Causes of menstrual irregularities after 30. Causes of menstrual irregularities at different ages, principles of diagnosis and treatment. Examination for menstrual irregularities

The menstrual cycle is one of the main factors in the normal functioning of a woman's reproductive system. If your period "goes like a clock", then everything is in order with your health. If on the contrary, then your body will give you a clear signal that health in the female area needs to be corrected. What is a failure of the menstrual cycle, for what reasons does this happen and how to improve the situation for the better? All this and many other things below.

When the menstrual cycle can be considered disrupted

On average, menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days. The rest of the time is the preparation of the reproductive system for a new cycle. And such a process should continue systematically and most importantly on time. If the menstrual cycle is disturbed, then the above figures deviate from the norms and in this case it is imperative to stabilize the situation. But first, let's figure it out and find out when menstruation is considered broken?

In one part of women, menstruation lasts 2-3 days, in others a little longer. But here it is important to observe not only their duration - concomitant symptoms, the amount of blood secreted, general well-being. If menstruation is accompanied by severe pain, poor health and increased irritability, then such a picture can be considered a violation of the reproductive system.

Normal menstruation lasts no less than 3 days and no more than 7 days. Between them there must be a break of at least 21 and no more than 35 days. The remaining cases are outside the normal range and are considered a failure.

Also, the cycle of menstruation is considered disrupted if the discharge is observed for 2 days. This is very small. And more than 7 is a lot. Too much or too little blood is also considered a failure. Scanty or heavy periods indicate that the ovaries are not working properly.

Reasons for the failure of the cycle of menstruation

When there is a failure of the menstrual cycle, the reasons can lie at a variety of points. There are a lot of them, and to determine the exact provocative factor, you need to familiarize yourself with all of them:

  • First menstruation. In a young female body, which for the first time underwent the menstrual cycle, the hormonal background has not yet fully adjusted its work. In this case, he needs about a year to stabilize the situation. In the meantime, the monthly schedule may get lost.
  • Delicate age. In women after 40-55 years, menopause or menopause begins. During this period, menstruation may go astray, but this is not a pathology, but a normal phenomenon. But still, the body also needs support in the form of taking vitamins or special drugs.
  • Hormonal Disorders(and not only the genital, but also the thyroid or adrenal glands), a lot of excess weight or anorexia, diseases of an infectious nature. Also, the influence of stressful situations cannot be ruled out - having been overly nervous or worried once, in the near future this may affect the work of the hormonal background and, accordingly, the timely onset of menstruation.
  • Postpartum period. At this time, there is a global restructuring in the work of the hormonal background, because the woman's body is now preparing to feed the baby. After giving birth, it takes time to restore the menstrual cycle, but sometimes it does not go away on its own. And then be sure to visit your local gynecologist. Although, after childbirth, this is already necessary, even if there are no violations.
  • Taking "wrong" drugs. Often, the menstrual cycle gets lost due to the fact that a woman is self-medicating her health. Usually, this situation turns around due to the intake of the wrong hormonal drugs or some remedies for excess body weight. They can both directly and indirectly negatively affect the production of hormones and the functioning of the reproductive system. But not only this can disrupt the menstrual cycle - a sharp cessation of the use of any hormonal drugs also entails side effects. It is also necessary to cancel taking any medications correctly.
  • Frequent spontaneous or forced abortions (miscarriages). Such moments are a serious stress both for the psycho-emotional state of a woman and for her health.
  • Diseases such as uterine fibroids, scleropolycystic ovaries, polyp and / or endometrium also provoke a violation of menstruation. In this case, adequate treatment is simply vital, otherwise the question may concern not only women's health, but it as a whole.
  • Abrupt climate change. When moving to another city or country, the body reacts sensitively to a different climate. And from this, not only the menstrual cycle can be disrupted.
  • Physical overload. Playing sports is good, but in everything you need to know when to stop. If you load the body too much with exercises, and even with weight, then in this case the picture may turn into not weight loss or beautiful body reliefs, but serious disorders in gynecology.

If you have lost your period for any of the above reasons, be sure to visit a gynecologist. Any disruption in the work of one of the body systems is dangerous to health. Self-diagnosis, like self-medication, will at best give an unsuccessful result, not to mention the undesirable consequences of an incorrectly selected therapy.

