Menstraation period and mentrual disorders

Normal Menstrual

What is a menstrual cycle?

The menstrual cycle is the series of changes a woman's body goes through to prepare for a pregnancy. About once a month, the uterus grows a new lining (endometrium) to get ready for a fertilized egg . When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the uterus sheds its lining. This is the monthly menstrual bleeding (also called menstrual period) that women have from their early teen years until menopause, around age 50.

The menstrual cycle is from Day 1 of bleeding to Day 1 of the next time of bleeding. Although the average cycle is 28 days, it is normal to have a cycle that is shorter or longer.

Girls usually start having menstrual periods between the ages of 11 and 14. Women usually start to have fewer periods between ages 39 and 51. Women in their 40s and teens may have cycles that are longer or change a lot. If you are a teen, your cycles should even out with time. If you are nearing menopause, your cycles will probably get longer and then will stop.

Talk to your doctor if you notice any big change in your cycle. It's especially important to check with your doctor if yhave three or more menstrual periods that last longer than 7 days or are very heavy. Also call if you have bleeding between your periods or pelvic pain that is not from your period.

What controls the menstrual cycle?

Your hormones control your menstrual cycle. During each cycle, your brain's hypothalamus and pituitary gland send hormone signals back and forth with your ovaries. These signals get the ovaries and uterus ready for a pregnancy.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone play the biggest roles in how the uterus changes during each cycle.

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Estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus. Progesterone increases after an ovary releases an egg (ovulation) at the middle of the cycle. This helps the estrogen keep the lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg.A drop in progesterone (along with estrogen) causes the lining to break down. This is when your period starts.

A change in hormone levels can affect your cycle or fertility. For example, teens tend to have low or changing progesterone levels. This is also true for women close to menopause. That is why teens and women in their 40s may have heavy menstrual bleeding and cycles that change in length.

Other things can change your cycle. They includes
Birth control pills
Low body weight
Losing a lot of weight, or being overweight.
Stress or very hard exercise also can change your cycle. Pregnancy is the most common cause of a missed period.

What common symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle?

Some women have no pain or other problems. But other women have symptoms before and during their periods.

For about a week before a period, many women have some premenstrual symptoms. You may feel more tense or angry. You may gain water weight and feel bloated. Your breasts may feel tender. You may get acne. You also may have less energy than usual. A day or two before your period, you may start having pain (cramps) in your belly, back, or legs. These symptoms go away during the first days of a period.

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When your ovary releases an egg in the middle of your cycle, you may have pain in your lower belly. You also might have red spotting for less than a day. Both are normal.

How can women take care of bleeding and symptoms?

You can use pads, tampons, or menstrual cups to manage bleeding. Whatever you use, be sure to change it at least every 4 to 8 hours. Pads may be best at night.

Many women can improve their symptoms by getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet. It also may help to limit alcohol and caffeine. Try to reduce stress.

WHAT CAUSES IRREGULAR PERIODS?

There are different physical and psychological factors that can affect your menstrual flow. Here are the most common ones:

Stress: Since the period is affected by brain function, stress and emotional shock can easily disrupt it. In fact, Cortisol, the stress hormone, directly affects the production of estrogen and progesterone, which alters your normal cycle.

Dietary habits:

Gaining or losing too much weight at once can lead to hormonal fluctuations, a major cause of delayed menstruation.

Medications:

A lot of medications affect the way your body produces estrogen and progesterone. That’s why, when you’re sick, your period may arrive late by a day or two.

Exercise:

Burning too much energy while exercising will drain the body’s strength making it hard for you to menstruate.

Polycystic ovary syndrome:

A common cause consisting of the formation of cysts on the ovaries which affects regular ovulation.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF IRREGULARITIES?

VERY LIGHT PERIOD OR HYPOMENORRHEA

Girls with hypomenorrhea have a very light flow and their period usually lasts less than 3 days. Moreover, their menstrual blood becomes either light pink or too brown. Sometimes, hypomenorrhea leads to missed or unpredictable periods.

This condition is common in teens who have just started menstruation, since the hormones controlling ovulation haven’t reached a balance yet.

Another cause of hypomenorrhea is excess secretion the hormone that causes lactation. When it occurs in high doses, it disrupts ovulation meaning you will miss your period.

If you have a light period, or an abnormally long cycle (longer than 40 days), consult your doctor.

NO PERIOD OR AMENORRHEA

Absence of periods is referred to as amenorrhea. Normally, menstruation doesn’t happen before puberty, during pregnancy, after menopause and sometimes while breastfeeding.

Apart from these normal cases, amenorrhea may be caused by harsh diets, endurance sports, obesity, or certain medications.

If all of the above is not applicable and you’re not getting your period when you normally should, check with your doctor as this may be the symptom of a medical condition.

SPOTTING OR METRORRHAGIA

Sometimes, between two periods, you may notice small traces of blood on your underwear. This is called spotting or metrorrhagia and can last from several hours to several days.

Spotting is usually mild and shouldn’t happen frequently. If it persists, it might indicate a serious underlying condition. Bleeding can, for example, be a sign of hormonal imbalance or vaginal dryness. Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment options.

Causes and Development

It can be caused by a hormonal imbalance(hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism); pregnancy disorder; cervical lesions; medications (birth control pills, corticosteroids, hypothalamic depressants, anticholinergics, anticoagulants); uterine fibroids; functional ovarian cysts; polyps; carcinoma of the vagina, cervix, endometrium or ovary; renal or liverdisease; coagulation disorders; anabolic steroid use; IUDs or other trauma.