Menstrual irregularities symptoms. Causes of menstrual irregularities. Severe causes of menstrual irregularities

Nature intended that a woman’s menstrual cycle is a very precise mechanism. Its work is influenced by many factors, from the characteristics of the endocrine system to the most complex biochemical reactions of the brain.

At the same time, as in the work of any other mechanism, failures of various types sometimes occur in the female cycle. Let's find out what their features are and possible causes.

Failure of the menstrual cycle - symptoms

First of all, it should be noted that the duration of the cycle is an individual feature of each woman. On average, this is 28 days, but the medical norm is from 26 to 36 days.

If, for example, your cycle always lasts 35 days, then this is not a glitch, but a personal characteristic of yours. A variation of the norm can also be called a shift in menstruation by 2-3 days, because not everyone has them at equal intervals.

A failure, in turn, is a shift in the onset of menstruation by 5-7 days in one direction or another. And if this begins to happen systematically, then you should not postpone visiting the gynecologist. The doctor will help you understand the reasons for this and establish the cycle. This is very important not only for those who plan to become a mother in the near future, but also for women’s health in general.

What to do if your menstrual cycle is disrupted?

First of all, you should establish the causes of the failure, and only then decide how to establish the cycle. This should, of course, be done with the help of a gynecologist. At the appointment, he will conduct a standard examination and ask questions that will help identify the origins of the problem. Additionally, you may need to undergo tests, an ultrasound scan of the uterus and ovaries, thyroid gland or other organs. Having determined the causes of menstrual irregularities, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Every girl should carefully monitor the course of her menstrual cycle, because regular periods are one of the indicators of the normal functioning of the female body.

Of course, all of us at least once in our lives have encountered a delay or, conversely, an unscheduled arrival of the next menstrual bleeding. A slight delay in menstruation by 1-3 days is not considered a pathology, but a cycle shift of more than 5-7 days requires a detailed examination and identification of the cause, because such a situation may indicate serious problems with women’s health.

In this article we will talk about the main reasons that cause disruption of the menstrual cycle, and what to do if your periods do not come on time.

Symptoms of menstrual irregularities

It would seem that menstrual irregularities are easy to identify. Meanwhile, not every girl immediately understands that her menstruation sequence is out of order. The following symptoms may indicate a disruption in the menstrual cycle:

• absence of another menstruation 35 days after the previous one;
• the onset of menstruation in less than 21 days from the beginning of the last;
• “daub” instead of menstruation, as well as excessive bleeding;
• complete absence of discharge for several months;
• the end of menstruation less than 3 days after the start;
• prolonged menstrual bleeding lasting more than 7 days;
• the appearance of bleeding between periods.

Why does the menstrual cycle fail?

There are a huge number of reasons that can cause various disturbances in a woman’s menstrual cycle. Let's look at the most common of them:

Thus, if menstruation is delayed by 7 days or more, the girl should first think about a possible pregnancy. If you do not become a mother in the near future, and the menstrual cycle does not recover on its own, you should immediately seek advice from a gynecologist who can determine the causes of the menstrual cycle failure and prescribe the necessary treatment.

At some point in her life, cycle disturbances probably occurred in every woman. Irregular menstruation , which many ladies are accustomed to considering as something ordinary, are actually a signal of problems with women's health.

What is NMC in gynecology? This is a disrupted menstrual cycle that happens to women at different periods of their lives.

Irregular menstruation – delays or a shorter cycle indicate disturbances in the woman’s physical or mental state. The monthly cycle is a kind of biological clock of the body. A disruption in their rhythm should alert you and cause you to consult a doctor so that diseases can be identified in a timely manner. Below we will talk about why the menstrual cycle fails and what a woman should do in such a situation.

What is the menstrual cycle

It is important to clearly know what the menstrual cycle is in women and what normal menstrual function should be.

Menarche , that is, the first menstruation in girls occurs between the ages of 12 and 14 years. At what age girls start menstruating depends on where they live. The further south a teenager lives, the earlier menarche occurs. It is important for parents to monitor when girls begin menstruation in order to understand whether the body is developing normally.

Between the ages of 45 and 55, the menstrual period ends. This period is usually called premenopausal.