What to do if your menstrual cycle is disturbed

So, you already know what it means when the cycle of menstruation is lost, the reasons for this phenomenon, and now you need to deal with the elimination of all this. Of course, first of all, you need a consultation with a gynecologist and a full examination. Sometimes, without them, it is simply impossible to accurately and correctly diagnose the cause of menstrual irregularities. After the initial consultation, you may be assigned the following tests and examinations:

  • Vaginal swab
  • Pelvic ultrasound
  • Blood test for hormone levels
  • Possibly MRI
  • Urinalysis and so on.

Remember that the failure of the menstrual cycle itself is not amenable to treatment - in order to stabilize the work of the reproductive system, it is necessary to eliminate the pathology that led to this. Sometimes the treatment can even be surgical, not just medication. After receiving the results of the tests passed, the doctor can prescribe the use of hormonal, homeopathic, hemostatic drugs, antibiotics and other drugs. Antibacterial therapy is also not excluded.

Note! You should not immediately be skeptical about the use of products based on hubbubs. Many women are sure that from them the body will suddenly begin to gain weight and become overgrown with unwanted vegetation. In fact, such medications do not gain weight, but simply increase the appetite. In this case, the gynecologist will conduct a detailed consultation about nutrition and everything will be all right with your figure.

You should also be aware that phytoestrogens affect the female body more gently than other options. When taking certain hormonal preparations, be sure to pay attention to the active substance and the content of phytoestrogen.

It may be such that the gynecologist will not detect any violations in the work of the woman's reproductive system. In this case, it will be advisable to refer to an endocrinologist or immunologist for additional examination, because the reasons for the failure of the menstrual cycle can insidiously hide in the incorrect work of the thyroid gland or even the adrenal glands.

Self-correction of women's health

It is very difficult to independently cope with the correction of menstruation, since treatment is also prescribed based on the woman's age, characteristics of her body and test results. Often, the treatment of the failure of "these days" can be based only on a healthy lifestyle. Yes, giving up all sorts of bad habits, good sleep and the same diet, sports and daily routine can contribute to a speedy recovery without any treatment.

Often, failures of women's days occur after the transfer of influenza and other topical viral diseases. In this case, the immune system is weakened and it is definitely worth supporting it with vitamins and proper nutrition. Everything here is according to the standard: fruits, vegetables, calcium, iron, and so on. You can drink a course of vitamins, but only prescribed by a doctor. And, of course, do not forget about full sleep.

A stable sex life is also an assistant in the restoration of the menstrual cycle. Yes, this is a kind of medicine that should not be neglected, because intimacy causes the uterus to contract. And such a moment has a positive effect on the functioning of the ovaries and, in turn, improves an irregular menstrual cycle.

You can also resort to popular superstitions to get rid of the failure of "women's days". In fact, the menstrual cycle often coincides with the lunar calendar. Leave the curtains or curtains uncovered during the moonlit night so that the moon will help you in such a delicate matter. It seems like a fiction. It's hard not to argue, but it helps some.

So that women's days go on time and every month, try drinking a wormwood decoction as a course. Prepare a 200 gram glass of chopped dry herbs, half a liter of vinegar, mix this, leave in a glass container in a dark place for 2 days. You need to drink such a tincture in a diluted form - in a glass of boiled water or warm tea, dilute a few tablespoons of the tincture and consume this drink 3 times a day before the main meals. The treatment period in this way is 30 days.

Important! Before using any method to adjust the menstrual cycle using the traditional method, be sure to consult a doctor. Only he will explain why the menstrual cycle is disrupted and how it can be adjusted.

First, of course, you can try to independently establish a cycle of "these days": get enough sleep, eat right, devote proper time to sports, ignore bad habits, live a full sex life and just expect improvements. If all this together does not solve the problem, then a visit to the doctor and examinations are simply inevitable. There is nothing to worry about - the doctor will examine you, give you directions for taking tests, get acquainted with their results and prescribe a suitable therapy. And after observing all medical recommendations, your health must definitely improve.

Many women face such a problem as menstrual irregularities. Moreover, this phenomenon does not depend on age, it can be observed both in young girls in whom menstruation has just begun, and in mature women due to hormonal failure, injury, and the onset of illness.

Usually the first menstruation in a girl's life comes at about 12-14 years old. During the first year, the menstrual cycle is just getting established. On average, a girl goes through at least eight cycles in 12 months. If a girl over the age of 14 does not have her period, she should visit a doctor for an examination.

