Periods do not always cause problems. But if they are consistently very heavy or painful, or if they regularly cause severe mood changes, it can significantly disrupt a person’s life. Irregular or absent periods may also cause difficulty getting pregnant.
Menstrual problems, such as painful, heavy, or irregular periods and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are common — but effective treatment and management techniques can reduce the symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Some of the most common menstrual problems are:
- painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
- heavy periods (menorrhagia)
- irregular periods (oligomenorrhea)
- absent periods (amenorrhea)
Also, people with other health conditions may find that symptoms of these get worse before their periods. This is known as premenstrual symptom exacerbation.
Painful periods
Many people with periods experience some degree of menstrual cramping, or dysmenorrhea. Mild-to-moderate cramps that result directly from menstruation are usually not a cause for concern, but they can still be disruptive. Severe cramps can be debilitating.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication and home management techniques can often ease the symptoms, but severe dysmenorrhea may not respond to these approaches.
Some factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea include:
- smoking
- stress
- a higher body mass index, also known as BMI
- attempts to lose weight
- depression or anxiety
- heavy periods
- a family history of painful periods
Some causes of secondary dysmenorrhea include:
- intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- pelvic scarring from sexually transmitted infections
- endometriosis
- uterine fibroids
- ovarian cysts
Heavy periods
The medical term for this is menorrhagia, and it involves a flow of period blood that lasts longer than 8 days. Or, it involves a flow that requires a new pad or tampon every 1–2 hours or more often.
Occasional heavy periods are usually not a sign of an underlying health issue, but persistent heavy periods can be. Some conditions and circumstances that may cause heavy periods include:
- obesity, as fat cells make a form of estrogen that can affect periods
- uterine polyps and fibroids
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- hypothyroidism
- bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease
- kidney or liver disease
Severe bleeding during periods can result in anemia, which develops when the body does not have enough iron.
Absent or irregular periods
Generally, an irregular period involves a menstrual cycle lasting longer than 35 days. An absent period involves not having a period for 3 months in a row.
Some irregularity from time to time is common, particularly during puberty, after childbirth, while breastfeeding, and during perimenopause. Other factors that may cause irregularity include:
- hormonal birth control
- other medications, such as some drugs for anxiety or epilepsy
- endurance training
However, some mental and physical health problems also can cause irregular or absent periods, including:
- emotional stress
- extreme weight gain or loss
- eating disorders, such as anorexia
- hyperthyroidism
- uncontrolled diabetes
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- high levels of the hormone prolactin, which is called hyperprolactinemia
- primary ovarian insufficiency
PMS
Around 90% of people who menstruate report experiencing PMS. This is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before a period. Usually, they go away soon after a period starts.
The symptoms of PMS are varied and can include:
- swollen or sore breasts
- bloating or gas
- diarrhea or constipation
- mood swings
- headaches
- back pain
- tiredness
- difficulty concentrating or sleeping
Factors that are associated with PMS include:
- stress
- smoking
- a personal or family history of depression
- previous postpartum depression
Speak to a doctor promptly if vaginal bleeding or period-like pain occurs throughout the month or after sex. This could be a sign of an underlying condition.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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