Summary: Women experience menstruation differently with various symptoms and disorders. Read on to find out what are some of the common disorders associated with menstruation.
While women have menstruation in common, the way they experience this differs considerably. Every woman has their own journey of menstruation. Some are blessed with a healthy menstruation cycle; others tend to experience certain complications. And since these issues are not talked about much, they fail to differentiate between normal and abnormal.
Following are some common menstrual disorders that may be experienced by a woman:
- Heavy Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding is also referred to as menorrhagia. In this, you bleed more than normal, and you may also experience longer period days than the average five to seven days. Causes may include structural abnormalities such as a fibroid, ovulatory dysfunction, bleeding disorders, medications, infection and inflammation, and disorders of local endometrial haemostasis
- Absence of Periods
It is often classified as either primary (absence of menarche by age 15 years or thereafter) or secondary (absence of menses for more than three months in girls or women who previously had regular menstrual cycles or six months in girls or women who had irregular menses).
Primary amenorrhea is usually the result of a genetic or anatomical abnormality.
Once pregnancy has been ruled out, a logical approach to secondary amenorrhea is to consider disorders based upon the levels of control of the menstrual cycle: hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, and uterus. Determining the site of the defect is important because it determines the appropriate therapeutic regimen. While the most common causes of secondary amenorrhea are likely to be functional hypothalamic amenorrhea or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), disorders with an anatomic or pathologic cause must be ruled out
- Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS
Premenstrual Syndrome is a disorder where women experience different kinds of physical and psychological symptoms related to their menstrual cycle. More than 20% of women experience premenstrual syndrome strong enough to disrupt their daily lives. Some of the common symptoms of this disorder include headache, painful breasts, bloating, anxiety, fatigue, crying, mood swings, depression, etc. You tend to experience these symptoms a week prior to your period, and they go away when the period starts.
- Painful Menstruation or Dysmenorrhea
Along with your periods being heavier or lighter than normal, in some cases, periods can be painful as well. One of the reasons for periods cramps is the contraction of the uterus during the beginning of the period. When women experience excruciating pain, the condition is known as dysmenorrhea. Extreme menstrual pain can be the result of certain underlying issues that include endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory diseases, fibroids, etc.
How Are These Disorders Diagnosed?
Taking consultation from Gold Coast Women’s health service is the first step towards diagnosing these problems. The doctor will ask you to share the symptoms you are having, for how long you are experiencing them, and more details about our menstrual cycle. Along with a thorough physical exam, your doctor may also conduct a pelvic exam.
It enables the medical professions to examine your reproductive organs and determine whether or not the cervix or vagina is inflamed. In some cases, a pap smear might also be performed to rule out underlying conditions such as cancer. Furthermore, blood tests can help in determining whether imbalances in the hormones.
Final Thoughts
The type of treatment you receive will depend on the underlying issues that are causing the menstrual cycle. To treat PMS and regulate heavy blood flows, the doctor may prescribe you birth control pills. If the flow is lighter or heavier than normal, then the issue may be related to this. To treat these issues, you may be recommended for hormone replacements or other treatments. If you experience any of the symptoms, it is important to get timely treatment before the health condition worsens.