endometriosis?
- Severe menstrual cramps
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Irregular or heavy bleeding
- Infertility
Lifestyle Factors Influencing Menstrual Regularity
Various lifestyle factors can contribute to menstrual irregularities, often by affecting hormone levels or overall health. Recognizing and modifying these factors can help improve menstrual regularity.
Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to hormonal imbalances that affect menstruation. How does stress impact the menstrual cycle? High levels of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, can interfere with the production and regulation of reproductive hormones, potentially leading to irregular or missed periods.
Exercise and Physical Activity
While regular exercise is beneficial for overall health, excessive or intense physical activity can disrupt menstrual cycles. What level of exercise might cause menstrual irregularities? Endurance athletes and those engaging in high-intensity training may experience amenorrhea due to low body fat percentages and hormonal changes.
Nutrition and Body Weight
Both underweight and overweight conditions can affect menstrual regularity. How does body weight influence menstruation? Extremely low body fat can lead to amenorrhea by disrupting hormone production, while obesity can cause irregular periods due to excess estrogen production in fat tissue.
Hormonal Contraceptives and Menstrual Patterns
Hormonal birth control methods are designed to prevent pregnancy by altering the body’s natural hormonal cycles. These interventions can significantly impact menstrual patterns, often in predictable ways.
Types of Hormonal Contraceptives
- Combined oral contraceptives (estrogen and progestin)
- Progestin-only pills
- Hormonal IUDs
- Contraceptive implants
- Injectable contraceptives (e.g., Depo-Provera)
How do hormonal contraceptives affect menstruation? Most hormonal methods work by suppressing ovulation and thinning the uterine lining. This can lead to lighter, more predictable periods or, in some cases, the absence of menstruation altogether.
Adjusting to Hormonal Contraceptives
When starting or stopping hormonal birth control, it’s common to experience temporary menstrual irregularities. How long does it take for periods to regulate after starting or stopping birth control? It typically takes 3-6 months for the body to adjust to hormonal contraceptives. Similarly, it may take several months for natural cycles to resume after discontinuing hormonal methods.
Diagnostic Approaches for Irregular Periods
When investigating the causes of irregular periods, healthcare providers employ a range of diagnostic tools and techniques to identify underlying issues and develop appropriate treatment plans.
Medical History and Physical Examination
A comprehensive medical history and physical exam form the foundation of diagnosis. What key information do healthcare providers seek? Detailed menstrual history, lifestyle factors, family history of reproductive disorders, and signs of hormonal imbalances are all crucial elements in the diagnostic process.
Laboratory Tests
Blood tests can provide valuable insights into hormone levels and overall health. Which hormones are typically evaluated?
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Prolactin
- Testosterone
Imaging Studies
Ultrasound and other imaging techniques can reveal structural abnormalities or conditions like PCOS. What can imaging studies detect? Pelvic ultrasounds can visualize the uterus, ovaries, and surrounding structures, helping identify fibroids, cysts, or endometrial abnormalities.
Treatment Options for Irregular Periods
The approach to treating irregular periods depends on the underlying cause and the individual’s health goals. Treatment strategies may range from lifestyle modifications to medical interventions.
Lifestyle Modifications
For many women, simple lifestyle changes can help regulate menstrual cycles. What lifestyle adjustments can improve menstrual regularity?
- Stress reduction techniques (e.g., meditation, yoga)
- Regular exercise (avoiding extremes)
- Balanced nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight
- Adequate sleep
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption
Hormonal Treatments
In cases where hormonal imbalances are the root cause, various hormonal treatments may be prescribed. What are common hormonal treatments for irregular periods?
- Combined oral contraceptives
- Progestin-only pills or injections
- Cyclic progesterone therapy
- Hormonal IUDs
Management of Underlying Conditions
Treating underlying medical conditions often helps restore menstrual regularity. How are specific conditions addressed?
