Table of contents:
- Various menstrual problems that cannot be underestimated
- 1. Menstrual blood comes out very much
- 2. Suddenly out spots before menstruation time
- 3. You never had your period or suddenly stopped having your period
- 4. Menstruation is very painful
- 5. The duration of menstruation is too short or long
- 6. Heavy diarrhea during menstruation
- Causes of menstrual problems
- Using hormonal birth control
- Stress
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Weight loss drastically
- Obesity
- Perimenopause
- Thyroid disorders
- Take certain medications
- When to go to the doctor
Many women constantly scapegoat menstruation for a certain reason. Mood Slightly ugly, stomach cramps, or sudden sweet cravings? The answer is "Definitely want menses, here!" Various menstrual problems are also often followed by a series of questions whether your cycle is normal or not. Now, instead of being confused, here are signs or features of abnormal menstruation and need to be examined by a doctor.
Various menstrual problems that cannot be underestimated
Your menstrual problems can signal an abnormal menstrual cycle if:
1. Menstrual blood comes out very much
Menstrual blood usually only comes out a lot in the first 1-2 days of menstruation. After that, the blood volume will shrink even more, indicating that your period is about to finish.
But if the blood keeps coming out profusely and profusely until the last day of menstruation? This condition is called menorrhagia, and can signal a problem with your reproductive system. Naturally, this one menstrual problem makes a lot of women panic. So, you must see a doctor if you experience it.
The doctor will usually check what other symptoms you feel during your period. For example, the face is pale, the body feels weak, tired, lethargic, to pain during sex or frequent urination.
Usually the doctor will also monitor your iron levels because the menstrual blood that comes out is quite a lot.
2. Suddenly out spots before menstruation time
Streaking blood outside of the time you normally have your period does not always mean a problem.
Sometimes the cause is because you are taking birth control pills, or it may even indicate that you are pregnant. Bloodstained signs of pregnancy are referred to as implantation bleeding.)
However, blood spots other than the time of your period may be a sign of serious health problems.
Just remember that a normal menstrual schedule generally occurs every 21-35 days. Apart from that, there may be something wrong with one of your organs. immediately find out the cause.
3. You never had your period or suddenly stopped having your period
Teenage girls generally start menstruating for the first time at the age of 14. Maybe you are confused about why your turn hasn't come past that age.
The first period (menarche) may come late. However, if you have never had your period past puberty this could indicate an abnormal uterine condition. You must check with a doctor.
This is different if you have regular periods but suddenly your periods stop. This may be a sign of early pregnancy that you can check with test pack, or even other problems in the reproductive organs.
If you are not pregnant but also not menstruating, do not ignore it, let alone underestimate it. The sooner it is checked, the sooner the cause will be known.
4. Menstruation is very painful
Have you ever felt excruciating menstrual pain in the first days? This menstrual problem is quite disturbing mood and daily activities.
The main cause is the prostaglandin hormone that is produced excessively during menstruation. Prostaglandins are chemicals that send signals to the uterus that it's time for your egg to break free from its "nest" (ovary).
Menstruation really hurts. But if it makes you helpless and unable to get up and move, there may be other things to worry about.
Menstrual pain is also said to be abnormal if the pain lasts more than 3 days and is not able to be treated with pain relievers.
5. The duration of menstruation is too short or long
Normal menstruation usually lasts 2-7 days. However, when your period is finished in just 2 days or drags on for more than a week, you need to check with your doctor.
Too short a period can be caused by using hormonal birth control or signs of menopause. It is also possible that there are other problems in the body that may not be discovered.
Likewise in the case of menstruation that is too long and can be a marker of trouble. Especially if you have menstruation for more than 2 weeks with a steady flow of blood.
6. Heavy diarrhea during menstruation
Diarrhea during menstruation is not uncommon. The reason is, this condition is very normal and does not indicate a serious illness. However, when the intensity is no longer normal so that it interferes with daily life, immediately consult a doctor.
Causes of menstrual problems
There are many factors that make menstruation abnormal, including:
Using hormonal birth control
Hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills are one of the causes of abnormal menstrual problems.
Birth control pills contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone (progestin). The extra hormones from these pills can cause your body's natural hormone levels to become imbalanced.
