Generally, menstruation lasts three to seven days. Examples of menstrual problems include periods that are less than 21 days apart or more than 35 days apart. Missing three or more periods in a row, and the menstrual flow is heavier or lighter than usual. That is, those who do not have regular menstruation.
If you're not sure if you're having irregular periods, you need to know what exactly happens during periods or the symptoms of abnormal periods.
What is abnormal menstruation or period?
Most
women experience periods that last three to seven days. A woman's period
usually occurs every 28 days, but a normal period cycle can range from 21
days to 35 days.
If
menstruation does not follow this rule, it is considered as irregular
menstruation. There
are some symptoms of irregular periods. Also, if the following problems occur
during menstruation, then it is identified as irregular menstruation.
Problems that occur in irregular periods:
- Menstrual periods are less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart
- Missing three or more times in a row
- Menstrual flow that may be much heavier or lighter than normal
- Menstrual periods lasting more than seven days
- Period pain, cramping, nausea or vomiting
- Bleeding or spotting that occurs between periods, after menopause, or after sex
Examples of abnormal menstruation or Irregular discharge
** Amenorrhea:
A condition when a woman stops menstruating completely. Absence of periods for
90 days or longer and if the woman is not pregnant, breastfeeding, or has not
reached menopause (which usually occurs in women between 45 and 55 years of
age), is called an irregular period. Also
young women who have not started menstruating by age 15 or 16 or within three
years of breast development are also considered amenorrhoeic.
** Oligomenorrhea
is a condition that refers to periods that occur infrequently.
** Dysmenorrhea
is a menstrual condition characterized by painful periods and severe menstrual
cramps. Some discomfort during the cycle is normal period for most women.
** Uterine
bleeding can be caused by abnormal periods, such as: a heavy menstrual flow; A
period that lasts more than seven days; or bleeding or spotting between
periods, after sex, or after menopause.
What causes irregular menstruation or abnormal periods?
Abnormal
periods have many causes, ranging from excessive anxiety or stress to more
serious underlying medical conditions. Here are the important factors discussed.
Abnormal
periods can occur due to exercise or lack of body care, some diseases can also
cause abnormal menstruation.
Causes of Irregular Menstruation
- One of the causes of irregular periods is a stressful lifestyle. A woman's daily routine activities can affect her menstrual cycle, significant weight gain or loss, dieting, changes in exercise routine, travel, illness or other interruptions.
Birth manage capsules. Most delivery manage capsules incorporate a aggregate of the hormones estrogen and progestin (a few incorporate progestin alone). The capsules save you being pregnant via way of means of retaining the ovaries from liberating eggs. Going on or off delivery manage capsules can have an effect on menstruation. Some ladies have abnormal or ignored durations for up to 6 months after discontinuing delivery manage capsules. This is an essential attention whilst you are making plans on concept and turning into pregnant. Women who take delivery manage
capsules that incorporate progestin handiest might also additionally have bleeding among durations.
Uterine polyps or fibroids. Uterine polyps are small benign (noncancerous) growths with inside the lining of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are tumors that connect to the wall of the uterus. There can be one or numerous fibroids that variety from as small as an apple seed to the dimensions of a grapefruit. These tumors are typically benign, however they'll motive heavy bleeding and ache in the course of periods. If the fibroids are large, they may positioned strain at the bladder or rectum, inflicting discomfort.
Endometriosis. The endometrial tissue that strains the uterus breaks down each month and is discharged with the menstrual flow. Endometriosis happens whilst the endometrial tissue begins of evolved to develop outdoor the uterus. Often, the endometrial tissue attaches itself to the ovaries or fallopian tubes; it on occasion grows at the intestines or different organs with inside the decrease digestive tract and with inside the region among your rectum and uterus. Endometriosis can also additionally motive strange bleeding, cramps or ache earlier than and all through periods, and painful intercourse.
Pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial contamination that impacts the woman reproductive system. Bacteria can also additionally input the vagina thru sexual touch after which unfold to the uterus and higher genital tract. Bacteria may input the reproductive tract thru gynecologic methods or via childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Symptoms of PID consist of a heavy vaginal discharge with an unsightly odor, abnormal periods, ache with inside the pelvic and decrease stomach areas, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Polycystic ovary syndrome. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the ovaries make big quantities of androgens, that are male hormones. Small fluid-stuffed sacs (cysts) can also additionally shape with inside the ovaries. These can regularly been visible on an ultrasound. The hormonal modifications can save you eggs from maturing, and so ovulation won't take area consistently. Sometimes a female with polycystic ovary syndrome could have abnormal durations or prevent menstruating completely. In addition, the circumstance is related to obesity, infertility and hirsutism (immoderate hair boom and acne). This circumstance can be as a result of a hormonal imbalance, even though the precise motive is unknown. Treatment of PCOS relies upon on whether or not a female goals being pregnant. If being pregnant isn't always a goal, then weight loss, oral contraceptive pills, and the medicine Metformin® (an insulin sensitizer utilized in diabetes) can modify a female’s cycles. If being pregnant is desired, ovulation-stimulating medicines may be tried.
Premature gonadal insufficiency. This condition occurs in women under the age of forty whose ovaries do not function normally. Cycles stop, similar to menopause. This can occur in patients who are being treated for cancer with therapy and radiation, or if you have a case history of premature ovarian failure or confirmed body abnormalities. If this condition occurs, tell your doctor.