- PCOS: Lifestyle changes, metformin, anti-androgen medications
- Thyroid disorders: Thyroid hormone replacement or suppression
- Endometriosis: Pain management, hormonal therapies, surgery in severe cases
In conclusion, irregular periods can result from a wide range of factors, from natural life stages to underlying medical conditions. Understanding the potential causes and seeking appropriate medical evaluation when necessary are crucial steps in managing menstrual health. With proper diagnosis and treatment, many women can achieve more regular menstrual cycles and improved overall reproductive well-being.
Irregular periods: Causes, pregnancy, and more
It is normal for a person’s menstrual cycle to vary slightly in length, resulting in irregular periods. Other causes of irregular periods include stress, medications, and various health conditions.
If someone’s menstrual cycle is shorter than 24 days, more than 38 days long, or if the length varies significantly from month to month, they have irregular periods. Doctors call this oligomenorrhea.
It is normal for the menstrual cycle length to vary slightly from month to month, especially if someone is going through puberty, breastfeeding, or approaching menopause.
Many other factors can affect period regularity, too, such as stress, medications, and mental or physical health conditions.
In this article, learn more about irregular periods, including the causes and treatment.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
Was this helpful?
Irregular periods, or oligomenorrhea, can occur for many reasons. Many relate to hormone levels.
Estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone are the main hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. If something disrupts or alters how these hormones rise and fall each cycle, it can cause irregular periods.
Occasional irregular periods are common and are not usually cause for concern. Factors that may contribute to irregular periods include:
- natural hormonal shifts
- hormonal birth control
- stress
- endurance exercise
- weight loss
More persistent irregularity may be a sign of an underlying condition.
The following sections look at some of the potential causes for irregular periods in more detail.
During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes. It can take several years for the hormones that regulate periods to fall into a reliable pattern. During this time, it is common to have irregular periods.
Oligomenorrhea can also occur after childbirth and while breastfeeding until the hormones return to normal after having a baby.
Breastfeeding, especially exclusive and frequent breastfeeding, can suppress ovulation, causing a person’s periods to stop. Doctors call this lactational amenorrhea.
Periods also become irregular during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. During this time, hormone levels begin to fall. Periods may get further and further apart until a person stops having them entirely.
Learn about premenopause and perimenopause here.
Hormonal birth control works by stopping ovulation. This means a person does not have a true period while they are using it. Instead, some people have no period at all, while others will have withdrawal bleeds that can seem similar to a period.
When a person first starts the pill, patch, implant, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), they may experience irregular bleeding during the first few months. This may become more regular as time goes on or stop entirely.
Similarly, when a person stops using hormonal birth control, this can also lead to irregular periods. It takes time for the body’s hormonal cycle to begin working as usual again.
Typically, people have a withdrawal bleed 2–4 weeks after stopping birth control pills. The next bleed is a period. It can take up to 3 months for the cycle to settle into a regular pattern.
People who had irregular periods before they began hormonal birth control may return to having an irregular cycle after they stop using it.
Irregular periods can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as:
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where small, fluid-filled sacs, known as cysts, develop in the ovaries. PCOS causes high testosterone levels, which can prevent or delay ovulation and a person’s period.
The other symptoms of PCOS include:
- acne
- excessive hair growth
- insulin resistance that may affect weight
- depression
- trouble getting or staying pregnant
Learn more about the symptoms of PCOS here.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can cause absent or irregular periods. This is more likely to occur if someone has experienced severe weight loss.
The signs of an eating disorder can include:
- extreme restriction of food or calorie intake
- cutting out whole food groups from the diet unnecessarily, such as carbohydrates
- fasting, followed by binge eating
- going to the bathroom immediately after meals
- eating large amounts of food when not hungry
People who exercise excessively may also experience irregular periods. When people find it hard to stop exercising, it is known as compulsive exercise.
Learn the signs of an eating disorder here.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that usually grow inside the uterus grow outside of it. These cells make up the uterine lining, which thickens and sheds with each menstrual cycle.
