Menstrual Disorders

 

Menstrual disorders are problems that affect a woman's normal menstrual cycle. They include painful cramps during menstruation, abnormally heavy bleeding, or not having any bleeding.

Menstruation occurs during the years between puberty and menopause. Menstruation, also called "menses" or a "period," is the monthly flow of blood from the uterus through the cervix and out through the vagina.

Menstrual disorders are common in adolescent girls. Periods can be irregular, heavy and/or painful, especially in the first few years following menarche. Serious pathology is rare; however, menstrual dysfunction can have a significant effect on daily activities and result in school absence. There are many treatment options which are safe to use in adolescents, although the evidence for their use is extrapolated from adult data. Many women suffer from menstrual disorders at some point in their lives. The average woman has between 11 and 13 periods a year, and during this time, she may experience bloating, cramps, and heavy bleeding. Although period disorders can be painful and uncomfortable, there are ways to relieve some of the symptoms.

The onset of menstruation is governed by a girl's general health condition, genetic, socioeconomic and nutritional factors, and is coordinated by the actions of the hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis.

 

 

Types of Menstrual Disorders

The various menstrual cycle disorders that can occur throughout a woman's reproductive life include:

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia, or heavy periods, affects one in five women. Bleeding is considered heavy if it interferes with your day-to-day-life. In general, a total blood loss during a monthly menses should not surmount about five tablespoons (73 mL or 2.5 oz.). Anything above 80 mL (2.7 oz.) is considered menorrhagia. 

 

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea, or absence of periods, is separated into primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea is when a woman has not menstruated by the age of 16 due to an underlying health condition; whereas, secondary menorrhea is diagnosed when periods have stopped for three months or longer.

 

Irregular menstrual bleeding

Irregular menstrual bleeding varies from woman to woman. Generally, it is characterized as bleeding between periods. This includes spotting. Women should keep in mind that outside of their menses, it is usually not considered normal to have a full-blown period bleed.

 

Dysmenorrhea

This is the scientific name for painful periods due to intense cramps. Although almost all women have suffered from a painful period at some point, dysmenorrhea can be severe enough to hinder normal activities. Diarrhea and dizziness are symptomatic of this menstrual disorder.

 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS includes a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, which begin about a week before your expected period and end soon after the start of menses. Common symptoms include depressive states, bloating, headaches, breast tenderness, and fatigue.

 

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD is more severe than PMS. While it is true that symptoms between the both menstrual disorders overlap, those who suffer from PMDD claim it significantly interferes with their lives. Most common PMDD symptoms include extreme anxiety, mood swings, and irritability.

 

Preventions:

1.     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.

2.     Make sure you get enough rest.

3.     Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques.

4.     If you are an athlete, you need to cut back on long or strenuous exercise routines. Excessive physical activity can result in irregular periods.

5.     Use birth control pills or other contraceptives as directed.

6.     Change your tampons or sanitary napkin approximately every four to six hours to prevent.

7.     Toxic shock syndrome and infections.

8.     See a doctor for regular checkups.