Irregular menstruation: causes, drugs, symptoms, how to deal with & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What is irregular menstruation?

Menstruation or menstruation is the time when the lining of the uterine wall sheds each month, causing bleeding. A normal menstrual cycle generally lasts 21-35 days, with a long menstrual period (bleeding discharge) of around 2-7 days.

Even so, not all women's menstrual cycles must be regular according to the schedule every month. The menstrual cycle is called irregular when (for example) this month a person gets their period in the range of a 25 day cycle, while the next month is 42 days.

Monthly cycle that is not smooth often occurs at the beginning of the first time menstruation, namely when puberty. That is why, sometimes it is difficult to predict the next menstrual period in teenage girls.

This irregular menstrual cycle is triggered by various factors ranging from mental conditions, hormonal imbalances, to underweight or even excess body weight.

Apart from puberty, the menstrual cycle that is not smooth may also be influenced by many causes. Causes can range from trivial conditions to signaling serious conditions.

If your period is irregular late for a long time, try to consult a doctor immediately.

How common is this condition?

This condition may not be strange for women. It is likely that almost all women have experienced menstrual periods that are not smooth in their life.

Irregular menstruation most often occurs in adolescent girls or elderly women who are starting to enter menopause.

Even so, you can reduce the risk of menstrual problems by reducing the various triggers.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of having irregular periods?

Menstruation is said to be irregular if:

• The number of rest days (cycles) between menstrual periods always fluctuates. For example, previously menstruation once every 30 days, suddenly shortened to 21 days.
• The blood loss is sometimes very large, lasting more than 7 days, but sometimes it is very small and short.
• The length of time menstruation varies each month

When menstruating for the first time, you may have an erratic cycle. It generally takes up to 2 years to have a steady cycle. Over time, in general, the menstrual cycle, blood volume, and length of time of menstruation will be the same every month.

When to see a doctor for irregular periods?

This condition sometimes only occurs occasionally and your menstrual cycle will return to normal as before. That way, there's no need to worry too much.

However, you should immediately consult a doctor if:

• Menstruation suddenly stops
• Experiencing a cyclical change from being very regular to being messy
• Have excessive amounts of facial, chin, chest and stomach hair
• Having menstruation for more than 7 days with heavy blood flow
• Have periods that are shorter than usual
• Experiencing menstruation is faster than the shortest cycle, which is 21 days
• Menstrual cycle is very long or more than 45 days
• Experiencing severe stomach cramps and pain
• Irregular menstruation has been going on for more than 3 years

It is important to see a doctor if you have been sexually active and missed the proper menstrual schedule. The reason is this can be a sign of pregnancy.

Cause

What causes irregular menstruation?

Menstruation that is not smooth can occur due to various factors. Several things that cause menstrual irregularities include:

Hormones that are not balanced

Hormone imbalance often triggers menstrual irregularities. Puberty, menopause, childbirth, and breastfeeding are phases in which female hormone levels fluctuate quite drastically.

During this time, estrogen and progesterone are still so volatile that your menstrual schedule can be difficult to predict. Towards menopause, for example, a woman's menstrual flow can also be disrupted. It could be more frequent or very rare.

Apart from these phases, another thing that makes hormone levels unbalanced is contraception. Birth control pills and IUDs are two types of contraception that make women experience irregular or not smooth menstruation.

IUDs, for example, can cause very long and heavy periods. While birth control pills usually make women experience bleeding outside the menstrual cycle or menstruation more frequently.

In addition, severe stress can also damage the hormonal balance in the body. When the body is stressed, it produces the hormone cortisol. Excessive levels of certain hormones can affect the part of the brain that regulates menses. As a result, your cycle may be faster, slower, or not at all.

Drastic weight gain or loss

Body weight can actually affect the hypothalamus, which is a gland in the brain that has the function of regulating various processes in the body. This process includes your menstrual cycle every month.

Drastic weight loss can inhibit the production of the hormone estrogen. Meanwhile, if you are overweight, the body will produce large amounts of estrogen.

Both of these things can affect the process of releasing eggs (ovulation) every month. When ovulation is inhibited, the menstrual cycle will automatically be disrupted. This is what causes your menstrual irregularities. Therefore, keep your body at the ideal weight so that your menstrual schedule stays on time.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS aka polycystic ovary syndrome is a disease caused by excess male hormones in women. This condition triggers the appearance of cysts on the ovaries that make women unable to release their eggs every month.