When the cells grow elsewhere, this cyclic thickening and shedding cause significant pain. Other symptoms include:
- heavy periods
- passing large blood clots
- bleeding between periods
- problems getting pregnant
Learn more about endometriosis and infertility here.
Thyroid disease
The thyroid produces hormones that affect metabolism, heart rate, and other basic functions. It also helps control the timing of ovulation and periods.
People with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone, while those with hypothyroidism do not produce enough.
Thyroid disease can make periods heavy or light and can make them more or less frequent. It can also cause ovulation to stop in some people.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- anxiety
- racing heart
- trouble sleeping
- irregular periods
- feeling hot
- unexplained weight loss, or sometimes, weight gain
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- fatigue
- unexplained weight gain or sometimes, weight loss
- irregular periods or infertility
- dry skin
- cold sensitivity
- depression
- hair loss
Thyroid disease is treatable. An underactive thyroid may require thyroid hormone, while radioactive iodine may help with hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid dysfunction require the removal of the thyroid.
Other conditions
Other health conditions associated with irregular periods include:
- type 1 diabetes
- Cushing’s syndrome
- primary ovarian insufficiency
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- hormone-secreting tumors
Irregular periods are usually not harmful. However, persistent or long-term irregularity may raise the risk of other conditions, such as:
- Iron deficiency anemia: Blood contains iron. If periods are heavy or frequent, a person may lose enough blood to cause an iron deficiency.
- Infertility: Irregular periods can result from anovulation, which is when the body does not release an egg. This can mean a person has difficulty getting pregnant.
- Osteoporosis: Ovulation is a source of estrogen, which helps to keep the bones strong. If a person often does not ovulate, they may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to having less estrogen.
- Cardiovascular disease: Similarly, a lack of estrogen can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Endometrial hyperplasia: If a person has irregular periods for a long time without treatment, it may raise the risk for endometrial hyperplasia, which is when the uterus lining becomes unusually thick. This increases the risk of endometrial cancer.
Learn more about the importance of period symptoms here.
Irregular periods can sometimes make it more difficult to get pregnant, as the times a person is ovulating may also be irregular. People who skip periods may also have months where they do not ovulate.
However, this does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. Tracking when someone is ovulating can help. Try:
- Tracking periods: Mark any periods on a calendar, and look for patterns. Period tracking apps can help with pinpointing the time of likely ovulation. Ovulation almost always occurs about 2 weeks before a person’s period. However, the length of time between the start of the period and the next time a person ovulates can vary.
- Monitoring cervical mucus: As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus will be more plentiful, slippery, clear, and stretchy.
- Measuring body temperature: Use a thermometer to measure body temperature first thing each morning and note when it spikes. This can indicate that someone has ovulated.
- Using ovulation predictor kits: These products test for a surge in luteinizing hormone, which suggests ovulation is imminent. A person has likely ovulated if there is a prolonged increase in morning body temperature after a positive ovulation test.
If these methods do not help, speak with a fertility doctor about irregular periods. They will be able to provide advice on what to do next.
Learn more about irregular periods and pregnancy here.
Irregular periods and occasional variations in cycle length are normal. However, if a person regularly has very short or long cycles, something may be affecting their menstrual cycle.
Temporary causes for irregularity can include stress, natural hormonal changes, and starting or stopping birth control.
Certain medications and health conditions can also cause irregular periods. If this is the case, a doctor will be able to diagnose it and provide treatment recommendations.
People with irregular periods who want to get pregnant may benefit from tracking when they ovulate or speaking with a fertility specialist.
Irregular periods: Causes, pregnancy, and more
It is normal for a person’s menstrual cycle to vary slightly in length, resulting in irregular periods. Other causes of irregular periods include stress, medications, and various health conditions.
If someone’s menstrual cycle is shorter than 24 days, more than 38 days long, or if the length varies significantly from month to month, they have irregular periods. Doctors call this oligomenorrhea.
