What is Abnormal Menstruation? What causes abnormal menstruation? And, how is abnormal menstruation diagnosed?

What is abnormal menstruation (periods)?

Typically, most ordinary women have menstrual periods last four to seven days. For instance, menstrual issues may occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, missing three or more periods in a row. And the menstrual flow is much heavier or lighter than usual.

Some examples of menstrual problems include:-

  • Menstrual periods that occur more than 35 days or less than 21 days apart
  • Women’s periods that last longer than seven days
  • Women’s periods that are accompanied by pain, cramping, nausea, or vomiting problems
  • Bleeding or spotting happens between periods, after menopause, the following sex, etc.

Some examples of abnormal menstrual problems include:-

  • Amenorrhea: It is a condition in which menstrual periods have stopped completely. However, the absence of a women’s period for 90 days or more is considered abnormal unless a woman is pregnant, breastfeeding, or going through menopause (which may occur for women between ages 45 and 55).
  • Oligomenorrhea: It may refer to menstrual periods that occur infrequently.
  • Dysmenorrhea: It may refer to menstrual periods and several menstrual cramps.

What causes abnormal menstruation (periods)?

There are most common causes of menstrual periods, which may range from stress to more serious underlying medical complications:-

Stress and lifestyle factors:

However, obtaining or losing a quality amount of weight, dieting, travel, illness, and other disruptions in a woman’s daily routine can impact her menstrual periods.

Birth control pills:

Many birth control pills may contain a combination of estrogen and progestin (some contain progestin alone). Birth control pills may prevent pregnancy by keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs. Few women have irregular or missed periods for up to six months after discontinuing birth control pills. This is the most important way when you are planning on the conception and becoming pregnant.

Uterine polyps or fibroids:

These are small benign growths in the lining of the uterus. In this case, uterine polyps are tumors that attach to the wall of the uterus. One or several polyps range from as well as an apple seed to the size of a grapefruit. Uterine fibroids are usually benign but may cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods.

Endometriosis:

This tissue that lines the uterus breaks down every month and is discharged with the menstrual flow. It may occur when the tissue starts to grow outside the uterus. Often, this tissue links itself to the ovaries’ “Fallopian tubes”; it sometimes grows on the intestines or other organs in the lower digestive tract and the area between your rectum and uterus.

Pelvic inflammatory disease:

This disease is a bacterial infection that affects the female reproductive organ. Some bacteria may enter the vagina via sexual contact and then spread to the uterus and upper genital tract. These might also enter the reproductive tract via gynecologic procedures, childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Some PID symptoms may include a heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, irregular periods, pelvic and lower abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

How is abnormal menstruation (periods) diagnosed?

During this period, keep track of other signs and symptoms, such as bleeding between periods and menstrual cramps or pain. Your medical consultant will ask you about your menstrual periods and medical history. In this situation, your consultant will perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam and sometimes a pap test. The medical consultant might also order a specific test, including:-

  • Blood tests to rule out anemia or other medical issues
  • Vaginal cultures to look for internal infections
  • A pelvic ultrasound exam to check for uterine polyps or an ovarian cyst
  • An endometrial biopsy, in which a tissue sample is detached from the lining of the uterus to diagnose endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, cancerous cells, etc.

Last Updated on October 11, 2023 by anup