Horizon Hospital - Thane

Manage Your Menstrual Disorders With An Effective Treatment Plan

Menstruation is a natural phenomenon for every female, starting from adolescents to menopausal age. It is a universal biological phenomenon for any female through which a woman spends 1/5th portion of her reproductive life. There’s nothing quite like menstrual misadventures. Whether it’s debilitating pain, hide-and-seek cycles or a torrential cascade that soaks pad after pad, menstrual disorders manifest in seemingly unkind ways. But they’re also a call for action. Peculiar period patterns usually signal that something isn’t right.  A period is the culmination of a menstrual cycle, a 28-day process that involves subtle changes in your reproductive organs. This cycle is pointed at releasing an egg. Left unfertilised, this egg disintegrates along with the uterine lining and emerges as a period. For some women, the menstrual cycle may be shorter or longer than the 28-day average and typically lasts between five and seven days.

‍While some women go through their monthly periods without fears or minor discomfort, others experience huge physical and emotional symptoms, before and during menstruation and this disturbance is called Menstrual Disorder. Although period patterns differ from woman to woman, there are some signs that stray the path of the ordinary. Painful cramps, heavy bleeding and absent menstruation are all causes for concern and possible indicators of a more serious underlying problem. Any disturbances in menstrual patterns can eventually affect one’s physical as well as psychological health which in turn hamper the quality of life of women. Several factors including genetic predisposition as well as lifestyle modifications adversely affect normal menstrual patterns.

Generally, menstrual disorder includes amenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding (menorrhagia, oligomenorrhea, polymenorrhea, hypomenorrhea), dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome, etc.

Dr Hrushikesh Vaidya, Medical Director and Chairman, Horizon Group of Hospitals said “Around 355 million women in India go through menstruation, but unfortunately, many of them feel reluctant to openly talk about it or take care of their menstrual health. This hesitancy arises from a widespread lack of knowledge and comprehension regarding menstrual health, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive awareness and education campaigns in this critical field.”

Dr Hrushikesh Vaidya further said “Women frequently worry about menstruation problems, which are commonly associated with symptoms such as abnormal or irregular menstrual cycle patterns. Due to the discomfort, anguish, and emotional distress, they can cause, these conditions can drastically lower a woman’s quality of life.”

Dr Ria Vaidya, CEO, Horizon Group of Hospitals said “Menstrual disorders are problems concerning women’s usual menstrual cycle. Such disorders and their symptoms can disrupt women’s regular routine. It can also affect her ability to become pregnant. Premenstrual syndrome is the most common issue that brings mild cramping and fatigue, however, it can go away when your period starts. If you’re often experiencing such disorders during your menstrual cycle, you should consult a gynaecologist. More serious menstrual problems can also happen such as menstruation that is too heavy or too light, even the complete absence of a cycle. There can be many issues that can contribute to an abnormal menstrual cycle. Make sure that a ‘normal’ menstrual cycle means something different for each woman. It is essential to stay in tune with your body.”

Dr Manali Shilotri, Leading Gynaecologist and Consultant, Horizon Prime Hospital said “A variety of conditions that can have an impact on a woman’s menstrual cycle are referred to as menstrual disorders. These conditions can result in anomalies in the timing, length or flow of the menstrual cycle, which can be painful physically and upsetting emotionally.  Before your period, menstrual cycles frequently cause a number of painful sensations. Mild cramps, exhaustion, and other typical problems are all included in premenstrual syndrome, but the symptoms normally disappear or reduce in severity once your period starts”.

Dr. Manali Shilotri further said “Few women, however, due to an irregular menstrual cycle, experience a variety of physical and/or emotional symptoms right before and during menstruation. A woman’s life may be significantly disrupted by these symptoms, which can range from excessive bleeding and missing periods to uncontrollable mood swings requiring medical intervention.”

Types of Menstrual Disorders

There are several types of menstrual disorders that women may experience. Each type presents unique symptoms and requires specific management strategies. Key menstrual disorders list includes:

1. Amenorrhea: Amenorrhea is also known as absent menstrual periods. Amenorrhea occurs when a woman misses more than three menstrual cycles in addition to being brought on by a variety of medical conditions like anatomical abnormalities, eating disorders, thyroid disorders, excessive exercise, and even specific lifestyle choices. Amenorrhea is an ordinary condition that occurs before puberty, following menopause, and during pregnancy.
2. Dysmenorrhea : Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual cycle abnormality that causes menstrual periods to be excruciating. Severe, regular cramping during the menstrual cycle is known as dysmenorrhea. Lower back and thighs may also experience pain that originates in the lower abdomen.
3. Oligomenorrhea : Oligomenorrhea is the term for a female who does not experience monthly periods and has periods that occur more than 35 days apart. It’s a typical adolescent condition that mostly affects the first year following the first menstrual cycle and the perimenopause. Hormonal imbalance is the cause of irregular period symptoms. While some variations in the menstrual cycle are typical, irregular periods should be taken seriously if they occur regularly.
4. Menorrhagia : Menorrhagia is one of the most prevalent types of menstrual bleeding. The condition is characterized by prolonged, heavy bleeding. In some instances, the bleeding may disrupt normal daily activities.
5. Metrorrhagia : Bleeding irregularly, especially in between regular menstrual cycles, is known as metrorrhagia. Metrorrhagia happens in unpredictable amounts and at unpredictable intervals. It is also known as breakthrough bleeding. The bleeding is either unrelated to periods or happens in between periods. Spotting or mild bleeding in between periods is typical in girls who are just beginning their menstrual cycle, and it can also occur during ovulation in young adult women.
6. Hypomenorrhea : Very light bleeding, often lasting less than two days, is hypomenorrhea, the exact opposite of menorrhagia. This abnormal menstrual condition is common among women who use hormonal contraceptives, such as oral contraceptives and IUDs.
7. Hypermenorrhea : Hypermenorrhea refers to very frequent, excessive bleeding and heavy menstruation cycles over 90 ml, in a cycle of normal duration. Hypermenorrhea is linked to hormonal disorders, liver disease, uterine abnormalities, etc.
8. Polymenorrhea : A form of abnormal menstruation known as polymenorrhea is characterized by more frequent menstrual periods than the normal 21–35 day menstrual cycle. Here, menstrual cycles are abnormally short or may happen twice in a month. It doesn’t mean the bleeding lasts longer; rather, it just indicates that the period occurs more often than the average person. Still, the bleeding period lasts three to seven days on average.

Symptoms

• Irregular Periods: Periods that are inconsistent in length or timing.
• Heavy Bleeding: Excessive bleeding that can lead to anaemia.
• Painful Periods: Severe cramping or pelvic pain.
• Absent Periods: Missed periods for several cycles.
• Spotting: Light bleeding or spotting between periods.

Causes

• Hormonal Imbalances: Fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone, can disrupt the menstrual cycle and lead to menstrual disorders.
• Uterine Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths in the uterus can cause heavy bleeding and painful periods.
• Endometriosis: Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to painful periods and infertility.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal disorder characterized by irregular periods, ovarian cysts, and hormonal imbalances.
• Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid dysfunction can affect hormone levels and contribute to menstrual irregularities.
• Stress and Lifestyle Factors: Psychological stress, poor nutrition, excessive exercise, and weight fluctuations can impact menstrual health.

Diagnosis

• Blood test
• PAP test
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• Laparoscopy :A minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is placed in an incision in the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope to view the pelvic and abdominal area, the doctor can detect abnormal growths.
• Hysteroscopy :Visual examination of the canal of the cervix and the inside of the uterus using a hysteroscope inserted through the vagina.
• Biopsy (endometrium) : Tissue samples are removed from the lining of the uterus with a needle or during surgery to look for cancer or other abnormal cells.
• Dilution and Horting (D&C) : A typical gynaecological operation involves widening the cervical canal with a dilator and scraping the uterine cavity with a curette, a spoon-shaped surgical instrument used to remove tissue.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of your irregular periods and may require treatment for an underlying medical condition. Menstrual disorders can be treated by the following methods:

• Hormonal treatment includes administering estrogen or progestin to manage heavy bleeding
• Pain control medicines and heating pads can be helpful
• Having a hot bath, eases pain
• Iron supplementshelp increase haemoglobin
• Progestin injections to break fibroids
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists help to break fibroids
• Myomectomyremoves a single fibroid
• Hysterectomyinvolves removal of the uterus
• Birth control pills can help control heavy bleeding and start you

Prevention

• Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising moderately and eating nutritious food. If you need to lose weight, do so gradually rather than using diets that drastically limit your calorie and food intake.
• Make sure you get enough rest.
• Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques.
• Excessive physical activity can result in irregular periods.
• Use birth control pills or other contraceptives as directed.
• Change your tampons or sanitary napkins approximately every four to six hours to prevent toxic shock syndrome and infections.

The Final Takeaway

The quality of life and general health of a woman can be greatly impacted by menstrual diseases. Keep in mind that maintaining good menstruation health is crucial to overall wellness. Menstrual disorders can be managed with an effective treatment plan. The key is to recognise symptoms early and seek help actively. By cornering the culprit before it corners you, you can escape the pain and uncertainty of abnormal periods. Thus, being mindful of one’s menstrual cycle and keeping an eye out for the above eight types of abnormal menstruation helps in quick relief arising due to the menstrual irregularities.

If you are experiencing any menstrual irregularities or distressing symptoms, it’s important to consult a Gynaecologist. Horizon Prime Hospital can help you overcome menstrual disorder with proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Horizon Prime Hospital Women’s Wing has experienced skilled doctors and nurses and can be your safest choice for treating menstruation issues.