It is normal for the menstrual cycle length to vary slightly from month to month, especially if someone is going through puberty, breastfeeding, or approaching menopause.
Many other factors can affect period regularity, too, such as stress, medications, and mental or physical health conditions.
In this article, learn more about irregular periods, including the causes and treatment.
A note about sex and gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
Was this helpful?
Irregular periods, or oligomenorrhea, can occur for many reasons. Many relate to hormone levels.
Estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone are the main hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. If something disrupts or alters how these hormones rise and fall each cycle, it can cause irregular periods.
Occasional irregular periods are common and are not usually cause for concern. Factors that may contribute to irregular periods include:
- natural hormonal shifts
- hormonal birth control
- stress
- endurance exercise
- weight loss
More persistent irregularity may be a sign of an underlying condition.
The following sections look at some of the potential causes for irregular periods in more detail.
During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes. It can take several years for the hormones that regulate periods to fall into a reliable pattern. During this time, it is common to have irregular periods.
Oligomenorrhea can also occur after childbirth and while breastfeeding until the hormones return to normal after having a baby.
Breastfeeding, especially exclusive and frequent breastfeeding, can suppress ovulation, causing a person’s periods to stop. Doctors call this lactational amenorrhea.
Periods also become irregular during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. During this time, hormone levels begin to fall. Periods may get further and further apart until a person stops having them entirely.
Learn about premenopause and perimenopause here.
Hormonal birth control works by stopping ovulation. This means a person does not have a true period while they are using it. Instead, some people have no period at all, while others will have withdrawal bleeds that can seem similar to a period.
When a person first starts the pill, patch, implant, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), they may experience irregular bleeding during the first few months. This may become more regular as time goes on or stop entirely.
Similarly, when a person stops using hormonal birth control, this can also lead to irregular periods. It takes time for the body’s hormonal cycle to begin working as usual again.
Typically, people have a withdrawal bleed 2–4 weeks after stopping birth control pills. The next bleed is a period. It can take up to 3 months for the cycle to settle into a regular pattern.
People who had irregular periods before they began hormonal birth control may return to having an irregular cycle after they stop using it.
Irregular periods can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as:
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where small, fluid-filled sacs, known as cysts, develop in the ovaries. PCOS causes high testosterone levels, which can prevent or delay ovulation and a person’s period.
The other symptoms of PCOS include:
- acne
- excessive hair growth
- insulin resistance that may affect weight
- depression
- trouble getting or staying pregnant
Learn more about the symptoms of PCOS here.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can cause absent or irregular periods. This is more likely to occur if someone has experienced severe weight loss.
The signs of an eating disorder can include:
- extreme restriction of food or calorie intake
- cutting out whole food groups from the diet unnecessarily, such as carbohydrates
- fasting, followed by binge eating
- going to the bathroom immediately after meals
- eating large amounts of food when not hungry
People who exercise excessively may also experience irregular periods. When people find it hard to stop exercising, it is known as compulsive exercise.
Learn the signs of an eating disorder here.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that usually grow inside the uterus grow outside of it. These cells make up the uterine lining, which thickens and sheds with each menstrual cycle.
When the cells grow elsewhere, this cyclic thickening and shedding cause significant pain. Other symptoms include:
- heavy periods
- passing large blood clots
- bleeding between periods
- problems getting pregnant
Learn more about endometriosis and infertility here.
Thyroid disease
The thyroid produces hormones that affect metabolism, heart rate, and other basic functions. It also helps control the timing of ovulation and periods.
People with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone, while those with hypothyroidism do not produce enough.
Thyroid disease can make periods heavy or light and can make them more or less frequent. It can also cause ovulation to stop in some people.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- anxiety
- racing heart
- trouble sleeping
- irregular periods
- feeling hot
- unexplained weight loss, or sometimes, weight gain
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- fatigue
- unexplained weight gain or sometimes, weight loss
- irregular periods or infertility
- dry skin
- cold sensitivity
- depression
- hair loss
Thyroid disease is treatable. An underactive thyroid may require thyroid hormone, while radioactive iodine may help with hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid dysfunction require the removal of the thyroid.
