Menstruation And Its Disorders In Adolescence

Abstract

A normal healthy length of the menstrual cycle is 28 to 30 days but it might also vary in other people. Menstruation is the period when the lining surrounding the uterus known as endometrium starts to shed. This bleeding is then released from the vagina and this cycle usually starts around the age of 10 to 15 years of age. This menstrual cycle continues until the age of 45 to 56 year and this phase is known as menopause. But there are some women who don’t have the regular cycle and they suffer from irregular periods, there are different reasons for it. Many of the people don’t discuss it and ignore it which can lead to serious health issues. Through this article we are going to discuss complications that one might suffer while ignoring their problems related to the menstrual cycle.

Introduction

Basically anyone going through menstruation knows that they might suffer from some problems. These issues are normal during periods like pains radiating to the thighs or sometimes bleeding more than usual. But on the other hand if your cycle lasts for too long, there is too much bleeding or you are missing your menstrual cycle then you need to see a doctor. So, here are some problems which when ignored can lead to other serious problems.

Bleeding for only an Hour or Period Lasting more than seven Days

The long and heavy cycle of period is known as menorrhagia in medical terms and more than 10 million women are affected by it every year. These kinds of menstrual bleeding is kind of very scary and most people don’t realize it. According to Lauren Streicher, a professor of obstetric and gynecology where she would explain that the female patient would come and say that her periods are not that bad and keeps on changing tampons every other hour.

One of the huge signs that you could be suffering from menorrhagia is that there are blood clots whose size are larger than a quarter. One side it is a positive sign where the clotting mechanism is preventing the body from losing too much blood but still you are losing too much blood. This would eventually lead to you becoming anemic and your red blood cells are not able to get oxygen needed by the tissues.

Menorrhagia can also have a huge impact on daily life as sometimes it might also cause cramps making you feel tired as well. Too much bleeding are also signs of having other health problems including fibroids which can cause pain in the pelvic region and increased frequency in urination. Another reason could be uterine polyps which is also one of the causes for the heavy bleeding.

Extreme Pain that Could Last For Days

One of the most common problems seen during periods is unbearable pain which should also be taken seriously. One of the main things that should be done is taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which help in blocking the prostaglandins and reducing the cramps. If then also the pain does not go away it is important to visit a doctor and there might be some chances of you suffering from Dysmenorrhea. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists half of the women suffer from pain each month for one or two days.

There are commonly two types including primary as well as secondary dysmenorrhea causing pain. One of the common causes for the secondary type is fibroids and similar to that is endometriosis. In addition to that it might also cause painful sex, infertility and also hevay menstural bleeding.

Another one is Adenomyosis where the lining of the uterus known as endometrial starts to grow into muscular layers of the organ resulting in excruciating pain. Along with that there can be seen clots big in size and also painful intercourse. This can put you at the risk of having a C-section before the birth of a child.

Sometimes Your Period Surprises You

One of the most annoying problems seen is having periods on unexpected days. These types of period problems can be due to many other factors, for example too much travelling or stress. Take example of Hypothyroidism where the thyroid gland is not able to produce hormones sufficient enough for the periods to stay regular. It can also lead to other health issues like weakness, dryness of skin, constipation, weight gain and many more.

Sometimes these periods could be the sign of ovarian failure which could be seen in women younger than 40. Premature ovarian failure could lead to symptoms like dryness of vagina, hot flashes and sometimes even causing difficulty in conceiving. Uterine polyps and PCOS as discussed are also one of the main causes for bleeding problems during menses.

Sometimes the Periods Ghost you

There are times when you randomly miss your period may be due to dress but you should never ignore a long time absence of menses. If you miss your menstrual cycle three times in a row then it is considered to be Amenorrhea. Sometimes there are small chances of getting pregnant but other chances for this could be exercising excessively, breastfeeding or taking stress excessively.

Spotting in between the Menstrual Cycle

One of the common problems seen during periods can be spotting which is normal but could extend for many days. This can lead to problems but it could also be caused due to the intake of birth controls. But this could also be the sign of having Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which is caused through sexually transmitted bacteria known as Chlamydia or gonorrhea. This infection could spread to the reproductive organs like fallopian tube, uterus and ovaries. This can show symptoms like burning while passing urine, smelly discharge from vagina and even fever. In some of the cases there could be cervical cancer as it is seen in some of the studies of Mayo Clinic.

Conclusion

It does not matter which menstrual problem you suffer from, it’s important to pay attention and not to get embarrassed. If you suffer from any of the above mentioned problems then you must visit the doctor and get the treatment. Because ignoring these issues can lead to serious problems late in life.