The normal duration of the menstrual cycle is considered to be 21-33 days. It is necessary to start counting from the first day of the next menstruation to the beginning of the next. A regular cycle is an indicator of a woman's health. Bleeding should last no more than a week, and the volume of blood lost should be no more than 100 milliliters. Menstruation that does not meet this norm is a violation.

Regardless of the nature of the menstrual irregularity, this can provoke problems with the functioning of the reproductive or endocrine system. For this reason, any failure in the cycle should be the reason for an early appeal to a gynecologist and passing the necessary examinations.

This phenomenon should be taken very seriously, because if treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, in the future you may face the inability to become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child.

Possible reasons

In most cases, menstrual irregularities are due to changes in hormonal levels. Moreover, it is not a fact that the reason lies precisely in the ovaries: a provoking factor may be a dysfunction of the thyroid or adrenal glands.

According to WHO statistics, the following are considered the most common causes of menstrual irregularities:

  • Inflammation or other damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary region.
  • Insufficiency of the ovaries.
  • Uterine abnormalities.
  • Oncology.
  • Increased blood prolactin levels.
Dysfunction or pituitary cachexia is a pathological condition that develops as a result of damage to the pituitary gland and the nuclei of the hypothalamus, accompanied by a decrease in the production of hormones.

In addition, inflammation that affects the pelvic organs can lead to a malfunction of the menstrual cycle. When the provoking factor is eliminated, the cycle will return to normal. The same applies to sexually transmitted diseases.

Such common nowadays diseases as rubella or chickenpox adversely affect the formation of follicles in the ovaries. The result of this can make itself felt after several months, and sometimes years after recovery.

Violation of the menstrual cycle sometimes indicates the presence of severe pathologies:

  • endometriosis;
  • adenomyosis;
  • polyps;
  • uterine fibroids;
  • oncology of the pelvic organs.

In addition, the normal menstrual cycle can be disrupted due to adverse conditions, which include:

  • adherence to strict diets;
  • changing climatic zones;
  • physical stress;
  • psycho-emotional stress;
  • excessive passion for alcoholic beverages;
  • sexual abstinence for a long time;
  • the use of certain medications.

It should also be remembered that problems with the stability of the menstrual cycle can be caused by a hereditary factor.

Is it dangerous?

A problem such as a failure of the menstrual cycle should in no case be left without proper attention, since this phenomenon can lead to extremely unfavorable consequences:

  • inability to get pregnant and bear a child;
  • the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia;
  • a change in the level of hormones, which in turn can provoke the development of other pathologies;
  • formation of benign and malignant tumors in the uterus.

How to heal and restore a disturbed menstrual cycle

Treatment should be prescribed by a competent specialist. Therapeutic measures will depend on the identified cause of the cycle failure. For accurate diagnosis, the following activities will be carried out:

  1. An interrogation of a woman, during which it is found out what kind of life she leads, what diseases she has suffered, etc.
  2. Examination by a gynecologist, which also includes an STD test and a smear for flora.
  3. Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and thyroid gland.
  4. GHA (hysterosalpingography) is a method of X-ray diagnostics of diseases of the uterus, as well as fallopian tubes, which is based on the introduction of contrast agents into them.
  5. Hormone screening, which determines the level of sex hormones in the patient's body.
  6. X-ray of the head (including the Turkish saddle), this procedure will help identify hypothalamic-pituitary disorders.

Based on the results obtained during the examinations, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment, which may include the following:

  • lifestyle correction;
  • drug therapy using hormonal agents;
  • physiotherapy procedures;
  • phytotherapy;
  • taking drugs - uterotonics, which reduce blood loss;
  • scraping of the uterus;
  • operation.

If you seek medical help in time, the chances that the menstrual cycle will fully recover, and, therefore, the disease will recede, will be quite high.

It should be noted that even with a disturbed menstrual cycle, a woman can conceive and bear a child. Medication with drugs that stimulate ovulation will help to get pregnant.

What to do if a teenage girl has a problem

When a teenage girl has disruptions in the cycle, accompanied by juvenile bleeding - dysfunctional discharge from the uterus, treatment is carried out in two stages.

First, hormonal agents are used, as well as hemostatic drugs - Ditsynon, Vikasol.

If the bleeding is quite strong and long, while the girl is worried about symptoms such as obvious dizziness, passivity and lethargy, a decrease in hemoglobin levels, a scraping procedure may be prescribed. Then the histology of the scraping is performed.

