Period Problems. Period.

We all have a cardinal cycle i.e. the sleep-wake cycle of the body that determines the health status of the body. The women of the word have another cycle from menarche to menopause, and it is called the period cycle. Till the time this period cycle is normal; there is no need to worry! The problem arises when there is an irregularity in the period cycle. It is difficult to handle when premenstrual syndrome takes over the daily routine every month. It is highly painful when period pains do not let you get up from your bed. Here, we are in this text to discuss various problems in the period cycle or menstrual cycle in women.

 

We may find it easy to discuss periods but there are still many places where speaking of periods isn’t even considered normal. Though the normal cycle may vary for each woman from 24 (some texts say 21) days to 35 days. On average, a regular period occurs about every 28 days. The period can last for 2 days to 7 days. During a normal period, a woman loses between 25 mL to 80 mL of blood.

But each woman may not have a normal period cycle. Let us discuss some problems women face during their periods:

1.      Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

It was previously known as menorrhagia. When a woman loses more than 80 mL blood during a period or when she is forced to change her pad or tampon every two hours due to the heavy flow or when the bleeding lasts more than seven days; it is known as heavy menstrual bleeding.

Some women are so much used to heavy flow during periods that they do not realize that it is a type of abnormal uterine bleeding and it requires treatment. Excessive bleeding can lead to anemia which can in turn cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and weakness. (So, if you or a woman in your family feels constant weakness and there can be no cause identified, pay attention to the blood she loses during periods!)

There may be no underlying cause for heavy menstrual bleeding. The causes responsible for heavy menstrual bleeding can include fibroids in the wall of uterus, rare coagulation defects which involve shedding of the endometrial lining’s or the uterine lining’s vessel, endometrial cancer and endometrial polyp or a mass in the inner lining of the uterus.

 

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Endometriosis, adenomyosis and miscarriage can be responsible for painful heavy menstrual bleeding.

PCOD, thyroid disease, excessively emotional and physical stress, sexually transmitted infection can also be responsible for heavy menstrual bleeding.

 

2.      Painful Menstruation             

       Menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea refers to pain during menstruation or periods.
Cramps usually begin as soon as the period begins during the month. For some women, cramps may begin a day prior to the periods which may be regarded as a symptom of PMS by some. PMS and dysmenorrhea are different, though. Pain is usually there in the pelvis and lower abdomen. The pain can radiate to the thighs and lower back. The symptoms usually last for three days and pelvic or lower abdominal pain may be accompanied by headache, diarrhea and nausea, disorientation, dizziness, and fatigue.

Younger women have generally no underlying cause for dysmenorrhea or painful periods. When there is no underlying cause of dysmenorrhea, it is known as primary dysmenorrhea.

Older women may have uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, or endometriosis as the reason for painful periods. Dysmenorrhea having an underlying cause is known as secondary dysmenorrhea. Ovarian cysts can also cause dysmenorrhea.

Women with heavy periods, irregular periods, women with low body weight, and women with early menarche i.e. women whose periods started before the age of twelve years are also likely to have painful periods. Lack of exercise can also cause dysmenorrhea.

 

3.      Irregular Periods

An abnormal variation in the length of the period cycle or menstruation cycle gives rise to irregular periods. Irregular periods also include vaginal bleeding between expected periods, known as metrorrhagia.

 A menstrual cycle is termed as irregular if it is less than 21 to 24 days or more than 38 days. You can also note the irregularity when the time between each period starts to change, you start losing more or less blood during the periods, the number of days your period lasts varies a lot.

When a menstrual cycle is of 21 days or less than 21 days, it is known as polymenorrhea.
When the menstrual cycle is infrequent and intervals exceed more than 35 days, often with light menstrual periods, it is known as oligomenorrhea.

 

After menarche i.e. a woman’s body may take some time to establish regularity in periods. Some women may take two to seven years to establish regularity. The other reasons for irregular periods can include having an Intrauterine device and having birth control pills or certain medications.

 

PCOS is also one of the major reasons for irregular periods. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause irregularity in periods. Stress, overactive or underactive thyroid i.e. hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, thickening of the uterine lining, polyps in the uterine lining, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids can be the reason for irregular periods.

Severe scarring or adhesion of lining of the uterus as in Asherman syndrome is a rare cause of irregular periods.

 

Irregular periods also occur in the perimenopause phase which may last up to ten years. A woman’s hormones start changing during this period as the woman’s body starts preparing for menopause i.e. complete cessation of periods.

 

4.      Amenorrhoea

Absence of menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age is known as amenorrhea.

            Primary Amenorrhea-

Primary amenorrhea is present when there is an absence of menarche and secondary sexual characteristics until the age of 14 years or the presence of secondary sexual characteristics but the absence of menarche by the age of 16 years.
Problems with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland can cause an imbalance in hormones that can prevent periods from starting. Eating disorders, excessive physical exercise, or excessive physical or physiological stress can alter the hormonal balance and can cause primary amenorrhea. 

The reasons for primary amenorrhea can be genetic or chromosomal abnormality such as Turner’s Syndrome. Missing of reproductive organs and blockages in reproductive organs can be responsible for primary amenorrhea.

Secondary Amenorrhea-

Secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of periods for three months in a woman with previously normal periods or absence of periods for continuous six months in a woman with a history of oligomenorrhea.

 Physiological secondary amenorrhoea is seen during pregnancy and breast-feeding or lactational period.

Certain medicines such as birth control pills, hormonal pills, anti-depressants, and IUDs can also cause secondary amenorrhea. These medicines can create a level of hormones that prevent periods.

During chemotherapy and radiation therapy for certain cancers can destroy estrogen-producing cells and eggs and cause secondary amenorrhea, which is generally for a short period especially in young women.

 Scar tissue in the uterine lining can prevent normal shedding of the uterine lining.

PCOS, thyroid problems, pituitary tumors can cause secondary amenorrhea. Low body weight, low intake of calories and fat, emotional stress, strenuous exercise, deficiency of leptin, and certain illnesses can cause secondary amenorrhea.

 

Let us now delve into the ways we can deal with period problems:

1.      Exercising is good. Over-exercising shall be avoided!

Giving your body physical stress can cause an imbalance in hormones which can lead to period problems such as irregular periods.

2.      Yoga and meditation can help!

They can lower your mental and physiological stress and thus can prevent period problems and underlying reasons such as PCOD.

3.weight is a good weight!

Being over-weight and under-weight can be problematic for you when your periods are concerned.

4.      Keep your diet healthy; your water-intake high!

A healthy diet and refraining from induced vomiting after eating can prevent a lot of problems like period problems. High water intake can prevent dehydration which can be one of the reasons for period pain.

5.      Heat packs and abdominal massages can help!

These home-therapies relieve abdominal and pelvic pain during periods.

6.      Take the help of homeopathy!

Homeopathic remedies which are given according to your set of problems can help in balancing hormones and addressing underlying stress factors. They can help in restoring the normal period cycle and can also decrease pain during periods. Since there is an individualistic and holistic prescription, problems of thyroid or side effects of chemotherapy, and problems of body weight are also addressed. Underlying PCOS, side effects of conventional medicines, and the tendency to induce vomiting after eating are also addressed.
Accompanying symptoms like headache, diarrhea, and amount of blood loss can be controlled.
Homeopathy is safe and effective for women of all ages but period of treatment may vary from woman to woman according to individual susceptibility and the past disease history.

To consult us, email at kailahomeopathy@gmail.

Watch the video here: 
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