During menstruation, the functional layer of the uterine mucosa is rejected as a consequence of a decrease in production in the body. A woman's monthly cycle is divided into three phases.

• 1 phase , follicular, characterized by the production, under the influence of which they mature follicles . From all the follicles, a dominant follicle is subsequently released, from which a mature egg is later released.
• 2 phase The menstrual cycle is the shortest phase, which lasts approximately 1 day. At this time, the follicle ruptures and the egg is released from it. It is important to understand, when talking about what distinguishes the second phase of the menstrual cycle, that this is the time when the egg is ready for fertilization. This is the fertile phase when conception can occur.
• 3 phase , luteal – the period when synthesis begins progesterone corpus luteum, which arose at the site of a ruptured follicle. Progesterone prepares the endometrium for subsequent implantation of a fertilized egg. But if conception never occurs, the corpus luteum gradually dies, progesterone production decreases, and the endometrium is gradually rejected, that is, menstruation begins.

If there is a deficiency of progesterone, estrogen production is activated again, and the cycle repeats again. For ease of perception, a diagram of the phases by day is useful, where all the phases of the cycle are indicated and what these phases are called.

Thus, the menstrual cycle is a cyclical change that occurs over a certain period of time. The duration of a normal cycle should be from 21 to 35 days. If there is a deviation in a certain direction for 3-5 days, this cannot be considered a pathology. However, if more significant changes are noted, then the woman should be wary of why the menstrual cycle is shortening or becoming longer.

If a woman has a normal menstrual cycle, how many days her period lasts is a purely individual indicator. The normal duration of menstruation is from three to seven days. It is important to take into account, paying attention to the duration, that this condition should not be a very difficult period for a woman. After all, an important characteristic is not only the normal duration, but also the fact that menstruation should not cause very strong discomfort. During this period, about 100-140 ml of blood is lost. If there is heavy blood loss or the woman notices that the retention rate is violated, it is important to immediately contact a gynecologist.

The cycle is regulated at 5 levels.

In fact, the causes of irregular menstruation are very diverse and there are many of them. Conventionally, the causes of menstrual irregularities can be divided into three groups:

• First - these are external factors that affect the normal cycle. That is, etiological factors influence the cerebral cortex. A woman may note that the cycle has decreased or, conversely, it is longer, if she has suddenly changed the climate, was in a state of prolonged stress, “sat down” on a strict diet, etc.
• Second – a consequence of pathological conditions affecting not only the reproductive system, but also the body as a whole. Thus, the reasons for the disruption of the menstrual cycle after 40 years are often associated with the onset of menopause. However, it is possible that the reasons for the failure of the menstrual cycle after 40 years are due to the presence of health problems in a middle-aged woman.
• Third – influence of medications. Often the answer to the question of why the menstrual cycle fails is treatment with a number of drugs. A delay or other failure is possible both after starting certain medications and after stopping them. We are talking about hormonal contraceptives, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, glucocorticoids, etc.

Factors associated with pathological conditions

• Ovarian pathologies - we are talking about a disruption of the connection between the ovaries and ovarian cancer, drug stimulation of ovulation, failure of the second phase of the cycle. Also, irregular periods associated with ovarian pathology can be a consequence of negative occupational exposures, radiation, vibration, and chemical influences. The reasons for an irregular menstrual cycle may be associated with surgical interventions performed on the ovaries, injuries to the genitourinary organs, etc.
• Disturbed interaction between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland - an irregular cycle may be associated with too active or insufficient release of gonadotropic hormones and releasing factors. Cycle disturbances are sometimes the result of a tumor of the pituitary gland or brain, hemorrhage in the pituitary gland, or necrosis.
• - if a woman develops endometriosis, both genital and extragenital, the hormonal nature of this disease leads to an imbalance of hormones.
• Blood clotting disorder - hemophilia, other genetic pathologies.
• Curettage of the uterus – the endometrium is damaged if curettage is performed after termination of pregnancy or for the purpose of treatment. As a result, complications may develop - inflammatory processes of the uterus and appendages. Irregular periods after childbirth are also observed.
• Liver and gallbladder diseases .
• The appearance of hormone-dependent tumors – oncological processes in the uterus, adrenal glands, mammary gland, thyroid gland.
• in chronic form – the formation of a full-fledged endometrium does not occur.
• Polyps of the uterine mucosa .
• Sudden “jumps” in body weight – both weight loss and provokes irregular periods in adolescents and adult women, since adipose tissue produces estrogens.
• Infectious diseases – may have a negative effect on the ovaries. Moreover, both infections that were suffered in childhood (for example, or), and sexually transmitted infections can provoke a failure of menstruation.
• Presence of uterine abnormalities – septum in the uterus, sexual infantilism, etc.
• Endocrine pathology – often associated with it are the causes of irregular periods after 40 years.
• Pathology of the uterus – tumors, hyperplasia.
• Mental illness – epilepsy, etc.
• Having bad habits .
• , hypovitaminosis .
• Chromosomal abnormalities.

