Menstrual cycles are a normal part of a female’s life aged more than 12. Usually, periods don’t cause any problems. However, Various menstrual disorders, such as painful, irregular, too heavy, or too light flow, or the ones causing severe mood changes, can significantly disrupt an individual’s life. 

This article puts together some common menstrual issues and how you can manage them.

Exploring Common Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual disorders are health conditions that can disrupt a woman’s normal menstrual cycle. Women can experience many problems related to their monthly cycle, from heavy and painful periods to no periods. This section discusses the menstruation-related issues that women face most commonly:

1. Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods)

Many women experience some degree of menstrual cramping, also known as dysmenorrhea, before or during menstruation. Although mild to moderate menstrual cramps are usually not a cause for concern, they can still affect your regular life. When having severe dysmenorrhea, you might suffer from throbbing or cramping pain in your lower abdomen, nausea, and headaches.

1. Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods)

The medical term for heavy periods is menorrhagia. It’s characterized by abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Individuals with heavy bleeding or menorrhagia might need to change their pads or tampons every 1 to 2 hours or more often while experiencing symptoms like fatigue due to blood loss.

1. Amenorrhea (Absent Periods)

Generally, amenorrhea or absent periods involves not having periods for three or more consecutive cycles in women of reproductive age. You might experience amenorrhea due to various factors, including significant weight loss, excessive exercise, emotional stress, eating disorders, or underlying medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

1. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome, also known as menstrual tension, encompasses a range of physical and emotional symptoms that usually occur in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle. You might experience symptoms like mood swings, bloating, headaches, food cravings, mild stomach cramps, or breast tenderness one or two weeks before your period begins. Premenstrual syndrome might be uncomfortable, but generally, it’s not worrisome. 

1. Oligomenorrhea (Irregular Periods)

Oligomenorrhea is the medical term used to define irregular periods. A menstrual period can said to be irregular if your menstrual cycle lasts longer than 35 days. It can be a sign of hormonal imbalances, such as those seen in PCOS, or other health issues like thyroid disorders.

1. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that can affect females of childbearing age. It’s a severe and chronic menstrual condition that can impact your daily life and, thus, need medical attention. 

Usually, symptoms of PMDD start one week before your period and end within a few days after your menstruation starts. These might include depressed mood, irritability, anxiety, tension, extreme mood swings, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, and more.

1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly called PCOS, is a problem with your hormones that usually happens during your reproductive years. When diagnosed with PCOS, you might have irregular periods, excess androgen levels, and polycystic ovaries. Some women have periods very often, and some have periods that last several days. 

In addition, you can suffer from many other medical complications, like infertility, weight gain, and insulin resistance.

1. Anovulation (Lack of Ovulation)

Anovulation means having a menstrual cycle without ovulation. In contrast to ovulation, when an ovary releases an egg during the menstrual cycle, anovulation is characterized by the egg failing to mature and, thus, the ovaries failing to release an egg during the menstrual cycle. This condition can lead to irregular menstrual cycles or no periods at all.

How to Manage Common Menstrual Disorders?

Managing menstrual disorders ranges from over-the-counter medications to lifestyle adjustments, medical intervention and self-care practices. By following the tips mentioned in the table, you can alleviate your symptoms and improve the quality of your life:

When You Should Speak with Your Doctor?

If you experience any of the following, you should seek your doctor’s advice:

• Three or more missed periods in a row that haven’t resulted from pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Irregular or absent periods for three or more consecutive months.
• Periods that happen less often than every 38 days or more often than every 24 days
• Bleeding lasting longer than 8 days
• Blood clots larger than a quarter

All-in-All

Having regular periods is a sign of a healthy, well-functioning reproductive system. However, if your menstruation comes with severe pain, irregularity, heavy bleeding, or mood changes, you should seek medical help. Medanta’s gynaecologists can help diagnose underlying menstrual disorders, prescribe appropriate treatments, and also offer personalized management strategies.