The doctor can prescribe hormonal medications (Novinet, Mersilon), but only if the hemoglobin level is not lower than 80 g / l.

If necessary, therapy will be carried out against iron deficiency anemia (transfusion of blood, erythrocytes, rheopolyglucin). Iron-containing drugs are prescribed.

In adolescence, the duration of taking hormonal drugs should not exceed three months. Therapy for anemia is performed until the hemoglobin values ​​are normalized.

With a mild degree of violation, therapy with vitamins is used in phases of the cycle. The funds in this case are taken according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor to stimulate the production of hormones in the ovaries. Such treatment involves taking in the first phase of the menstrual cycle vitamins of group B, in the second - vitamins A, C, E, folic acid.

What to do for a girl if the problem appeared at childbearing age

In this situation, the treatment regimen will be similar to the treatment of menstrual disorders in a teenager. Regardless of age, with severe bleeding, a curettage procedure is performed. This is done both for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment.

Then, therapy is carried out using hormonal agents. The woman will have to take combined oral contraceptives according to the standard regimen. Directly with the defective second phase of the cycle, the doctor may prescribe drugs containing progesterone - Dufaston or Utrozhestan.

Since cycle disorders can cause the impossibility of conception, women of reproductive age are sometimes prescribed Pergonal or Choriogonin, drugs whose action is aimed at stimulating the formation of active follicles. Clomiphene is prescribed to stimulate ovulation.

How to treat menopause bleeding

If during menopause severe bleeding is observed, the woman must be scraped out the uterine cavity, since this phenomenon can signal dangerous diseases, including the occurrence of atypical hyperplasia, as well as the development of a cancerous tumor.

In severe cases, the doctor may decide to perform a hysterectomy - a gynecological operation during which the uterus is removed. The procedure is usually performed with a malignant tumor of the uterus, as well as the cervix or ovary.

Folk remedies

For menstrual disorders, treatment with traditional medicine is possible. However, before using them, you need to consult a doctor.

The choice of remedy will depend on the type of disorder:

  1. For rare menstruation (oligomenorrhea), a remedy is used that is prepared as follows: ½ tsp. chop parsley seeds to a powdery state. Drink three times a day with half a mug of pure water to which a little honey has been added.
  2. In the absence of menstruation for a long time, for example, during several menstrual cycles (amenorrhea), a remedy based on wormwood is used, which must be thoroughly crushed. Pour the resulting raw material with one mug of boiling water, and then simply put it in a water bath. After 20 minutes, remove from the stove, cool and strain. Ready-made broth to drink 100 ml three times a day before meals.
  3. If your periods are long (more than 7 days) and abundant (over 100 ml), you can use this recipe: take the following medicinal plants in the same amount: raspberry leaves, oak bark, cinquefoil, strawberry leaves, yarrow. Next, you need to pour a tablespoon of the resulting collection with a glass of cooled boiled water. It remains to insist the medicine for four hours. Then put on the stove, bring to a boil, after 5-7 minutes remove from heat, let cool and strain. Drink the prepared product throughout the day. The duration of the course of therapy is at least five days.
  4. Also, a remedy prepared on the basis of horsetail will help to normalize a long cycle and reduce blood loss. This plant has been used for medicinal purposes for a long time due to its hemostatic properties. A spoonful of raw materials should be poured with 500 ml of boiling water, insist and then drink only a tablespoon at intervals of two hours until the bleeding stops. Then, for therapeutic purposes, spoon it three times a day.
  5. With excessively painful menstruation, a herbal collection consisting of birch leaves, valerian root, mint, buckthorn bark, blackberry leaves, and yarrow helps. So, pour a tablespoon of the composition with 250 ml of boiling water, at least 20-30 minutes. insist, strain well, drink a little during the day.

Surgery

Operation in the treatment of menstrual disorders is rarely used and only in such cases:

  • when there is severe bleeding, which cannot be stopped in other ways;
  • if the patient is over 35 years old.
  • In this situation, the procedure for curettage of the uterus is performed.

Preventive measures

Prevention is a simpler and simpler process than treating the disease that has arisen. The use of drugs is harmful to a woman's health to some extent. For this reason, several recommendations should be followed in order not to face problems with the menstrual cycle:
  1. Visit a gynecologist for a routine examination at least once every six months.
  2. Follow the rules of personal hygiene carefully.
  3. Monitor the daily routine (rest on time, avoid increased stress, eat balanced).
  4. Maintain a menstrual calendar - this will allow you to timely detect a failure.
  5. Lead an active lifestyle (exercise, walk more in the fresh air).
  6. Timely treat the emerging diseases of other systems and internal organs.