Women with PCOS usually have excess facial hair growth, acne that is difficult to get rid of, and irregular menstrual cycles.

Sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and thickening or polyps of the uterus can also cause menstrual irregularities.

Risk factors

What puts you at risk for this condition?

One of the main factors that increase the risk of irregular menstruation, namely age. Age is very influential in determining a woman's menstrual cycle.

In adolescence, when you first experience menstruation, the ups and downs of hormones will be felt. This is what brings about major changes in your menstrual cycle, including regular or non-menstrual periods that you experience.

Apart from at the beginning of puberty, hormones will also fluctuate quite drastically at the age before menopause, which is around 45-55 years.

Sports or activities that are too strenuous can also cause menstrual cycles to be irregular or not smooth. Therefore, exercise appropriately with the right portion so that the body remains healthy and menstruation remains smooth.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What tests are done to diagnose this condition?

To find out the cause of menstruation that is not smooth, the doctor will find out various things such as:

• How often do you exercise and the load of each exercise
• Symptoms that have been felt in recent times when menstruation starts to become irregular
• The diet program that is being undertaken
• Recent mental and mental states
• Medical history including previous or current illnesses and medications being taken
• The contraceptive device being used

Not only that, the doctor will also find out the problem you are experiencing by conducting various examinations. Examinations that are usually carried out include:

• Pelvic exam
• Pap test (PAP smear)
• Pregnancy test
• Blood tests to check the levels of certain hormones, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone
• Ultrasound of the pelvis to check if you have uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, or ovarian cysts
• Endometrial biopsy with the aim of diagnosing endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, or cancer cells

What are the treatment options for irregular periods?

Usually, no special treatment is needed for irregular menstruation due to puberty or menopause

However, for other causes of non-smooth menstruation, such as due to illness or an unhealthy lifestyle, the treatment given will adjust to the cause.

Drugs and surgery can be treatment options to treat various diseases that cause menstrual irregularities or irregularities.

Metmorphine and insulin-lowering drugs, for example, will be prescribed to help accelerate ovulation so that menstruation returns to regularity. Low-dose birth control pills that contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone can also reduce androgen production to improve menstrual schedule.

In essence, you need to consult a doctor to determine what treatment is most suitable for the condition.

Home remedies

What home remedies or lifestyle changes can I make to treat menstrual irregularities?

To restore a smooth menstrual cycle, you can combine doctor's treatments with home.

Here are various home remedies that can be done to solve menstrual irregularities:

Do yoga

It turns out that yoga is an effective solution to various menstrual problems, including irregular cycles. Published research The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine find scientific facts.

Research has shown that hormone levels that trigger irregular menstrual schedules can be controlled by doing yoga.

This benefit was felt by the participants who did yoga for 35-40 minutes 5 days a week for 6 months. In fact, yoga is one sport whose movements can reduce menstrual pain.

You can take a yoga class or imitate yoga movements from videos that are widely circulated on the internet. However, if you want to try it at home, do simple movements with minimal risk to avoid injury.

Maintain a stable weight

Changes in body weight, either up or down, excessively can make menstruation not smooth. For that, the way to maintain and restore regular menstrual cycles is to maintain an ideal body weight.

Apart from menstruation that is not smooth, another problem that is often experienced is the menstrual blood flowing more profusely plus unbearable pain. Either way, obesity or being too thin can cause other problems for your health besides messy periods.

Consult a doctor if you have difficulty losing or gaining weight. The doctor will help find the most appropriate type of treatment either with drugs or special therapy.

One of the recommended treatments, especially for obese women, is to exercise regularly. Exercise helps you lose weight in a healthy way while keeping your immune system at its prime.

Get enough rest

Stress and fatigue can make your period not smooth, it can be faster or even slower. When a person is stressed, it is not uncommon for him to have menstruation twice a month or even not experience it at all.

Therefore, don't neglect your rest time. Adequate sleep helps maintain normal body functions, including menstrual regulating hormones. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Avoid staying up late if it is not necessary.

To sleep better, dim the lights and set the room temperature so it's not too cold or too hot. You can also take a warm shower first if you feel sore.

Warm baths help relax the mind and get rid of soreness after a day of activities. Don't drink coffee or tea at night so it won't be difficult for you to feel sleepy and fall asleep.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.