What are Menstrual Disorders?

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Menstrual Disorders?
Menstrual disorders are disruptive emotional and/or physical symptoms that are seen just before and during menstruation, which may include missed periods, heavy bleeding, and extreme mood swings.
Menstruation usually starts in girls who are 12 to 15 years old and ends at menopause, around the age of 45 to 55 years. The normal menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but this duration varies for every girl. Each cycle lasts for about 5 days. Menstruation is the breakdown and discharge of the inner lining of the womb or uterus of a woman. The time and duration of each menstrual cycle are different for different women.
Some women get their periods regularly causing little or no inconvenience. However, other women may experience various physical and emotional symptoms that occur just before and during menstruation.
In this article, we will be discussing in detail about the various menstrual disorders.
- What are the different types and symptoms of Menstrual Disorders?
- What are the causes of Menstrual Disorders?
- How to diagnose Menstrual Disorders?
- What are the treatments for Menstrual Disorders?
- What are the complications of Menstrual Disorders?
- How to prevent Menstrual Disorders?
- What are the home remedies for relieving Menstrual Disorders?
What are the different types and symptoms of Menstrual Disorders?
The different types of menstrual disorders include:
Amenorrhea:
- A condition in which a woman’s periods have stopped completely is known as amenorrhea.
- The absence of menstrual periods for 90 days or more is abnormal unless a woman is pregnant, breastfeeding, or having menopause.
- Young girls who do not start menstruating by the age of 15 or 16, or within three years after their breasts begin developing are considered to have amenorrhea.
Oligomenorrhea:
- Menstrual periods that occur infrequently are known as oligomenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhoea:
- This is a condition in which there are painful periods and severe menstrual cramps.
Abnormal uterine bleeding:
- A variety of menstrual irregularities include:
- Heavy or light menstrual flow
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Menstrual periods accompanied by extreme pain, cramps, nausea, or vomiting
- Menstrual period lasting for more than 7 days
- Menstrual cycles of less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart
- Missing three or more menstrual periods in a row
- Bleeding after sex
- Bleeding after menopause
( Know more about- Normal Delivery Abnormal Bleeding )
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS):
- PMS normally occurs one or two weeks before the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
- It can cause a number of physical and emotional symptoms.
- The different symptoms associated with PMS include:
- Irritability
- Bloating
- Headache
- Backache
- Acne
- Soreness of breasts
- Fatigue
- Food cravings
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Stress
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach cramps
( Know more about- What is Depression? )
What are the causes of Menstrual Disorders?
The different causes of menstrual disorders may include:
- Stress
- Losing or gaining a significant amount of weight
- Dieting
- Changes in the exercise routine
- Traveling
- Illness
- Going on or off birth control pills
- Uterine fibroids or polyps (small non-cancerous or benign growths in the lining of the uterus)
- Endometriosis (a painful condition in which the endometrial tissue that normally lines a woman’s uterus, starts growing outside the uterus)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (a bacterial infection that affects the female reproductive system)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (a condition in which the ovaries of a woman below 40 years of age does not function normally causing the menstrual cycle to stop)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition in which small fluid-filled sacs or cysts are formed in the ovaries)
- Cancer of the uterus
- Cervical cancer (the cervix is the lower end of the uterus)
- Medical disorders like thyroid gland disorders, bleeding disorders, or pituitary disorders that may affect the hormonal balance of the body
- Use of medications like steroids or blood-thinning medications
- Complications in pregnancy like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus, instead of within it)
( Know more about- What is Uterine Fibroids? )
How to diagnose Menstrual Disorders?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically. It is important to keep a record of your menstrual periods. Keep a track of any abnormalities noticed during the periods and tell your doctor about them. Also, let your doctor know about your medical history.
- Pelvic exam: The doctor will insert one or two of his/her gloved and lubricated fingers into the vagina to check the female reproductive organs.
- Pap test: The doctor may recommend a Pap test, which is a screening tool for cervical cancer.
- Blood tests: Blood tests are essential to rule out anemia or any other medical disorders that may be causing menstrual problems.
- Vaginal cultures: The doctor may take vaginal cultures to check for the presence of any infections.
- Pelvic ultrasound: Sound waves are used to obtain clear images of the internal organs in the pelvic region. This helps in diagnosing uterine fibroids, polyps, or ovarian cysts.
- Endometrial biopsy: A sample of tissue is removed from the uterine lining by the doctor. This helps in diagnosing endometriosis, the presence of cancer cells, or hormonal imbalance.