Video: 9 reasons for a menstrual cycle failure

The causes of menstrual irregularities are what about 35% of women try to find out when they go to the doctor.

Abundant or scanty menstruation, frequent delays, too short or too long a cycle - all this indicates a disturbance in the female body.

Norm

Symptoms

Regardless of what is associated with the violation of the menstrual cycle, its symptoms are as follows:

  • for six months or more;
  • irregularity (different number of days between discharge in each month);
  • excessive and intense discharge (more than 150 ml);
  • discharge that contains large;
  • spotting instead of menstruation;

Forms

Depending on what are the reasons for the violation of the cycle in girls and women and what are the manifestations, the following types of pathology are distinguished:

  • Algodismenorrhea is the occurrence of strong painful sensations. They appear in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, during or before menstruation. Concomitant symptoms - headache, dizziness, nausea, mood changes.
  • Algomenorrhea - painful periods.
  • Amenorrhea - the absence of menstruation for six months or longer.
  • Hypomenorrhea - menstruation rarely occurs (once every 35 days or more).
  • Dysmenorrhea is a general malaise during critical days. Symptoms are nausea and headaches, emotional instability.
  • Menorrhagia, another name for hypermenorrhea, is profuse menstruation or protracted (lasting more than a week). The regularity is preserved.
  • Metrorrhagia - spotting between periods.
  • Oligomenorrhea - short menstruation - 2 days or less.
  • Polymenorrhea - frequent periods (once every 21 days or even more often).

Causes of menstrual irregularities

Regularity is the principle underlying the functioning of the female body. This refers to the monthly cycle, which should be regular and normal. Various organs are responsible for this - the cerebral cortex, subcortical centers, ovaries, thyroid gland, adrenal glands.

Failure in the work of any of these organs leads to problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.

Possible menstrual irregularities in women from the endocrine system:

  • inflammatory processes of the internal genital organs;
  • lack of progesterone;
  • excess production of estrogen;
  • PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome.

The following reasons for menstrual irregularities are possible, which consist in changing the lifestyle:

  • brought down the regime of day and night;
  • not getting enough sleep;
  • unbalanced diet;
  • abuse of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol;
  • stress;
  • climate change.

Other reasons:

  • diet and, as a result, a sharp decrease in weight;
  • obesity and rapid weight gain;
  • high blood pressure;
  • diabetes;
  • taking certain medications.

Age problems

When determining the causes of pathology, age must be taken into account:

  • In adolescents, irregularity is the norm for a year and a half after the onset of the first menstruation (this is usually the age of 12-14 years).
  • In women, after childbirth, malfunction is also possible.
  • After 40 years, violation at the onset of menstruation should also not be considered a deviation. There is a gradual decline in reproductive function, ovarian activity decreases, menstruation becomes irregular. This points to.

After the age of 35, similar problems may indicate or ovarian wasting syndrome. There are many reasons for this, the pathology is subject to treatment.

Diagnostics and treatment

How to treat menstrual irregularities is a question that worries girls and women. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you must immediately make a visit to the doctor if you find characteristic symptoms.

The survey includes:

  • inspection;
  • delivery of general tests;
  • determination of the level of hormones;
  • checking for hidden infections;

The menstrual cycle must be brought back to normal. In this case, therapy is not aimed at eliminating symptoms, but at the immediate cause of the failure:

  • in the presence of infection and inflammatory processes, drugs and physiotherapy are prescribed;
  • hormonal imbalance is treated with hormone therapy;
  • when tumors are found, surgery is performed.

Problems with immunity and general weakening of the body are solved by normalizing the daily regimen, balanced nutrition, taking vitamins, and physical activity.

In the video about the problem

There is practically no woman who has never encountered any irregularities in the menstrual cycle. Even completely healthy women in certain circumstances can periodically experience disruptions. But in some cases, such cases are classified as diseases (ICD code 10 - N94.4-N94.9).

In this article, we will consider in detail the problem of pathological changes in the frequency in the monthly cycle. You will find out for what reasons failures can occur in women of different age categories, how this condition is diagnosed and treated, when you should definitely seek medical help.