Other causes of abnormal menstruation
- Uterine cancer or cancer of female internal reproductive organs.
- Medicines, steroids or prescription drugs (blood thinners).
- Medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, associate in nursing under or overactive thyroid gland, or pituitary disease that affect endocrine balance.
- Pregnancy-related complications, including miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (the animal implants outside the uterus; for example, in the fallopian tube).
How is abnormal discharge (period) diagnosed?
If the side of your cycle has changed, you must keep an accurate record of the number of flows and whether you have major blood clots when your period starts and ends. Wait for other symptoms Appreciate the injury between periods and ejaculation cramps or pain.
Your
doctor may ask you about your menstrual cycle and medical history. He or she
will do a physical exam, including a waist exam and usually a Pap test The
doctor may order specific tests, including the following:
- Blood tests to rule out anemia or various medical disorders.
- Duct culture, seems for infection.
- A pelvic ultrasound test to check for fibroids, polyps, or cysts of the female internal reproductive organs.
- Nursing assists in mucous membrane biopsy, during which a sample of tissue is removed from the lining of the female internal reproductive organs to diagnose endometriosis, secretion imbalance, or cancer cells. Pathologies or other conditions can be diagnosed using a procedure known as a laparoscopy, where the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and then inserts a skinny tube to view the uterus and ovaries.
What to do if you have abnormal menstruation or irregular periods?
First you need to be sure if you are having irregular periods. Experts suggest that those who have irregular periods should keep a calendar of the last six months of menstruation. By looking at this calendar, you can understand what kind of menstrual problem she is having.
In addition, your family case history, physical examination, and some blood tests along with an ultrasound may be necessary to determine if there are any problems with the uterus and its surroundings. So you need to consult a specialist doctor.
Treatment of abnormal periods depends on the underlying cause:
- Control of the menstrual cycle: Hormones such as estrogen or steroids may be prescribed to help manage heavy bleeding.
- Pain control: Mild to moderate pain or cramps can be eased by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Advil or acetaminophen. Salicylates are not recommended as they may cause heavy bleeding. Taking a hot bathtub or shower or using a heating pad can help relieve cramps.
- Female Internal Reproductive Fibroids: These will be treated medically and/or surgically. Initially, most fibroids that cause mild symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have experienced significant trauma, an iron supplement may be useful in preventing or treating anemia. Low-dose birth control pills or steroid injections (Depo-Provera®) can help control heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. Medicines known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists cannot shrink the scale of fibroids and control heavy bleeding. These drugs scale back the body's production of steroid hormones and stop catamenia for some time. If fibroids do not respond to medication, there are several surgical options that can remove them or reduce their size and symptoms. The type of procedure will depend on the size, type and site of the fibroid. A myomectomy is the simple removal of a fibroid. In severe cases where the fibroids are giant or cause significant bleeding or pain, a cut may be necessary. During a hysterectomy, the fibroids are removed together with the uterus. Different choices embody uterine artery embolization, which cuts off blood supply to active fibroid tissue.
- Endometriosis: Although there is no cure for endometriosis, over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers can help ease the discomfort. Ejaculation treatment, comparable to the contraceptive pill, can help women stop the overgrowth of internal reproductive tissue and reduce the number of bleeding periods. In extra-severe cases, a gonadotropin-releasing secretion agonist or steroid may be used to briefly stop the ejaculation time. In severe cases, surgery may be required to get rid of excess mucosal tissue growing in the pelvis or abdomen. A cut out may be required as a last resort if the female internal reproductive organs are severely damaged.
There
are several procedural choices that can help with significant discharge
injuries. A five-year intrauterine device (IUD), known as Mirena®, has been
approved to help reduce bleeding, and may be as effective as surgical
procedures such as mucosal ablation. It is often inserted into the doctor's
workplace with the discomfort of being robbed and offered contraception
together. Mucosal ablation is another option. It uses heat or thermocautery to
destroy the lining of the womb. It is usually only used when other therapies
have been tried and failed. This is often the result of scarring from the
process, making it difficult to see the uterus if future bleeding continues.
How to reduce the risk of abnormal periods?
Here are some suggestions for self-care:
# Try to
maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising moderately and eating nutritious
food. If you need to lose weight, don't jump into a diet that severely limits
your calorie and food intake.
# Make
sure you get enough rest.
# Apply
stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
# If
you're an athlete, cut back on prolonged or intense exercise routines.
Excessive sports can lead to irregular periods.
# Use
birth control pills or other contraceptive methods as directed.
# Change
your tampons or sanitary napkins every four to six hours to avoid toxic shock
syndrome and stop infection.
# See a
doctor for regular check-ups.
When to seek treatment for irregular periods?
Contact a doctor or specialist if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain throughout your period or between periods
- Exceptionally significant bleeding (soaking every hour with a sanitary pad or tampon for 2 to 3 hours) or heavy clotting
- An abnormal or foul emission
- High fever
- A period lasting more than seven days
- Epithelial ductal bleeding or detection between periods or changes once in your life is well known
- Periods become very irregular after you have a regular menstrual cycle
- Nausea or puking throughout your amount
- Symptoms of the syndrome, fever over 102 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, or symptoms
You should also see a doctor if you think you might be pregnant.
Learn more
Can I get pregnant during my period?
What is important to do in the first three months of pregnancy?