A gynecologist will tell you what to do in case of a particular health problem and how to normalize your cycle. You should definitely visit him if your periods are “off.”

How can a cycle disorder manifest itself?

• Amenorrhea – no periods for six months or more. At primary amenorrhea violations are noted from the moment when girls begin menstruation; in the secondary case, the disturbances appeared after a certain period of normal cycles.
• Oligomenorrhea — menstruation appears once every few months (3-4). After 45 years, such manifestations may be associated with.
• Opsomenorrhea – scanty periods, lasting no more than 1-2 days.
• Polymenorrhea – prolonged menstruation (more than 7 days) during a normal cycle.
• Hyperpolymenorrhea – there is heavy discharge, but the cycle is normal.
• Menorrhagia – heavy and prolonged menstruation (more than 10 days).
• Metrorrhagia – irregular appearance of spotting, sometimes they can appear in the middle of the cycle.
• Proyomenorrhea - Frequent menstruation, in which the cycle is less than three weeks.
• Algomenorrhea – very painful periods, during which the woman becomes unable to work. Algomenorrhea can also be primary or secondary.
• - this is the name for any cycle disorders in which there is pain during menstruation and unpleasant vegetative disorders: unstable mood, vomiting and nausea, etc.

The cause of frequent periods, as well as other disorders described above, can be associated with a wide variety of pathologies. A woman should be alerted to any violations. For example, very frequent periods after 40 years of age may indicate the development of serious diseases.

Cycle disturbances are often observed in adolescents when menstruation begins. This phenomenon is due to physiological reasons. In girls, hormonal levels are developing, and both the reasons for a short menstrual cycle and the reasons for delays are associated with this. In adolescents, the duration of the cycle may be different each time.

The formation process can last for 1-2 years. But the girl must clearly know how to count the duration of the menstrual cycle in order to track how many days the cycle lasts and whether it is gradually developing. This is important not only for those who are already sexually active, but also for girls who need to know the duration of their cycle both for hygiene purposes and to monitor their health status. The mother must definitely explain to her daughter how to correctly count the menstrual cycle. An example of such a calculation is also important for a teenager.

There are the following pathological factors that influence the regularity of menstruation in adolescents:

• infections of the brain and membranes;
• traumatic brain injuries;
• frequent colds;
• sexual infections;
• sclerocystic ovaries.

The formation of the monthly cycle is also negatively affected by the fact that young girls practice strict diets, as a result of which not only excessive weight loss is noted, but also hypovitaminosis and menstrual irregularities.

Interestingly, the regularity of menstruation is influenced by the personality traits of adolescents.

Doctors identify several more important factors that can affect the formation of the cycle:

• early onset of sexual activity, promiscuity;
• abnormalities in the development of the reproductive system;
• presence of bad habits.

Due to a disrupted menstrual cycle, a teenage girl may experience the so-called juvenile uterine bleeding . This condition is characterized by prolonged periods. As a rule, long and heavy periods last more than a week. This leads to anemia and serious deterioration of the teenager’s condition. As a rule, the causes of long periods are associated with either mental stress or infections.

Disrupted cycle during premenopause

Treatment of menstruation disorders in adolescents

If a teenage girl has a disturbed menstrual cycle, and the condition is complicated by juvenile bleeding, two-stage therapy is performed.

With prolonged severe bleeding, when the girl is worried about weakness, dizziness, and at the same time her level is low (up to 70 g/l), the doctor decides to perform curettage. Next, a histological examination of the scraping is carried out.