Types of failures

Menstrual irregularities are considered a cycle, the duration of which increases by more than a week. Also, if the period between menstruation is reduced by 5-7 days, and this is repeated systematically, we can talk about a failure of the function. With the exception of women who genetically have a longer or shorter cycle, everyone else defines it as a disorder and requires evaluation.

There are several types of disruptions associated with the menstrual cycle:

  1. Amenorrhea is a condition in which menstruation is absent for several periods. Distinguish between primary and secondary amenorrhea. In the first case, during puberty, menstruation does not begin until the age of 16 in the presence of other signs of puberty. In the second case, menstruation stops for a long time.
  2. Oligomenorrhea is a pathology in which menstruation occurs very rarely. More often observed in those who are overweight. With this pathology, women of reproductive age often have problems with conception.
  3. Dysmenorrhea - deviations in the schedule, both upward and downward in the intermenstrual period. With such a violation, women can meet at any age. Physiologically caused deviations during the onset of menstruation, when the period has not yet been adjusted, and in the postpartum period, when the frequency is restored, are not considered dysmenorrhea.
  4. Opsomenorrhea is a disorder in which the duration of the cycle increases to 35 days or more (but not more than three months), and menstruation is short and scanty. Often accompanied by infertility. Women can have masculine features, a tendency to be overweight. Acne is a common symptom.
  5. Hypomenstrual syndrome is a pathology characterized by a decrease in the amount of blood secreted during menstruation. Lean menstruation (blood loss less than 50 ml) usually comes with a delay and causes a variety of discomfort sensations - nausea, headache, etc.

Also, other changes in frequency are distinguished, such as polymenorrhea, proyomenorrhea, metrorrhagia, etc. Each of these pathologies may have different causes, therefore examination (and not only by a gynecologist) is mandatory.

Causes of pathology

The main reason for the failure is a change in hormonal levels. This happens with various diseases and conditions. Also, an important role is played by the hereditary factor - if the ancestors along the female line had disruptions in periods or other violations, it is quite possible that this will affect the nature of menstruation in women in future generations.

Since the brain and organs of the endocrine system are involved in the regulation of the periodicity of menstruation, very often the problem arises from violations of interaction.

Lack of sleep, stress, excessive physical exertion, psychological fatigue, change of time zone or climatic conditions can lead to failure. Menstruation problems are not uncommon in those who are regularly awake at night. Brain tumors and neuroviral infections can also lead to malfunctions.

Hormonal factors are also observed in many diseases. Most often this happens against the background of pathologies of the endocrine and genitourinary systems, such as:

  • genetic and hormonal pathologies of the ovaries;
  • inflammation of the uterus and appendages;
  • infectious lesions of the pelvic organs;
  • diabetes;
  • diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands;
  • obesity, etc.

Functional problems of the endocrine system, manifested in the accumulation of estrogen with a simultaneous deficiency of progesterone, also cause disruptions. The periodicity can also be violated due to any infectious and non-infectious diseases, acute or chronic.

Among other factors that can lead to missed periods, the most common are:

  • Long-term diets, unbalanced nutrition, lack of certain elements in food.
  • Too low / high body weight.
  • Acute or chronic intoxication (including regular alcohol consumption, smoking).
  • Taking some medications.

Thus, the overwhelming majority of women are at risk. But this does not mean that the problem of disruptions can be ignored, "attributing" disturbances to chronic stress or lack of sleep. If there are malfunctions, medical advice is required to rule out serious diseases.

Irregularities in the menstrual cycle can be a symptom of dangerous diseases, including cancer.

Diagnostics

Many women with menstrual problems postpone the visit to the doctor because they are afraid of hormone therapy. In fact, hormones are shown only in some cases, and careful diagnosis is required to select an adequate treatment regimen.

In addition to a gynecological examination, a smear and general blood and urine tests, the following may be prescribed:

  • Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and thyroid gland;
  • analysis for the study of hormones;
  • hysteroscopy;
  • studies to identify chromosomal pathologies;
  • PCR, etc.

What tests are needed, the doctor decides after a detailed questioning, in which he can find out the presence of a genetic predisposition, the characteristics of the patient's lifestyle and other nuances that affect the frequency and intensity of menstruation. You may also need to consult doctors of other specialties (endocrinologist, therapist) and additional studies (computed tomography, X-ray of the skull, etc.).

