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Menstrual Problems

Common problems, treatment, and diet tips.

It’s definitely not a coffee table topic, maybe that explains the strange level of ignorance in most women about their monthly menstrual cycle. In this segment we discuss the most common problems associated with menstruation, their possible causes, treatment, diet and tips on self-help.

Menstruation Explained

Menstruation is a natural part of a woman’s reproductive cycle, wherein the ovary periodically releases an egg. It also releases a hormone called oestrogen, which stimulates the lining of the uterus to grow and get prepared to receive the fertilized egg. If, however, the egg does not get fertilized, the uterus sheds its lining resulting in menstrual flow. This menstrual flow repeats itself in a cycle of approximately 28 days until a woman either gets pregnant or has approached menopause.

Problems In Menstruation

The five most common menstruation problems are:

•  Lack of periods
• Painful periods
•  Heavy periods
•  Infrequent periods

 Premenstrual syndrome

1) Lack of periods or Amenorrhoea

There are many different reasons for lack of menstruation. Stress can be an enormous contributing factor, inadequate nutrition or excessive exercising can cause a missed period/periods also. The most common cause of amenorrhea is however pregnancy. If a woman is not pregnant, then the cause must be identified. 

There are a number of hormonal conditions that must be eliminated such as thyroid disease, elevated prolactin, and premature menopause. The uterus must also be considered as a possible source of the problem. Certain surgical procedures of the uterus and cervix may lead to scarring which can obstruct the menstrual outflow. If you know that you're not pregnant but you have not menstruated for three months, a consultation with your gynecologist should be arranged.

If the amenorrhea is a result of low estrogen levels, it may put you at increased risk of accelerated bone loss and cardiovascular disease, as is the case in a menopausal woman. After a thorough history, your doctor may do blood tests to determine hormone levels. Imbalances may signal impending menopause (if you're over 40) a likely reason your period has stopped, but it can happen to younger women too.

2) Painful periods or Dysmenorrhoea

Some women experience excessive pain during their periods while some do not. The pain is usually greater at the beginning of the period, and in rare cases can be accompanied by nausea and diarrhea. Menstrual pain can vary from a dull pain in the back or abdomen to severe cramping and lower abdominal pain. 

Menstrual pain is a result of uterine cramping. This is not associated with a gynecological disease and is not a problem. However the cause of alarm is Endometriosis, which, occurs when fragments of the endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus) grows outside the uterus in places such as the lining of the pelvic cavity, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the intestinal tract, or, less commonly, in the vagina. This causes an irritation of the lining of the cavity, which can be painful. Another result of endometriosis is the formation of scar tissue, which can distort the normal pelvic anatomy. Treatment of endometriosis includes painkillers, hormonal medications and/or surgery. Exercise also helps. 

3) Heavy periods or Menorrhagia 

Periods that are unusually heavy or prolonged are medically known as menorrhagia. If your periods suddenly become heavy for no obvious reason, if you are soaking through 1-2 pads in 1-2 hours, if you're passing large clots, or if you have been bleeding for longer than seven days, see your doctor. You might be suffering from menorrhagia.

Causes

There are many possible causes of menorrhagia. 

1. It may be caused by a hormonal imbalance that can be controlled by taking prescribed hormones. 

2. Regular but heavy periods can be caused by structural abnormalities in the uterus such as endometrial polyps or fibroids (non-cancerous growths inside the wall of the uterus), or clotting problems. 

3. If the bleeding pattern is irregular, it may be caused by the absence of ovulation, which can cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding. 

4. Occasionally heavy periods are a sign of Endometriosis (mentioned above)

5. Heavy periods can also be associated with under active thyroid 

6. Heavy periods also occur when an IUD (intra-uterine device) is used, or if women stop taking birth control pills. 

Menorrhagia is a common problem, especially in the first few years of menstruating and the last few years before menopause. It is generally not a serious problem, but it can be inconvenient. Menstruation normally causes a decrease in physical energy, weakness and if you bleed heavily you may find that respiration is impaired and blood pressure lowered-some women become lightheaded and exhausted. Also, if longstanding, it can lead to iron-deficiency (anemia). 

Treatment 

Your doctor may suggest you take birth control pills or non-contraceptive hormone treatment. This will prevent ovulation, which in turn reduces the build-up of the uterine lining before each period. The result is less blood flow. However the cause of the abnormal bleeding first needs to be determined. If the bleeding is caused by lack of ovulation, cycling with progesterone will usually control the problem. For some women, surgery is another alternative. Many women think that hysterectomy is the only choice left. But while hysterectomy ends the menstrual flow, these women are still vulnerable to dangerous bleeding if they are injured or undergo surgery.

