Menstrual Disorders

tagtag.com/thaihealthsite

1. Amenorrhea (Absence of Menstruation)
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. It is usually divided into two categories: primary amenorrhea, in which a girl does not even start to menstruate; and secondary amenorrhea, in which periods that were previously regular become significantly delayed or absent. Usually, women are considered to have amenorrhea if menstruation ceases for at least three cycles. A girl who does not have her period by age 16 should be examined for possible primary amenorrhea. Infrequent or light menstrual cycles (oligomenorrhea) are very common, however, in early puberty and are not usually worrisome. When girls first menstruate they often do not have regular cycles for a couple of years. Even healthy cycles in adult women can vary by a few days from month to month. In some women periods may occur every three weeks and in others, every five weeks. Flow also varies and can be heavy or light. Skipping a period and then having a heavy flow may occur; this is most likely due to missed ovulation, not to a miscarriage. Women should be concerned when periods come less than 21 days apart, if they last more than eight to ten days, or if a wide variation in timing occurs over several months. Such events may indicate ovulation problems.

2.Menorrhagia (Heavy Bleeding)
Heavy bleeding, called menorrhagia, occurs in 9% to 14% of all women and can be caused by a number of problems. Long periods (about seven days) and frequent changes of tampons or pads are not always an indicator of menorrhagia. Only two-thirds of women who report heavy bleeding actually lose enough blood to be concerned. Women should consult their physician if they are consistently changing their pads or tampons more frequently than every hour or so. Clot formation is fairly common during heavy bleeding and is not a cause for concern. However, bleeding between periods or during pregnancy warrants a visit to the doctor. Spotting or light bleeding between periods is common in girls just starting menstruation and sometimes during ovulation in young adult women.

3.Dysmenorrhea (Severe Menstrual Cramps)

Uterine contractions occur during all periods, but, in some women, these cramps can be frequent and very intense; in such cases the condition is known as dysmenorrhea. It can be primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is caused by normal uterine muscle contractions and affects more than half of menstruating women. Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrually related pain that is caused by abnormal medical conditions, such as endometriosis.

4. Premenstrual Syndrome
As they approach menstruation, about three-quarters of all women report some symptoms related to fluctuating hormone levels. For about half, these symptoms are mild and do not affect normal daily life; the other half report more severe symptoms, including depression. Most often, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is likely to be due to a combination of physiologic and psychologic events and cultural attitudes. Some experts diagnose PMS by having women rate 17 PMS symptoms on a score of 0 (no symptoms) to four (very severe). Women are defined as having PMS if they have a premenstrual symptom score of at least 70 that is also 50% greater than the symptom score rated after menstruation. Women with a diagnosis of PMS must also have an impaired ability to function before a period. Only 3% to 5% of women actually meet these stringent criteria, although far more report having PMS. Premenstrual syndrome is not discussed in this report.

5. Physical Symptoms

Nearly all women experience bloating, breast tenderness, and slight, temporary weight gain. Some women experience a condition called cyclic mastopathy, in which breast pain occurs after ovulation, increasing in intensity during the luteal phase, and then receding at menstruation. Other symptoms may include gastrointestinal distress, headaches, rashes, muscle and joint pains, fatigue, gingivitis, heart pounding, imbalance, hot flashes, oversensitivity to sounds and smells, agitation, and insomnia.

6. Emotional Symptoms

Emotional hypersensitivity is common, and women report a wide range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, anger, and agitation. They also report impaired concentration and some memory loss, although a recent small study found that women with PMS, in spite of feelings of inadequacy, scored as well on tests of mental acuity during the premenstrual stage as women without PMS. Severe depression, irritability, and tension before menstruation are known collectively as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PDD (also called late-luteal dysphoric disorder). It affects an estimated 3% to 8% of women in their reproductive years. A diagnosis of PDD depends on having five out of 11 symptoms of depression as defined by the American Psychiatric Association. These symptoms should occur during most menstrual cycles and be worse a week or so before the menstrual period, resolving afterward. In rare cases, some women have delusions and hallucinations. It should be noted that some women experience very positive bursts of creative energy before a period. Sexual drive may also vary in individual women; some experience diminished sexual interest and others have a heightened drive
For more health information visit www.thailabonline.co m

Home Site Map my.TagTag

Terms of Use
TagTag.com