Treatment methods

There is no single method of treating disruptions in the menstrual cycle, since a wide variety of factors can be involved in the occurrence of the problem. The medical complex is focused on the elimination of the root causes. In addition, in almost all cases, the elimination of typical "provocateurs" will be required. Correction of nutrition, enough sleep, the elimination of stressful situations are imperative for everything to return to normal.

In adolescence

The first menstruation in girls occurs at the age of 12-14 years. If this did not happen before the age of 16, there is reason for concern and a visit to a pediatric gynecologist-endocrinologist. It is also necessary to consult a doctor if the normal cyclicity does not settle within a year and a half. In adolescence, other disorders are possible:

  • too profuse menstruation;
  • significant blood loss;
  • the appearance of spotting between periods;
  • high soreness.

Most often, these disorders are caused by weight problems, vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypertension, chronic inflammatory diseases, and early onset of sexual activity.

Girls who exhaust themselves with diets often have an irregular menstrual cycle. The same applies to overly emotional adolescents with high levels of impulsivity or aggression.

Drugs for the treatment of adolescent pathologies are selected based on age. If hormone therapy is indicated, the most gentle hormonal drugs with low doses are selected. If the reason for the irregularity of menstruation is associated with malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, a complex of treatment is required to normalize the functioning of the thyroid gland.
In case of severe bleeding, hemostatic drugs are used, and in case of complications (drop in hemoglobin, dizziness, general severe weakness), curettage. In parallel, antianemic therapy with iron preparations is carried out. In uncomplicated cases, cyclic vitamin therapy is used to stimulate the body. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe sedatives, dietary adjustments, changes in the daily routine, etc.

In reproductive age

Menstrual irregularities in women of childbearing age occur both for physiological reasons (pregnancy, postpartum period) and for many others. Therefore, treatment can only be prescribed after a comprehensive examination. The doctor selects medicines taking into account the presence of certain diseases.

  • If the problem is caused by hormonal imbalances, it is eliminated with estrogen drugs, thyroid hormones, etc.
  • In the presence of infectious diseases, antibiotic therapy is used.
  • Tumors that cause disruptions of the usual periodicity are removed surgically (tumor formations in the organs of the genitourinary system, thyroid gland, pituitary gland).
  • Surgical intervention may also be needed for pathologies of the genital organs.
  • In the absence of ovulation, funds are used to stimulate it.
  • With too heavy menstruation, the volume of lost blood is replenished, curettage is performed, and in the most difficult cases, endometrial ablation or hysterectomy.

It may also be necessary to improve the functioning of the immune system, supplement the diet with foods rich in vitamins and trace elements. If necessary, additional vitamin and mineral complexes are prescribed. Physiotherapeutic procedures have a beneficial effect. Normalizing the daily routine, increasing stress resistance are necessary measures to restore a normal menstrual cycle.
Some genital disorders lead to infertility. If a woman plans to have children, treatment should be started as early as possible. If pregnancy is not planned in the near future, hormonal contraceptives may be prescribed to help regulate the frequency.

In the climacteric period

Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-50, although cases of early menopause after 40 and even after 30 are increasingly common now. Usually, when, in adulthood, menstruation becomes irregular and then stops altogether, the woman herself diagnoses menopause and is in no hurry to see a doctor.

This approach is fraught with many unpleasant consequences, ranging from unnoticed diseases in time, and ending with unwanted pregnancy (this, although rare, also happens). Therefore, even if menopause is suspected, it is imperative to be examined. If certain problems are identified, the doctor will propose a set of therapeutic measures, including:

  • means for normalizing hormonal levels (dyufaston, etc.);
  • antibiotic therapy for infections;
  • rational nutrition with a decrease in calorie content and the total amount of food.

If the changes in the usual regularity at this age are of a physiological nature, no special treatment is required. However, when a woman has a hard time enduring the climacteric period, it is advisable to use physiotherapy, fortifying drugs, and traditional medicine.

Any bleeding during the postmenopausal period is a reason to see a doctor as soon as possible, since in most cases it is one of the symptoms of malignant tumors!

Indications for visiting a doctor for this problem

For any changes in the menstrual cycle, it is advisable to see a doctor. This will help avoid serious consequences and not worry about your condition, thereby exacerbating the situation. But in some cases, it is necessary to pass the examination:

  • If a teenage girl did not have menarche until the age of 15-16.
  • A year and a half has passed after the first menstruation, and the monthly cycle has not been established.
  • Menses too long and too profuse.
  • The nature of the discharge, its color, smell has changed (this may be a sign of endometrial diseases).
  • Ovulation is painful.
  • Allocation is very scarce, and menstruation comes with a significant delay.
  • Bleeding is disturbing between periods (even a single case requires examination).