- Laparoscopy: The doctor makes a tiny incision in the belly region and then inserts a thin tube with a light and camera on one end, known as a laparoscope, to view the uterus and ovaries. This helps in diagnosing conditions like endometriosis.
( Know more about- What is Hormonal Imbalance in Females? )
What are the treatments for Menstrual Disorders?
The treatment of menstrual disorders depends on the cause and symptoms of the condition, and may include:
Hormone replacement therapy:
- Female sex hormones like estrogen and progestin may be prescribed to help in controlling heavy bleeding.
- It helps in the treatment of symptoms associated with menopause.
Pain control medications:
- Mild to moderate cramps or pain can be relieved by using painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Aspirin is generally not recommended, as it may cause heavy bleeding.
- A warm water bath or shower or a heating pad also helps in relieving cramps.
Treatment for uterine fibroids:
- Uterine fibroids can be treated using medical or surgical interventions.
- Pain killers can help in relieving pain.
- In case of heavy bleeding, an iron supplement may be recommended to prevent or treat anemia.
- Progestin injections or birth control pills help in controlling the heavy bleeding caused due to fibroids.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists may be used for shrinking the size of the fibroids and controlling heavy bleeding. These drugs reduce the production of estrogen and cause temporary menopause.
- If fibroids cannot be treated using medications, the following surgical procedures may be recommended depending on the type, size, and location of fibroids:
- Myomectomy: This is the surgical removal of the fibroids.
- Hysterectomy: In cases of extreme pain or bleeding, the uterus of a woman is removed along with the fibroids.
- Uterine artery embolization: In this procedure, the doctor cuts off the blood supply to the fibroid tissue.
Treatment for endometriosis:
- Pain relievers can help in relieving the discomfort associated with endometriosis.
- Birth control pills can help in reducing blood loss during menstruation and preventing the overgrowth of the uterine tissue.
- In severe cases, a progestin or gonadotropin-releasing hormone may be used to temporarily stop the periods.
- Surgery may be required to remove the excess endometrial tissue that grows in the pelvis or abdomen in severe cases.
- A hysterectomy may be done as the last option for treatment I’d the uterus is severely damaged.
Other treatment options:
- A five-year contraceptive intrauterine device or IUD (a birth control device inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy), known as Mirena, can help in reducing the bleeding.
- Endometrial ablation uses heat or electrocautery (passing electric current) to destroy the uterine lining. This procedure is used only when other methods of treatment fail, as the scars resulting from this procedure can make it difficult to monitor the uterus if bleeding continues in the future.
( Know more about- What is Myomectomy ? )
What are the complications of Menstrual Disorders?
The following complications can occur due to menstrual disorders:
- Extreme pain during or between periods
- Passing large blood clots
- Heavy bleeding, that is, soaking a sanitary pad or tampon every hour for two to three hours
- A foul-smelling, abnormal vaginal discharge
- Period lasting for more than 7 days
- Vaginal bleeding between periods or after menopause
- High fever
- Irregular periods after having had regular menstrual cycles
- Vomiting and nausea during periods
- Toxic shock syndrome (a life-threatening complication of some types of bacterial infections) symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, dizziness, or fainting
Call your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.
( Know more about- What are Irregular Periods? )
How to prevent Menstrual Disorders?
The following can reduce the risk of developing menstrual disorders:
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet
- Get a good amount of rest
- Manage stress
- Prevent intense exercises
- Use contraceptive methods or birth control pills as directed by your doctor
- Change your sanitary pads or tampons every four to six hours to prevent infections and toxic shock syndrome
- Consult your doctor for regular check-ups
( Know more about- What is Pregnancy Care ? )
What are the home remedies for relieving Menstrual Disorders?
- Hot water bottles or heating pads can be used on the stomach to get relief from the pain.
- Mix cinnamon and honey in a glass of water and drink it.
- A cup of fennel seeds is first cooked. Later, a spoon of honey is added to it and consumed twice a day to reduce the pain.
- Drink tea with lemon juice, ginger, and honey for reducing stomach aches.
- Coriander seeds can be boiled in water and drank three times a day.
- Basil leaves are boiled in water and can be had at least three times a day for reducing pain.
- Avoid sour food items during menstruation.
- Avoid yogurt, cold drinks, and ice cream during periods.
- Reduce the intake of salt in your diet.
- Avoid eating spicy food during your periods.
We hope we could answer all your questions about menstrual disorders through this article.
If you want to get more information about menstrual disorders, you can contact a Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.