Other conditions
Other health conditions associated with irregular periods include:
- type 1 diabetes
- Cushing’s syndrome
- primary ovarian insufficiency
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- hormone-secreting tumors
Irregular periods are usually not harmful. However, persistent or long-term irregularity may raise the risk of other conditions, such as:
- Iron deficiency anemia: Blood contains iron. If periods are heavy or frequent, a person may lose enough blood to cause an iron deficiency.
- Infertility: Irregular periods can result from anovulation, which is when the body does not release an egg. This can mean a person has difficulty getting pregnant.
- Osteoporosis: Ovulation is a source of estrogen, which helps to keep the bones strong. If a person often does not ovulate, they may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to having less estrogen.
- Cardiovascular disease: Similarly, a lack of estrogen can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Endometrial hyperplasia: If a person has irregular periods for a long time without treatment, it may raise the risk for endometrial hyperplasia, which is when the uterus lining becomes unusually thick. This increases the risk of endometrial cancer.
Learn more about the importance of period symptoms here.
Irregular periods can sometimes make it more difficult to get pregnant, as the times a person is ovulating may also be irregular. People who skip periods may also have months where they do not ovulate.
However, this does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. Tracking when someone is ovulating can help. Try:
- Tracking periods: Mark any periods on a calendar, and look for patterns. Period tracking apps can help with pinpointing the time of likely ovulation. Ovulation almost always occurs about 2 weeks before a person’s period. However, the length of time between the start of the period and the next time a person ovulates can vary.
- Monitoring cervical mucus: As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus will be more plentiful, slippery, clear, and stretchy.
- Measuring body temperature: Use a thermometer to measure body temperature first thing each morning and note when it spikes. This can indicate that someone has ovulated.
- Using ovulation predictor kits: These products test for a surge in luteinizing hormone, which suggests ovulation is imminent. A person has likely ovulated if there is a prolonged increase in morning body temperature after a positive ovulation test.
If these methods do not help, speak with a fertility doctor about irregular periods. They will be able to provide advice on what to do next.
Learn more about irregular periods and pregnancy here.
Irregular periods and occasional variations in cycle length are normal. However, if a person regularly has very short or long cycles, something may be affecting their menstrual cycle.
Temporary causes for irregularity can include stress, natural hormonal changes, and starting or stopping birth control.
Certain medications and health conditions can also cause irregular periods. If this is the case, a doctor will be able to diagnose it and provide treatment recommendations.
People with irregular periods who want to get pregnant may benefit from tracking when they ovulate or speaking with a fertility specialist.
Irregular menstruation – signs and treatment in Simferopol
Menstrual irregularity
Irregular menstruation may indicate a deterioration in the psychological or physical condition of a woman. The menstrual cycle is considered to be a kind of biological clock of the body. Its violation is a good reason for contacting a gynecologist in Simferopol.
Taking certain medications
Failure of the menstrual cycle can occur when taking certain medications. Delayed periods or any other problems may occur with the use of the following medicines:
- hormonal contraceptives;
- drugs belonging to the group of anticoagulants;
- antiplatelet agents;
- agents belonging to the group of glucocorticoids.
Diseases affecting the menstrual cycle
Failure of the menstrual cycle may occur with ovarian pathologies. This phenomenon occurs when there is a malignant tumor in the organ, stimulation of ovulation with the help of drugs. One of the reasons for the failure of the menstrual cycle in ovarian pathologies is the insufficiency of the second phase of the cycle. In some situations, the irregularity of menstruation in such diseases is a consequence of unfavorable working conditions, the influence of chemicals.
Spotting often occurs with endometriosis. With this disease, hormonal imbalance occurs.
