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Menstrual Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms

What Are Menstrual Disorders?

Menstrual disorders refers to any and all problems that are experienced within the menstrual cycle which include heavy periods, having periods that are missed and Painful periods. The underlying issue for all the menstrual issues must be recognized as an essential component for treatment options.

Types of Menstrual Disorders

  • Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term used in reference with women who experience painful periods due to contractions of the uterus. The condition is quite common amongst women especially during their reproductive age. Dysmenorrhea is known to have a powerful negative effect on daily working, activities and the life of the women suffering from it.

Symptoms of Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea can range from a feeling of discomfort to experiencing pain that can disbalance daily life. The major symptoms include:

  • Menstrual Cramps: Pain which is ignited in the lower abdomen region that is usually experienced a few days prior to the actual menstruation of the individual.
  • Lower Back Pain: An ache or pain that is from the lower back and to the thighs area
  • Nausea and Vomiting: There are those women that may vomit or feel nauseous in the course of their menstruation.
  • Fatigue: A feeling of tiredness and lack of energy is also very common
  • Headaches and Dizziness: Headaches and light headedness can occur as a result of a woman’s hormonal complication
  • Bowel Symptoms: Pain, diarrhea, or constipation may present especially with the variation in the hormonal levels that affect the gut.

Dysmenorrhea Treatment

Dysmenorrhea can be classified into two main categories dysmenorrhea depending on the causes or the underlying pathology:

Primary Dysmenorrhea

  •  Hormonal influence:A medical review states that the excess production of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like molecules, is the major cause of primary dysmenorrhea. Prostaglandin production when excessive results into intense contractions of the uterus which is also low supply of blood and oxygen thus pain.
  • Onsetting: This condition is usually seen first in the teen after the formation of ovulatory cycles which is seen mostly at the age of 6-12 months after the first menstrual bleeding.
  • Common Characteristics:  Either Cramps are felt just before the periods starts and are strong on the first day of menses lasting between one to three days.

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea secondary is due to a disorder in the reproductive system. Among them include:

  • Endometriosis: In this condition, endometrial tissue is found outside of the uterus and it causes inflammation and pain during a woman’s period.
  •  Adenomyosis: A condition in which the endometrial fabric has invaded the uterine wall, causing dysmenorrhea
  • Uterine Fibroids: They are benign tumors of the uterus which lead to abdominal pain, heavy periods and cramping
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Such disease of the female reproductive system is also cause of pain due to inflammation
  • Cervical Stenosis: A condition where the cervical tube becomes narrower causing the menstrual flow to be deficient which leads to increasing pressure and tenderness in the uterus.
  •  Amenorrhea: 

The medical term for the cessation of menstruation by reproductive aged women is called amenorrhea. It is not a disease by itself, rather a sign of more problems. If untreated, it may affect the fertility potential of the female and indicates an abnormality in the reproductive or hormonal system. There are two main forms of amenorrhea: primary and secondary.

Types of Amenorrhea

Primary Amenorrhea

This type of amenorrhea is said to occur when a girl has not commenced her periods by age 15 and with other secondary sexual characteristics for example breast development.

Possible Causes:

  • Genetic or Chromosomal Disorders: For example, Turner syndrome or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome might result in the development of secondary sexual characteristics being even more delayed or completely absent with menstruation;
  • Acute amenorrhea Anatomical abnormalities such as blockage in the reproductive tract or even absence of uterus such as Müllerian agenesis can lead to primary amenorrhea;
  •  Hormonal Disorders: Moreover, if the hypothalamus and/or the pituitary gland malfunction, the hormones required for the commencement of the menstrual cycle may be absent and consequently menses may be delayed.

Signs of Amennorhea

The main symptom of Amennorhea, is the woman fails to experience menstrual bleeding. Besides, it can also be accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Hair Loss
  • Acne or Hirsutism, (excessive hair growth that may occur)
  • Changes in normal body weight
  • Vasomotor symptoms, hot flushes, or vaginal dryness, (may occur resulting from hormonal changes)
  • Head Pain or difficulties in vision, (indicative of pituitary disorders)
  • Menorrhagia: 

This is a term used to refer to women who see heavy or prolonged bleeding during their menstrual periods. It’s one of the most commonly seen menstrual disorder and greatly interferes with a woman’s daily activities and her overall quality of life

Signs of Menorrhagia

  • Period of more than Seven days: Bleeding during a woman’s period can sometimes go beyond a week.
  • Pads Used: Use of 1 or more pads or tampons every hour for a few hours.
  • Large Coin like Clots: Large coin-like clots can be passed and will occur quite regularly.
  • Oxygen and Iron Deficiency Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath and even pale skin can occur when a lot of blood is lost.

Reasons for Menorrhagia

  • Causes due to Nye physiological components: Oestrogens and more particularly progesterone (which can be secreted irregularly) can be responsible for the excessive growth of the endometrium leading to copious bleeding during shedding.
  • Fibroids: Avneurysms that are fibrodisplatic and have no tumor malignancy may allow for more blood to flow during menstruation.
  • Endometrial Diseases: Problems such as endometriosis or adenomyosis can result in abnormal bleeding.
  • Blood Disorders Bleeding Disorders: Diseases such as von Willebrand disease can cause heavy bleeding and affect blood clotting.
  • Oligomenorrhea: 

Oligomenorrhea is regarded as a condition where women experience disruption in their cycles lasting more than thirty to thirty five days, or in extreme cases up to six months but is likely to occur in the vicinity of six months. It is commonly associated with irregular ovulation.

Symptoms of Oligomenorrhea

  • Irregularly menstruating – Having cyclic bleeding that happens every couple of months or is more infrequent than the standard bleeding window of twenty one to thirty five days.
  • Light Bleeding – Usually associated with lighter or shorter episodes of bleeding in the menstrual cycle.

