What is Menstruation ?
Menstruation is the discharge of blood and mucosal tissues from the uterus through the vagina which occurs every month. It is commonly known as ‘periods’. It is a biological process that occurs throughout a woman’s reproductive years. i.e. from menarche to menopause, except during pregnancy. If the ovum in the woman’s uterus gets fertilized by a sperm during the ovulation phase, she gets pregnant, and periods stop till post delivery. If the ovum is not fertilized, it sheds along with the blood and endometrial tissues, and is called Menstruation or Periods.
What can be termed as Irregular Periods?
Menstruation is controlled and triggered by signals sent by female hormones produced in the body, namely estrogen and progesterone.
Any functions in periods indicate a disruption in the natural chain of hormonal events.
A regular period usually lasts anywhere between 3 to 5 days.
Normally, the menstrual cycle occurs every 28 days.
There are many women who face period problems in terms of either timing or amount of bleeding at some point in their menstrual years. This happens mostly due to a cycle without a normal ovulation, especially at the start of menstruation in adolescence.
In such a case, the normal period may resume as early as the next period, or could take a few months to become regular again. Irregular periods at the age of 45 years or above can signal the beginning of menopause.
Symptoms:
A missed period : Does not occur for a month or more.
A late period : Gets delayed by a week or more than its actual cycle of 28 days.
An early period : Occur seven to ten days before the actual date of its cycle.
Periods that occur twice in a cycle
Menorrhagia : Heavy bleeding with large clots.
Oligomenorrhea : Scanty Bleeding.
NOTE :- Having Irregular periods does not mean you are infertile. You would still need to take precautions against pregnancy when you are sexually ready.
Causes:
Factors that can cause change in the bleeding pattern can be;
Hormonal abnormalities including Thyroid.
Medications such as hormones or birth control pills.
Obesity
Over-exercise or significant weight loss.
Eating disorders include a diet high in carbohydrates.
Drug use
Chemotherapy
Breastfeeding
Caffeine
Increased stress
Uterine abnormalities
Polycystic ovarian syndrome/ estrogen dominance.
Recent childbirth, miscarriage, or D&C.
Excessive intake of alcohol, which can interfere with liver metabolism of estrogen & progesterone.
How to Prevent it:
Although there is no way to prevent menstrual disturbance as such, ensure to consult your physician if you continue to have irregular periods over a few months in succession, and more so if it is accompanied by fever, abdominal pain, or heavy bleeding with dizziness or fainting. Be prepared to tell your physician the dates of your last few periods.
An early diagnosis and treatment can help regularize your periods, which are an important aspect of your overall health.
In not so critical conditions, adapting some suitable lifestyle and adopting a healthy diet can also help in regulating your periods.
Reduce stress level. Take time to meditate, relax or just hang out. This may help put your cycle back on track.
Include whole grains, lots of fresh fruits and green vegetables, beans, low fat dairy products and fish which contain Omega-3 and fatty acid in your diet.
Treatment:
There are many effective treatments available that help normalize periods;
If the cause of irregular bleeding is due to a medical condition, treating that condition could restore the normal cycle.
The treatment is based on the cause, the amount of bleeding, and now-a-days in many cases, the woman's reproductive goals i.e., whether she wants to have children or not.
Comments