Problems with the menstrual cycle may also be due to a violation of the blood clotting process. Similar disorders are observed in hemophilia and other genetic pathologies.
In addition, menstrual irregularities may occur after uterine scraping. In the process of this medical manipulation, damage to the epithelium often occurs. As a result, after curettage, complications such as the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the uterus or appendages can be diagnosed.
Problems in terms of the menstrual cycle are also observed when hormone-dependent tumors appear. In this case, oncological diseases of the mammary glands, uterus or thyroid gland are diagnosed.
Pathological conditions affecting the genitourinary system are also observed during the onset of menopause. As a result, quite often women notice that menstruation has come ahead of schedule. The menstrual cycle can also become shorter with prolonged stress, a sharp change in climatic conditions, and a strict diet.
Main symptoms
Menstrual irregularity accompanied by scanty discharge is called hypomenorrhea. In the presence of abundant secretions in the “critical days”, a diagnosis of “hypermenorrhea” can be made.
In some cases, before menstruation, the state of health deteriorates sharply. A woman complains about the occurrence of such adverse symptoms as headaches, swelling, pain in the area of the mammary glands. There may also be pain in the abdomen (algomenorrhea).
Methods for the treatment of menstrual irregularities
The treatment of menstrual irregularities is determined on an individual basis. With prolonged stress, the use of drugs with sedative properties is indicated. They have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
If there are appropriate indications, hormonal preparations are prescribed. With severe hypoplasia of the uterus and ovaries, estrogens can be used. The average duration of treatment varies from two to four months.
Physiotherapy sessions are indicated in case of cycle disorder due to uterine infantilism. At the same time, they resort to diathermy, mud therapy.
In addition to all of the above, a delay in a normally regular cycle can be a sign of pregnancy.
Menstruation during menopause | Gynecology
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Diagnosis and treatment of menopausal diseases in the Clinic of St. Nicholas
Menopause is a period of gradual decline in a woman’s reproductive function. The menopause itself can last from 3 to 5 years and end with the final menopause. Menopause is the last menstrual period. Menstruation with menopause is a normal phenomenon, since the extinction of the menstrual function occurs gradually, but the menstruation itself undergoes changes. The abundance of secretions can vary in volume, the duration of menstruation can be shortened, and the cycle itself can become longer.
Causes and features of menstruation with menopause
Manifestations of menopause can be disguised as other diseases. Symptoms of endocrinological, gynecological or oncological diseases can be attributed to the menopause. Therefore, it is very important to systematically undergo preventive examinations by a gynecologist, endocrinologist and other doctors in order to timely detect the disease at an early stage or prevent its development.
If the gynecologist has clearly defined the onset of menopause, it is necessary to pay attention to the duration of menstruation during menopause. The reason for irregular periods with menopause is a gradual decrease in the work of the reproductive system. Even menstruation is possible with menopause a year after the previous menstruation. There can be both scanty periods during the onset of menopause, and heavy periods during menopause.
How many days menstruation can last with menopause depends on the individual characteristics of the woman. It is very important that menstruation in the premenopausal period lasts no more than 7 days and is not very plentiful.
If you feel unwell or have long periods during menopause, you should immediately consult a gynecologist.
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Diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases with menopause
Diagnosis begins with an initial consultation with a gynecologist. If you have previously had gynecological or endocrinological diseases, it is recommended to take with you the previous results of examinations, a medical card with the conclusions of specialists and appointments that were performed.
The initial consultation includes a detailed medical history, examination on the gynecological chair and taking swabs. A Pap test, pelvic ultrasound, biopsy, or other additional tests may be recommended.
In some situations, additional consultations from related specialists, such as an oncologist or endocrinologist, may be necessary. Taking into account the results of the examination and the individual characteristics of the patient, the attending physician models the most appropriate and effective treatment regimen in this case.
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St. Nicholas Clinic is a multidisciplinary medical institution that diagnoses and treats gynecological pathologies in accordance with European standards:
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