Thus before taking any decisions regarding surgery try a natural solution. Though menorrhagia may be caused by a number of reasons there are two systems in the body that seem to have a particularly strong effect on how much bleeding occurs. One is the endocrine system and the other is the liver. The thyroid plays a very important part in the endocrine system, and nourishing and balancing the thyroid should not be ignored. You should include good food in your diet. Foods high in vitamins and minerals and calcium are essential. Dark green leafy vegetables and root vegetables should also be eaten, as well as whole grains (avoid red meats). You should also avoid refined sugar, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. 

4) Infrequent Periods or Oligomenorrhea

A woman has oligomenorrhea when she has normal periods (in regards to the amount and length of menstrual flow), but the interval between periods is greater than 35 days. Infrequent periods are common in women who have just started menstruating, and also during the few years preceding menopause. Symptoms that can help your physician determine the cause of oligomenorrhea are marked weight changes, milky white discharge from your breasts, acne, hair on your face or chest, or hot flushes.

Statistically, the main suspect if you have too few periods is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The disorder is characterized by tiny, asymptomatic cysts on the ovaries, failure to ovulate, sometimes obesity, and slightly higher levels of male hormones that can result in acne and excess hair growth especially on face or chest. Women with PCOS are seven times as likely to develop diabetes at a young age as other women. If you have untreated PCOS, you are at greater risk of endometrial cancer because you don't regularly shed the lining of your uterus. Once diagnosed, you can take preventive measures to avoid diabetes and heart disease, including exercising and losing excess weight.

5) Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Although definitions of premenstrual syndrome vary, it is generally described as a cyclic problem, followed by a period of time with no symptoms. Symptoms are generally seen 7 to 10 days before the menstrual period begins and can vary in severity from cycle to cycle. These symptoms usually go away soon after the onset of the period. 

Symptoms include headaches, mood disturbances, constipation, food cravings, weight gain, and breast tenderness. Evidence suggests that stress may also be a factor in PMS. Another hypothesis is that it is related to dietary factors, such as calcium intake. 

Also included in PMS symptom is menstrual cramping which results because of drop in the level of blood calcium. When blood calcium levels drop symptoms include muscle cramps, headaches, body aches, sleeplessness, water retention and depression. In menstruating women, blood calcium levels can begin to fall off about 10 days prior to the start of the menstrual period. Calcium supplements or foods containing calcium and herbs are important ways to prevent PMS.

Diet and Premenstrual Syndrome 

Your diet causes a great influence on your body and your physical and emotional balance before your periods. 

1. Most experts recommend that women with premenstrual syndrome should start by avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can aggravate headaches, anxiety, and depression. 

2. It's also a good idea to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. 

3. Studies indicate that eating more carbohydrates in the middle of your cycle can help relieve depression, tension, confusion, and fatigue. 

4. Eating starchy foods like potatoes and crackers can boost your level of serotonin, a brain chemical linked to mood. 

5. Calcium intake is also important to reduce cramps, body ache, headache, sleeplessness, water retention and depression. 

6. Some foods and herbs that have a good amount of easily assimilated calcium are yogurt, sesame seeds, spinach, parsley, alfalfa, oat straw, and nettle.

Exercise during Premenstrual Syndrome 

A few studies have found that regular exercise can ease some of the pain and stress that you may have each month during the week or two leading up to your period. Exercise boosts your metabolism and improves your circulation. When you get your blood moving, it carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells more efficiently, so you feel less sluggish. 

Aerobic activity can produce brain chemicals known as endorphins that boost your mood and which will help ease the anxiety, depression, and mood swings you may experience each month. But don't go overboard, extremely vigorous workouts (such as doing step aerobics for two hours a day) may aggravate rather than relieve some symptoms. 

Moderate activities like walking, jogging, biking, and swimming for about 30 minutes five times a week may be your best bet. Yoga can also be helpful and can help ease muscle tension, focus your mind, and decrease moodiness. 

Is Self Help Beneficial?

Several things that can be done on a self help basis to combat menstrual problems. These include:

1. A balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

2. Cutting down on salty processed foods to check water retention.

3. Reducing caffeine intake to maintain emotional calm. 

4. According to a recent study, increasing the amount of calcium in the diet reduces the severity of PMS symptoms.

5. Above all a brisk walk that helps in the release of endorphins (chemicals in the body that make one feel good) or a warm bath are suggested to keep fresh and relieved.*

*The contents of this web site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used for medical advice.