Causes of Oligomenorrhea

  • Polycystic ovary disease – This is a disease of the endocrine system which inhibits a woman’s body from having normal ovulation cycles thus increasing a woman’s chance of developing a condition known as oligomenorrhea.
  • Thyroid Disease – Hyper and Hypo Thyroidism also have been known to disrupt the regular cycles of menstruation.
  • Stress and Lifestyle Factors Excessive stress, weight loss too fast, or extreme exercising can affect regular ovulation.
  • Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

PMS is the range of emotional, physical and behavioural symptoms that occurs in a woman’s month during the luteal phase of the woman’s cycle roughly a week before the woman begins her menstruation.

Symptoms of PMS

  • Emotional Symptoms: Change in moods, irritability, anxiety, and light depression.
  • Physical Symptoms: Bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue and food cravings. • Behavioural Symptoms: Sleep disturbances, difficulty focusing and decreased drive to do things.

Causes of PMS:

  • Hormones: The variations of progesterone and oestrogen levels during the late luteal phase may lead to changes in serotonin and alter the mood.
  • Neurochemistry: Some women may have altered sensitivity to serotonin and this may help in increasing symptoms.

 

  • Polymenorrhea: 

Polymenorrhea applies to menstrual cycles that are shorter than 21 days intervals rather than the normal 28 days.

Symptoms of Polymenorrhea:

  • Short Cycle: More than one menses cycle occurring within 21 days span.
  • Excessive Menses: Blood loss may occur and can result in weakness/malaise due to menses causative factors.

Causes of Polymenorrhea:

  • Hormones: If there is abnormalisation of the luteal or follicular phase of the cycle, the length of the cycle becomes shorter.
  • Lifestyle: Daily chronic stress or drastic lifestyle changes can affect hormone management.
  • Other Causes: Polymenorrhea can also develop due to the endocrine system disorders or menopausal stages.
  • PMDD- Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder

PMDD can be regarded as an acute sort of PMS which in an individual impacts the ability to carry out day-to-day responsibilities and affects mental health tremendously.

PMDD however has a wide range of symptoms these are some of them:

Emotional Symptoms: It includes feelings of deep depression, intense anxiety, irritability and being hopeless.

Physical Symptoms: Physical symptoms includes abdominal bloating, migraine, pain in the muscles and joints, and other severe conditions.

Causes of Menstrual Disorders

  • Irregularities In Hormones: Menstrual cycles can be disturbed by the imbalance of hormonal levels such as Oestrogen and Progesterone.
  • Lifestyle Choices: If a person lives a more sedentary lifestyle without a proper diet, exercises, or sleep then its likely to lead to stress overall which will disrupt their menstrual cycles.
  • Certain Medical Conditions: Disorders like Endometriosis, PCOS, Uterine fibroids and thyroid can influence periods.
  • Certain Medications: Birth control pills, blood thinners, and antidepressants have the ability to switch up menstrual cycles significantly.
  • Weight Changes: Having an eating disorder of any kind can puts a huge influence on periods. Bulimia, Anorexia and sudden weight changes are massive contributors.

Symptoms of Menstrual Disorders

Now looking at these factors, we can try to understand what the symptoms of those will be:

  •   Women suffering from a physical ailment will usually have:
  •  Bleeding heavily for a longer period than normal
  •  Excipience debilitating cramps
  • Having bloating or fatigue regularly
  •  Persistent headaches with back pain.

On the other hand for women dealing with emotional issues, their mood will randomly swing, have anxiety or depression, and internal irritability.

For women having reproductive issues, two obvious symptoms to look for is difficulty in conceiving a child and having severe pain during intercourse.

Diagnosis of Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual disorders can be diagnosed through:

  •   Medical History: Recording the patterns the menstrual cycle makes alongside the folio of symptoms.
  • Physical Exams: This refers to Pelvic exams which are helpful in finding abnormalities.
  • Blood Tests: Hormones and thyroid tend to be influential factors which makes having a hormonal assessment required.
  • Imaging Tests: Fibroids or cysts structural defects require an ultrasound or MRI to efficiently detect them.
  •  Endometrial Biopsy: In cases where abnormal cells are suspected, a woman’s uterine cells can be examined.

Treatment of Menstrual Disorders

Treating the various menstrual disorders can be done though:

  •  Medications: NSAIDs are the most common pain relievers. Hormonal therapies like birth control or birth control pills are also completely viable.
  • Lifestyle Changes: Having a balanced and maintained diet with regular exercises while also efficiently managing stress can help women a lot.
  • Medications for thyroid conditions or for patients with pcod.

Surgical Methods

  • Removal of fibroid by hysteroscopy.
  •  Endometrial ablation for treatment of heavy bleeding.
  • Laparoscopy for treatment of endometriosis.

Other Methods : Acupuncture, yoga and herbal treatments.

Menstrual Problems And Infertility

Connection Between The Two Conditions that affect the production of eggs such as PCOS and endometriosis. For Example, excessive menstrual flow can lead to firing off nutrients for pregnancy.

If any underlying conditions are treated at a reasonable time then fertility factors can be enhanced.

When To Seek For A Doctor

-Having constant pain or bleeding that is too heavy. For example, multiple missed periods.

-Any other issues that interfere with you in your day-to-day life.

Conclusion

The medical and surgical management of all the types of menstrual disorder is done skillfully. Menstrual disorders related to women greatly disturb their lifestyle. Therefore, knowing their types along with the causes and treatment is essential for all women. The knowledge assists them in fastening the healing process alongside with avoid engaging in activities that would worsen their conditions. In addition, regular visits to a doctor, healthy lifestyles and various medications assist women in maintaining their health both for reproduction and general wellbeing.

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