Vaginal bleeding that occurs in monthly cycles is defined as menstruation or menstruation. These bleedings, also known as menstruation or periods, occur as a result of the woman's reproductive system being renewed every month.
What is Menstrual Irregularity?
Women menstruate from the age of 12-13 until the age of 40, when they enter menopause. menstrual bleeding; It is the vaginal discharge of the uterine tissue prepared for pregnancy, as a result of not fertilization of the egg and sperm, so that the pregnancy does not develop. Menstrual bleeding normally occurs every 21-35 days. It lasts for 4-8 days. From adolescence to menopause, this process is expected to repeat regularly. Menstruation is not observed during pregnancy and lactation (beginning). Normally, the period between two periods should be between 21-35 days. The shortening, prolongation or abnormal cessation of menstruation is called menstrual irregularity.
- Oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstruation); It is the name given to the period between two periods longer than 35 days.
- Polymenorrhea (frequent menstruation); It is called as the interval between two periods less than 21 days.
- Hypermenorrhea; more than normal and clotted menses.
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation); It is divided into primary (primary) and secondary (secondary) amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation until the age of 15. Secondary amenorrhea is the cessation of menstruation for more than 6 months in a woman who had menstruation before.
- Menorrhagia; Periodic bleeding at regular intervals but for a long time.
- Menometrorrhagia; It is bleeding at irregular intervals, excessively and for a long time. Fibroids and/or tumors developing in the uterus, use of intrauterine device, ovarian cysts are the most common causes of menometrorrhagia.
Irregular Menstrual Causes?
Oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstruation) causes:
- Women using hormonal birth control methods may have infrequent menstruation until 3-6 months after the start. In some women, menstruation may stop completely.
- This situation can be observed in young women who do heavy exercise.
- In women who have just entered puberty and are approaching menopause, fluctuations in hormone levels can be observed. Persistent oligomenorrhea may be observed.
- This may develop in women with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
- Women with diseases related to hormonal disorders such as diabetes and thyroid may have infrequent periods.
- Stress can disrupt the hormone balance in our body. Disruption of hormonal balance can also lead to frequent menstruation.
- Infections and sexually transmitted diseases can also cause polymenorrhea. Besides menstrual irregularity; There may be other symptoms such as vaginal discharge, itching, burning during urination.
- The disease called endometriosis; It is a condition characterized by the presence of tissue that should normally be found in the lining of the uterus, in the ovaries or Fallopian tubes. Endometriosis patients experience painful and heavy menstrual periods. They may bleed between menstrual periods.
- Menopause means the end of menstrual cycles in women. Although it varies from woman to woman, it is usually seen towards the end of the 40s. It can cause menstrual irregularity with the change of hormone levels in the body.
- Increased activity of the pituitary gland, inadequate nutrition, and psychological disorders are among the causes of menstrual irregularity.
- Pregnancy,
- Thyroid diseases,
- Conditions with high levels of prolactin hormone in the blood such as breastfeeding,
- Antidepressant drugs,
- Premature ovarian failure,
- Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia,
- Brain tumors,
- Chronic diseases,
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), Cushing's disease.
What are the Symptoms of Menstrual Irregularity?
Symptoms for oligomenorrhea; more than 35 days between two periods, less than nine periods per year, irregular menstrual intervals and lighter periods than normal.
The symptoms of polymenorrhea may vary depending on the underlying cause. Symptoms such as fever, vaginal discharge and itching can be seen in polymenorrhea, which is caused by infection. In case of endometriosis, many different symptoms such as cramps, painful menstrual period (dysmenorrhea), pain during sexual intercourse, excessive menstrual bleeding, pain during bowel movements may occur in the days just before the start of menstruation. Before menopause, conditions such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness may accompany polymenorrhea. In polymenorrhea associated with eating disorders, rapid and excessive weight loss can be observed in patients. For example, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have amenorrhea as well as various symptoms such as increased hair growth, insulin resistance, and weight gain. Menstrual irregularity can occur due to many different reasons. Not every menstrual irregularity prevents pregnancy. However, some diseases that cause irregularity can interfere with pregnancy. It would be beneficial for women with irregular menses to consult a specialist doctor and get the appropriate treatment for the underlying cause. . Persons with anemia; looks pale, gets tired quickly, may have difficulty concentrating. In cases where menstrual irregularity is due to PCOS, metabolic syndromes such as diabetes may occur in the sick person.
How is Menstrual Irregularity Examination Performed? Which Tests Are Requested?
In patients who present with menstrual irregularity, the patient's history is of great importance. The patient; how often He is expected to answer questions such as his menstrual period, how many days his period lasts, how much bleeding is approximately, how many pads he uses per day, whether he has pain during menstruation, the amount of pain, and whether he is sexually active. In addition to these, the presence of symptoms such as fever, pain during sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge, bleeding between menstrual periods can also be questioned.
Tests for possible causes are requested by the physician. Tests such as blood test, pregnancy test, hormone tests, Pap smear test are examples of these tests. Again, imaging techniques such as ultrasound and MRI can be used to diagnose the underlying disease.
Physical examination begins with examining the general appearance of the patient. In the gynecological examination, the cervix and vaginal walls can be examined with the help of a tool called speculum. Bimanual examination is the method in which one or two fingers of the active hand are advanced through the vagina and the other hand is placed on the abdomen and the structure of the internal genital organs is examined. Both methods can be used in physical examination for the suspected cause.
How to Treat Menstrual Irregularity?
Menstrual irregularity may not always be a serious problem that requires treatment. The basic treatment principle is to find the underlying cause and apply the treatment plan accordingly. Birth control pills are frequently used medical treatment methods for menstrual irregularity. However, applications such as advanced endometriosis, where only medical treatment cannot provide success, and which require surgery may also be required. Therefore, those who have menstrual irregularity should not neglect to apply to the nearest health institution and have their check-ups done.
What Is Good For Menstrual Irregularity?
There are some easy-to-do practices that can be good for menstrual irregularity. There are some studies that show it helps to fix it. In addition, yoga is effective in reducing menstrual pain and calming mental conditions such as depression and anxiety during menstruation.
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