Excess hormones in the body can disrupt the menstrual cycle so that it is abnormal. Some may have menstruation twice a month or even have not had their period for months.
Stress
Research published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research says stress can disrupt a woman's menstrual cycle.
When you are stressed, the parts of the brain that control hormones to regulate the menstrual cycle are disrupted. As a result, your cycle falls apart.
Irregular menstrual problems are often characterized by various other abnormal menstrual symptoms.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine polyps or fibroids are small, benign (non-cancerous) growths on the lining of the uterus. Although benign, these tumors can cause heavy bleeding and pain during menstruation.
If the fibroids are large, the bladder or rectum will feel compressed, causing discomfort.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition when the endometrial tissue that is supposed to line the uterus grows on the outside. Even the tissue sometimes attaches to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other parts.
Even though the endometrium is the tissue that should be shed with menstrual blood every month. When this tissue grows where it shouldn't be, painful symptoms usually appear.
Very very heavy menstruation, cramps, severe pain, and pain during sex are the characteristics of endometriosis.
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a bacterial infection that attacks the female reproductive system. The bacteria enter and infect the vagina through sexual contact.
Apart from sexual contact, bacteria can also enter through childbirth, curettage, or abortion. Bacteria that have entered for a long time will spread to the uterus and upper genital tract.
Pelvic inflammatory disease is usually characterized by irregular menstruation, pelvic and lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and diarrhea.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a condition in which the ovaries produce androgen hormones (male hormones) in large enough quantities. As a result, small sacs filled with fluid or cysts appear on the ovaries.
This condition prevents women with PCOS from ovulating or releasing eggs every month. This is triggered by a hormonal imbalance that makes it difficult for the eggs to mature.
People with PCOS usually experience irregular periods, obesity, acne, and excess hair growth including on the face.
Weight loss drastically
In fact, losing weight drastically is not good for health. Apart from making you look thin, this can also keep you from having your period.
The reason is, not consuming enough calories can interfere with the production of hormones needed for ovulation. You need to see a doctor immediately if you have a body mass index below 18.5 so that your menstrual problems can be resolved.
Obesity
Not only too thin which makes menstruation a problem. Too fat can also cause the same problem. It turns out that being overweight can have an impact on hormone and insulin levels which can disrupt the menstrual cycle.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a transitional period before you enter menopause. This condition usually starts in the 40s but can also appear earlier. Changes in the menstrual cycle are one of the main signs of perimenopause.
In the 4 to 8 years before menopause, estrogen levels in the body usually fluctuate. This makes you have periods that are sometimes too long or even too short. In addition to changes in the menstrual cycle, perimenopause is characterized by a variety of other symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood which is easy to change
- Dry vagina
Thyroid disorders
Thyroid abnormalities can lead to menstrual problems. Both hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) both make menstruation abnormal.
When a person has hypothyroidism, menstruation usually becomes heavier, longer, and has more cramps. However, if the thyroid is overactive, periods tend to be shorter and less frequent.
Take certain medications
The side effects of certain drugs can actually disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. Here's a list of drugs that interfere with the normal menstrual cycle:
- Blood thinners
- Medication for the thyroid
- Epilepsy drugs
- Antidepressant drugs
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Drugs in hormone replacement therapy
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
When you experience menstrual problems while taking one of these medicines, talk to your doctor about finding a replacement drug.
When to go to the doctor
When you experience menstrual problems as mentioned, don't delay to see a doctor. Especially if you use up one sanitary napkin every one or two hours every day. This condition is no longer normal and needs to be checked to find out the cause.
Doctors will usually find out many things about your medical history such as:
- Current mental condition
- The diet program that is being undertaken
- Sexual history
- Exercise intensity
- How long menstruation usually lasts
- How much blood is coming out and what color and texture it looks like
- Symptoms that have been felt during menstruation in recent times
After that, to diagnose the cause of menstrual problems the doctor will perform various examinations including a pelvic test and Pap smear. The doctor will also perform other examinations such as:
- Blood test
- Vaginal culture to look for infection
- Pelvic ultrasound to check for uterine fibroids, polyps, or ovarian cysts
- Endometrial biopsy, to diagnose endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, or cancer cells
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