Provided that the hemoglobin level is from 80 to 100 g/l, hormonal tablets are prescribed (,).

Also, if necessary, antianemic therapy is carried out (blood transfusion, red blood cell transfusion, infucol, reopolyglucin). Iron supplements are also prescribed as part of the treatment regimen.

The teenager is prescribed hormonal drugs for a period of no more than three months. Treatment of anemia lasts until hemoglobin levels rise to normal.

Treatment of cycle disorders in women of childbearing age

Treatment of menstrual cycle disorders in this case is similar to the treatment regimen for such disorders in adolescents. Both at the age of twenty, and treatment of menstrual irregularities at the age of 40 with bleeding is carried out by curettage. It is carried out for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

It is important to replenish the volume of circulating blood, for which colloidal solutions are used. Antianemic treatment and symptomatic hemostasis are also practiced. Provided that curettage does not work, the doctor may decide to hysterectomy or ablation (burning out) the endometrium.

It is also important to properly treat those concomitant diseases that could provoke a cycle disorder. So, for hypertension, it is important to take prescribed medications and limit salty and liquid intake. If you have liver pathology, you should follow a proper diet and take hepatoprotectors.

Some women also practice treatment with folk remedies. However, such methods must be practiced very carefully, since without consulting a doctor there is a risk of missing a serious pathology. And even irregular menstruation after 45 years of age, perceived by a woman as the beginning of menopause, is a reason to consult a doctor.

Since cycle disruptions may be the cause, women of childbearing age are prescribed, if necessary. Khoriogonin And Pergonal – medications to stimulate the development of active follicles. In order to stimulate ovulation, it should be taken.

Bleeding during menopause

If there is bleeding during menopause, the patient must be prescribed curettage of the uterine cavity. After all, bleeding may indicate serious pathologies, in particular the development atypical hyperplasia or endometrial adenocarcinoma . Sometimes the doctor may decide to perform hysterectomy .

Sometimes a patient during menopause is prescribed gestagen medications: Depo-Provera , , 17-OPK .

During treatment, antiestrogenic drugs may also be prescribed - Danazol , Gestrinone , 17a-ethynyl testosterone .

conclusions

If menstruation is disrupted, the question of how to restore the menstrual cycle must be addressed immediately by a woman of any age. Those who are interested in how to restore the menstrual cycle using folk remedies should remember that such manifestations are just a symptom of the underlying disease, which must be treated correctly, according to the regimen prescribed by a specialist.

To eliminate such problems, it is not always necessary to take hormonal pills to restore menstruation. Sometimes a woman for whom the question of how to restore the menstrual cycle without hormones is relevant, even changing her daily routine and eating habits helps. For example, weight normalization helps obese women. And for those who practice very strict diets, it is enough to increase the calorie intake and overcome the exhaustion of the body. In any case, if there are “problems” with the cycle, it is important for both young girls and women during menopause to consult a gynecologist who will tell you how to proceed.

Menstrual disorders usually occur in connection with gynecological or endocrine pathologies. Even harmless delays in menstruation or changes in their volume are often signs of dangerous situations. It is important to know what deviations are possible and what to do to restore the functioning of the reproductive organs. It is necessary to find out the causes of menstrual irregularities. When such pathologies appear, a woman should definitely consult a doctor so that treatment is timely.

Content:

What cycle is considered normal?

The menstrual cycle consists of 2 phases, between which ovulation occurs. It is considered normal if at least 21 and no more than 35 days pass between the first day of the previous menstruation and the beginning of the next (on average 26-28 days). The interval should be more or less constant (deviations should not exceed 3 days). The duration of bleeding is 3-7 days, their total volume for all days of menstruation should be 40-100 ml.

In the first phase, the eggs located in the follicles mature. The duration of this phase is calculated as the difference between the total duration and the duration of the second phase (it is approximately 14 days for any cycle). During ovulation, a mature egg is released from the follicular membrane and passes into the fallopian tube.

If the order of the processes is not disturbed, then conception can occur within about 2 days after ovulation.

Menstrual cycle disorders are considered to be irregularity in the arrival of menstruation, a significant deviation in the duration and intensity of menstrual bleeding from the norm, and an unexpected change in the nature of menstruation compared to usual.

