Are You Experiencing Menstrual Disorders?
Menstrual disorders are not just a psychological burden but also directly impact the work and daily lives of many women of reproductive age. More alarmingly, they can be a warning sign of potential underlying health issues. Understanding this, Dr. Marie Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic aims to help you identify the common early signs of menstrual disorders, classify the typical types, and explore their causes through this article.
What are Menstrual Disorders?
Menstrual disorders refer to abnormalities in the menstrual cycle. Examples include periods arriving earlier or later than usual, an abnormally shorter or longer duration of menstruation, or excessive or scanty menstrual flow.
Signs of Menstrual Disorders
Listen to your body and do not ignore the following abnormal signs, as they may indicate menstrual disorders:
- Irregular Cycle: Menstruating only once every 2-3 months, or conversely, 2-3 times in one month.
- Fluctuating Menstrual Flow: Sudden, unexplained heavy or light bleeding compared to previous periods.
- Prolonged Menstruation (Menorrhagia): A menstrual period lasting longer than 7 days, causing fatigue and discomfort.
- Abnormal Color or Consistency of Menstrual Blood: Persistently dark black or brownish-black blood, or the presence of numerous large blood clots.
- Severe Menstrual Pain (Dysmenorrhea): Intense cramping pain in the lower abdomen, potentially radiating to the back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, significantly affecting daily activities.
- Other Symptoms: Headaches, severe breast tenderness, or unusual fatigue during menstruation.
Common Types of Menstrual Disorders
Prolonged Menstruation (Menorrhagia)
This is a condition where menstrual bleeding lasts for more than 7 days, with a flow that can be heavy or light. It is often seen during puberty or perimenopause but can also be caused by underlying gynecological conditions. Prolonged menorrhagia can easily lead to anemia.
Amenorrhea
The absence of menstruation is known as amenorrhea. This is normal before puberty, during pregnancy, and after menopause.
- Primary Amenorrhea: Never having menstruated by the expected age (typically 16 years old).
- Secondary Amenorrhea: Having had previous menstrual periods but then experiencing an absence of menstruation for three months or more (not due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause). This is a sign that warrants prompt medical evaluation.Excessive Uterine Bleeding
This involves very heavy menstrual bleeding, often exceeding 150ml in a short period, requiring frequent changes of sanitary products. It can cause dizziness, fatigue, and pale skin due to acute blood loss.
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Significant blood loss during a single menstrual period.
Infrequent Menstruation
A menstrual cycle that is longer than 35 days.
Frequent Menstruation
A menstrual cycle that is shorter than 21 days
Painful Menstruation
Dysmenorrhea is when women experience severe abdominal pain during their menstrual period, greatly impacting their quality of life. The pain may be accompanied by other systemic symptoms such as back pain, headache, breast tenderness, nausea, and vomiting.
Causes of Menstrual Disorders
There are numerous reasons why women experience menstrual disorders, ranging from natural bodily changes to pathological factors and lifestyle influences:
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal imbalances in a woman’s body can occur at various stages throughout her life, such as puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and perimenopause.
- Puberty: As the body begins to produce estrogen and progesterone, it can take some time (potentially several years) for the endocrine system to stabilize. Therefore, irregular periods are quite common in the early years of puberty.
- Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: During these specific phases, menstruation temporarily ceases due to significant hormonal shifts necessary to nourish the fetus and produce breast milk.
Perimenopause: As ovarian function declines, ovulation becomes irregular or ceases altogether, leading to a gradual cessation of periods. A woman is considered to be in menopause when she has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
Pathological Causes
- Pregnancy-related Abnormalities: Ectopic pregnancy, threatened miscarriage, or other pregnancy-related issues can cause abnormal bleeding, which may be mistaken for a menstrual disorder.
- Gynecological Conditions: Conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, or even cervical/endometrial cancer can alter the menstrual cycle (causing prolonged bleeding, heavy bleeding, irregular periods, etc.).
- Infections: Infections of the genital tract (vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease) or endometritis are also common causes of abnormal menstruation and other uncomfortable symptoms.
- Other Medical Conditions: Certain chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism), or pituitary tumors can also affect hormonal balance and lead to menstrual cycle disruptions.
Impact of Dietary Habits and Lifestyle
This can occur when habits related to diet, exercise, and daily routines are altered. Specifically:
- Unbalanced Diet: Nutritional deficiencies, excessive dieting, or sudden changes in diet can affect hormone production. Rapid or significant weight gain or loss is also a common factor in menstrual disorders.
- Prolonged Stress: Psychological stress can alter the activity of the hypothalamus in the brain, the body’s hormone control center, leading to an irregular cycle.
- Excessive Physical Activity: High-intensity exercise or overtraining can prolong menstrual days and increase menstrual flow.
- Medication Use: Some medications, such as contraceptives, diabetes medications, or antihypertensives, can have side effects that alter the menstrual cycle.
We hope this information on menstrual disorders helps you better understand your body, enabling you to adopt appropriate healthcare practices. If you have any further questions about obstetric and gynecological health, please contact the Dr. Marie Clinic System immediately for dedicated consultation and timely support from our team of specialist doctors!
