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Healthy Diet Plans >>  Health Issues and Diet >>  Womens Ailments >>  Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual Disorders And Treatment


Period disorders, more commonly referred to as menstrual cycle problems are common occurrences in women of all ages, which can begin right from the time a young girl reaches adolescence and can go till, till they reach menopause. Normally, a woman’s body prepares for pregnancy once every 28 days. The menstrual cycle starts on the first day, when bleeding begins and goes on till the first day of the next menstrual period. However, since every woman is different, for some, a menstrual cycle can be as short as 21 days, whereas in others, the cycle can be as long as 35 days long. What may be regarded as being irregular for one woman could be quite normal for another.


Menstrual Problems In Women

There are several different types of menstrual cycle disorders, which can be broadly classified into three categories: Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea and Menorrhagia.

Amenorrhea can be described as the failure to begin the menstrual cycle during puberty, or the cessation of menstruation. Some of the most common causes of menstrual disorders in this category include menopause, pregnancy and lactation.

Dysmenorrhea is very common in women who experience menstrual problems. Women can suffer from either primary dysmenorrhea or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea usually begins when girls first get their period and they are not caused by any underlying medical condition. Secondary dysmenorrhea usually occurs later on in a woman’s life and is often the result of problems with the woman’s reproductive system.

Menorrhagia can be described as the excessive and the dysfunctional bleeding that occurs when a woman is in her menstrual cycle. However, women can only be said to suffer from menorrhagia, when the flow of menstrual blood is over 80 ml in volume or if the bleeding lasts for more than eight to ten days.

Women are also known to suffer from other Premenstrual Disorders, like Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorders (PMDD). PMS disorders are more common in women and are characterized by physical and emotional symptoms, occurring in the second half of the ovulation cycle. Some of the most commonly seen symptoms of PMS disorders include headaches, bloating, irritability and backaches.

There are several factors that could lead to these menstrual problems in women. Some of the most common causes of menstrual irregularities include:

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Excessive amount of stress or a very hectic lifestyle
• Disorders related to the thyroid gland
• Severe weight fluctuations, where a woman loses or gains an excess amount of weight
• Being overweight or even underweight
• Hormonal problems
• Aging
• Use of certain medication
• Conditions such as cancer of the cervix

Most women tend to ignore minor period disorders, because it is such a sensitive issue and they find it difficult to discuss it with anyone. However, some of the menstrual cycle disorders could be the result of serious medical conditions, which need to be treated without any delay. Therefore, women who notice the symptoms of any menstrual disorders should undergo a physical checkup and identify the causes as soon as possible.

Menstrual  Disorder Treatment

keMost women avoid consulting medical health care providers for menstrual problems treatment, unless the problem gets out of hand and starts affecting them in a very severe manner. This could be due to the fact that menstrual problems are sensitive in nature and therefore women are uncomfortable discussing them with anyone, including a doctor. Many women suffer from lack of knowledge and do not even realize that they are going through severe menstrual problems, which could be an indication of an underlying health condition that needs to be treated without any delay. Therefore, women need to realize that these menstrual problems will not just go away on their own, unless some sort of treatment is administered.

The problems of excessive pain and severe abdominal cramps during the menstrual cycle are very common complaints in many women. Most women rely on a temporary cure for period pain and cramps, in the form of over the counter pain killers. However, the relief in such instances is only temporary and lasts for no more than a couple of hours. Therefore, many women end up taking one pain killer after the other, just to go about their daily activities without much discomfort. Unfortunately, there are a few side effects that have been associated with such over the counter and prescription medicines, some of which include heartburn, weakness and drowsiness. Therefore, it is best for women to consult a doctor to know what the proper, long term treatment for menstrual cramps is. Certain home remedies are very effective in reducing menstrual pain and cramps, with minimal side effects. These home remedies include regular exercise, heat therapy, drinking a lot of water, chewing on some mint, taking warm baths and yoga. Herbs like basil, cinnamon, ginger and parsley can also be consumed to reduce menstrual pain.

Irregular period is another common problem experienced by many women of all ages. Women can choose to undergo medical irregular menstruation treatment, which includes hormonal supplements and contraceptives. Herbs like sage, rosemary, ginger and feverfew have also been recommended to stabilize menstrual cycles in women.  Healthy lifestyles changes, to relieve stress as well as getting adequate amounts of sleep, rest and exercise can also be very effective in irregular menstruation treatment.

Women who have the problem of heavy bleeding usually have to restrict their activities when they are menstruating. However, by following the right menstrual flow treatment, this problem can be controlled to a great extent. During a period, women can follow certain steps to reduce menstrual flow, by lying down with their legs elevated or placing a cold compress on the abdominal area. Strenuous activity like running or lifting heavy weight should also be strictly avoided. Most health experts advise women against menstrual flow medication and therefore, it is best to use home instead. Following a healthy diet, which is high in vitamin C, also helps in reducing the flow of blood during a menstrual cycle.

Therefore, all women should be educated on the importance of proper menstrual disorder management, so that they can distinguish between factors that are a cause for concern and those that are not.

Submitted on January 16, 2014