Note: There are periods in a woman’s life when interruptions in the onset of menstruation and other deviations are natural. For example, the irregular arrival of menstruation is not considered a pathology in the first 1-1.5 years from the onset of puberty. Such failures are also inevitable before the onset of menopause.

How the cycle is regulated

The course of processes occurring in different phases of the cycle is regulated by hormones that are produced in the hypothalamic-pituitary part of the brain. The main roles are played by FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). They regulate the functioning of the ovaries. FSH predominates in the first phase and promotes the production of female sex hormones estrogen, and LH is responsible for the processes of the second phase and the production of progesterone in the ovaries.

Sex hormones affect the uterus, regulating muscle contractility (the duration of blood excretion and the pain of menstruation depend on it), the growth of the endometrium (its thickness affects the volume of discharge).

Video: Deviations during menstruation and their types

Common Causes of Period Disorders

Any cycle disorders can be primary or secondary.

Primary ones are observed already with the appearance of menarche (first menstruation). The cause may be a genetic feature of the body, congenital endocrine diseases or pathologies of the development of the genital organs (bicornuate uterus, immaturity of the ovaries).

Secondary are disorders that appear after the normal course of menstruation. The causes of deviations are divided into external and internal.

External reasons

These include various unfavorable factors that a woman has to face. Factors contributing to failure often include:

1. Excessive physical activity.
2. Strong emotional experiences, stressful lifestyle.
3. Obesity. Estrogen is produced in adipose tissue, which causes a hormonal imbalance, leading to cycles without ovulation and excessive growth of the endometrium.
4. Dramatic weight loss. The body experiences stress, leading to hormonal imbalance.
5. Change of climate, habitual way of life.
6. Poisoning the body with toxins or exposure to radiation.

Deviations from the norm can be one-time or long-term.

Internal reasons

These include pathologies that lead to hormonal imbalance and damage to the tissues of the reproductive organs. Among them are infectious and inflammatory processes, injuries, diseases leading to changes in the cellular structure of tissues.

Ovaries. Menstrual irregularities are triggered by dysfunction that occurs after ovulation stimulation or treatment with replacement therapy drugs. An imbalance of sex hormones also occurs with polycystic ovary syndrome, the formation of tumors (benign and malignant), and surgical intervention.

Uterus. A cycle disorder occurs after an abortion, therapeutic and diagnostic curettage. Various types of abnormalities appear in pathologies such as endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, the formation of polyps and tumors.

The cause of menstrual abnormalities may be insufficient production of pituitary and hypothalamic hormones due to cerebrovascular accidents, brain injuries and tumors, and mental illnesses (such as epilepsy or schizophrenia). The state of the general hormonal background is also affected by the functioning of other organs of the endocrine system (adrenal glands, thyroid gland).

The cause of menstrual irregularities can be cardiovascular pathologies, blood diseases, and metabolic disorders. Menstrual disorders are observed in women with diabetes, tuberculosis, and HIV-infected people.

The occurrence of hormonal imbalance is provoked by addiction to smoking and alcohol abuse. Often the cycle is disrupted after using certain hormonal drugs (steroids, contraceptives), antidepressants, anticoagulants.

Video: Causes of irregular menstruation

Types of violations and their features

Menstrual disorder is not considered an independent disease. The appearance of abnormalities is a symptom of some other pathological conditions in the body. There are several types of cycle disorders.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation in women of reproductive age for 6 months or more. They distinguish between true and false pathology.

False amenorrhea is a condition in which the passage of menstrual blood is impossible due to an anatomical disorder in the structure of the genital organs. Obstacles can arise due to the irregular shape of the vagina or cervix, increased density of the hymen, which does not have holes. There is an accumulation of blood in the vagina (hematocolpos) or in the fallopian tubes (hematosalpinx). The peculiarity of the false condition is that the ovaries and uterus function normally; after surgical correction of the defect, pregnancy often becomes possible.

True amenorrhea occurs due to the absence of cyclic processes in the uterus and ovaries, changes in the endometrium. Such amenorrhea can be both a physiological condition and a pathology. Natural amenorrhea occurs during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The cause of the pathological disappearance of menstruation is most often anorexia, premature menopause due to ovarian dysfunction. Amenorrhea often occurs in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome and manifests itself in the presence of hyperprolactinemia.

Hypomenorrhea

This is a syndrome that includes several types of menstrual irregularities, such as:

• opsomenorrhea (bradymenorrhea) – periods come with an interval of more than 35 days (up to 3 months);
• spaniomenorrhea menstrual flow appears 2-4 times a year;
• Oligomenorrhea – menstruation lasts 2 days or less.

With hypomenorrhea, scanty menstruation is observed with a discharge volume of less than 40 ml. Usually this condition progresses to amenorrhea. The causes are dysfunction of the pituitary gland, hyperandrogenism, underdevelopment of the ovaries and other genital organs.

Other deviations

Hyperpolymenorrhea. Menstrual bleeding is too intense and prolonged. This condition can occur as a result of endometriosis, the development of intracavitary uterine fibroids, or endometritis. The cause of hyperpolymenorrhea may be displacement and bending of the uterus, the use of an intrauterine device.

Menorrhagia– heavy menstruation (blood volume more than 150 ml). Often observed in the presence of polyps, fibroids, as well as diseases of the hematopoietic organs.

Metrorrhagia– intermenstrual uterine bleeding. They appear both due to diseases of the uterus and as a result of hormonal imbalance (for example, during menopause).

Proyomenorrhea– too frequent periods (menstrual cycle shorter than 21 days). Often this pathology is hereditary.

Algodismenorrhea. Menstruation can be irregular and accompanied by severe cramping or aching pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. The general condition worsens significantly. Possible increase in temperature. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, and weakness occur, leading to loss of ability to work.

Juvenile bleeding. This is the name for uterine bleeding that appears in some teenage girls at the beginning of puberty. The reason is the immaturity of the organs involved in the production of sex hormones. Lack of hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary system and ovaries leads to impaired maturation of follicles and untimely endometrial detachment, its excessive thickening and spontaneous detachment. This pathology occurs due to congenital disorders of sexual development, as well as due to stress and overload.

Consequences of cycle disorders

The consequence of menstrual irregularities may be infertility associated with lack of ovulation, hypoplasia or hyperplasia of the endometrium, and the development of inflammatory processes. Sexually transmitted infectious diseases are extremely contagious. Chronic inflammatory processes can lead to constant pain in the abdomen and back. Hormonal imbalances often cause breast diseases and premature aging of the body. Heavy bleeding leads to the development of anemia.

The possibility of pregnancy depends on the type of pathology that caused menstrual irregularities. With an irregular cycle, it is almost impossible to predict when ovulation will occur, or whether it will happen at all. The onset of pregnancy may not be noticed due to long delays. Miscarriages often occur. The cause of cycle disorders may be the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnostics

If the cycle does not become regular even 2 years after the onset of menstruation or irregularities appear against the background of normal cycles, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist, especially if menstruation is too rare or frequent, very painful, ends quickly or torments for a long time. The gynecologist first conducts an examination on the chair to identify pathologies of external organs, as well as palpation of the ovaries and uterus. The presence of infections, inflammatory processes, and hormonal disorders is determined by the results of blood tests.

The type of infection in the genital organs is determined by examining a smear from the vagina and cervix under a microscope. The condition of the internal organs is determined using ultrasound, X-ray contrast methods, CT and MRI. You may need to consult an endocrinologist, neurologist, surgeon or other specialists.

Video: What tests need to be taken to find out the causes of irregular menstruation

Treatment

Disturbances caused by external causes or physiological processes are usually temporary. Sometimes only minor corrections of the body's condition are required to prevent complications.

After establishing the cause of the pathological cycle disorder, drug or surgical treatment is carried out, and physiotherapy is prescribed. For infectious and inflammatory diseases, antibiotics, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

Hormonal imbalance is eliminated with the help of COCs or other means that relieve hyperestrogenism and hyperprolactinemia. Surgical treatment involves curettage of the uterus, removal of cysts, tumors and polyps, as well as elimination of anatomical defects in the genitals.

The most common gynecological abnormalities are menstrual irregularities. Almost every woman encounters a similar phenomenon, the causes of which are different. It’s one thing if we are talking about a “random” deviation that can be caused by stress, and another thing is permanent violations accompanied by severe bleeding or delays.

Menstrual irregularities are one of the most pronounced symptoms of many gynecological and extragenital diseases.

This phenomenon can be considered the complete absence of menstrual flow, scarcity or profuseness, as well as irregularity. Bleeding that does not stop for a week or, on the contrary, ends after 1 or 2 days, should also be alarming.

Normally, the menstrual cycle should meet the following criteria:

• The first period begins between 12 and 13 and a half years of age and from this point on a cycle is established for one year. In the first year after the start of menstruation, at least 8 cycles should pass, as well as during subsequent ones. The pathology is the absence of menstruation before the age of 14;
• The duration of the menstrual cycle is counted from the beginning of one menstruation to the second. The minimum is a period of time of 21 days, and the maximum is 33. A delay that lasts two weeks or more can be considered a serious problem. The opposite situations also arise, in which spotting occurs more than once a month;
• Cycle regularity is an important criterion, so if even the slightest changes occur, you should consult your doctor. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to the duration of menstruation itself.

Causes

Menstrual irregularities are not an independent disease, a are a sign of pathological processes in the functioning of the internal genital organs. Mostly, cycle disruption occurs due to hormonal imbalance, which may be associated not only with changes in the level of sex hormones. Hormonal imbalance also occurs when the thyroid gland, pituitary gland and adrenal glands malfunction.

Hormonal imbalances in the body can occur due to the following reasons:

1. Physiological factors - stressful situations, changes in nutrition and climate, etc.;
2. Pathological factors - uterine dysfunctional bleeding, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, intermenstrual bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, polycystic ovary syndrome;
3. Medication - when canceling or prescribing medications such as corticosteroids, hormonal agents, tranquilizers and antidepressants.

Pathological factors have a direct connection with diseases of the internal organs of the small pelvis: pathology of the ovaries, dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, adrenal glands and other estrogen-secreting factors. Chronic inflammatory diseases in the uterine area lead to slow growth of the endometrium, which slows down the processes of its maturation. Abortions, curettage, cancer and endometriosis can also provoke disruptions.

Symptoms

Menstrual irregularities include the following symptoms:

• change in duration;
• decrease or increase in blood loss;
• postmenopausal bleeding;
• intermenstrual bleeding;
• cessation of menstrual function.

The problem of menstrual dysfunction has a connection with the reproductive systems of the female body. Often this pathological process becomes the cause of infertility.

How to restore your menstrual cycle

Treatment of menstrual irregularities should be carried out by a doctor. First of all, external factors such as diets and excessive physical activity are eliminated.

In this video, a gynecologist-endocrinologist, candidate of medical sciences, answers questions about the causes and treatment of menstrual irregularities:

In the presence of heavy bleeding, a blood clotting disorder is excluded and systematic treatment is prescribed:

• Homeostatic drugs (Etamzilat, Tronexam, Vikasol) - prescribed intramuscularly or by drip in a hospital setting, as well as in tablet form to increase efficiency;
• Hormonal therapy (high doses of progesterone and estrogen) is necessary to enhance the hemostatic effect and allows you to restore the menstrual cycle;
• Surgical treatment (uterine curettage, endometrial ablation, hysterectomy) is performed for patients over the age of forty if the cause of bleeding cannot be determined.

To reduce the level of bleeding, Aminocaproic acid is prescribed, with which you can reduce blood loss by 60%. Replacement of blood loss is carried out using plasma infusion. The basis of treatment of disorders is the cure of the underlying disease.

Disorders in adolescents (irregular periods)

After the first menstruation, the cycle stabilizes throughout the year. In the presence of congenital anomalies in the development of the organs of the reproductive system or under the influence of other factors, this process may be disrupted. It is from an early age that experts recommend paying special attention to this issue. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, a woman may suffer from premenstrual syndrome throughout her life. If there are serious complications, there is a high probability of developing infertility.

In order to prevent violations of cyclical changes, you should initially take care of your health, lead an active lifestyle, eat right and avoid stressful situations. If deviations such as irregular menstruation, pain, severity of PMS, or abundance or scarcity of discharge occur, you should consult a gynecologist-endocrinologist.

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