Even if all these changes do not cause discomfort and do not cause complaints, you should not ignore them. Lack of periodicity is often a sign of illness, and timely treatment avoids complications and life-threatening conditions.

Video

How does being overweight affect the regularity of your periods? By watching this short video, you will learn about the connection between menstrual irregularities and overweight, as well as other reasons for disruptions in the frequency of menstruation.

Normally, the menstrual cycle (monthly) is regular, lasting 3-4 days.
The cessation of menstruation in sexually mature women in the generative period is called secondary too frequent- polymenorrhea, rare- oligomenorrhea. The rhythm of your period can be regular or irregular.

Menstrual irregularities with scanty flow are called hypomenorrhea with copious discharge hypermenorrhea... Too profuse and frequent menstruation is called menorrhagia flowing with vegetative disorders (headaches, vomiting, nausea) -, with abdominal pain -
Symptom complex in the form of a deterioration in well-being, headaches, swelling and pain in the mammary glands before menstruation - called

Etiology.

Disruption of regular cycles is a complex pathophysiological process in various parts of the gonadal system of the female body and is clinically expressed in a variety of ways.
The cause of menstrual irregularities can be hormonal and anatomical disorders of the genital area, mental neuro-regulatory disorders, various types of intoxication, debilitating diseases.

Hormonal irregularities leading to menstrual irregularities can be hyper- and hypoestrogenic, hyper- and hypoluteinal. The above is the direct cause of menstrual irregularities, but these phenomena can be caused by various disorders in the neuroendocrine system, namely diencephalic-pituitary regulation, pathology of the pituitary gland itself, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and the ovaries themselves. An important place in menstrual irregularities can be occupied by pathological changes occurring in the uterus itself.

Types of menstrual irregularities based on reasons.

Menstrual Disorders of Hypothalamic Origin occur on the basis of functional disorders in the hypothalamus hypothalamus due to infectious and toxic injuries, mental trauma, skull injuries, etc.
In this case, the daily allocation State Tretyakov Gallery(gonadotropic hormone) may remain normal, but LH(luteinizing hormone) decreases as its excretion is regulated by the hypothalamus. This reduces the reactivity of the uterus to hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. A similar reaction ­ the uterus is explained by a violation of its neuro-trophic regulation on the part of the hypothalamus due to damage to the latter (in the hypothalamus there are centers of autonomic nerves that innervate the genitals) and menstrual irregularities appear in the form of a secondary
Patients often have symptoms of damage to the diencephalic region: obesity, sweating. Keeping estrogen FSH(follicle-stimulating hormone), 17 -KS in daily urine is usually within the normal range. Vaginal smears indicate atrophic changes in the genitals.

Local treatment for dysfunction of the genital organs is ineffectual, since the neurotrophic apparatus of the uterus is dramatically altered.
Recommended diencephalic pathology treatment shortwave diathermy, novocaine blockade upper cervical sympathetic nodes, psychotherapy, if the disease ­ it developed as a result of mental trauma. Hormone therapy is inappropriate, since the neurotrophic apparatus of the endometrium is atrophied.

Menstrual Disorders of Pituitary Origin occurs as a result of decreased secretion State Tretyakov Gallery(gonadotropic hormones) of primary pituitary or secondary hypothalamic origin.

The first mainly occurs during pregnancy and childbirth, due to hemorrhage in the parenchyma of the anterior pituitary gland and the formation of blood clots in the pituitary vessels. Reduced allocation State Tretyakov Gallery leads to secondary atrophy of the ovaries: hair loss decreases, and the external genital organs atrophy.
Menstrual irregularities begin gradually, first in the form of oligo- and hypomenorrhea, and then menstrual disorders of the pituitary origin occur in the disease, hyperplasia or neoplasm of basophilic cells of the pituitary gland; with acromegaly, hyperplasia or neoplasm originating from eosinophilic and chromophobic cells.

True, chromophobic tumors do not secrete hormones, but they squeeze the secretory cells of the pituitary gland and suppress the gonadal function of the latter. The same thing happens with acromegaly. With illness, excretion increases ACTH(adrenocorticotropic hormone), the adrenal glands are stimulated and the secretion of hydrocortisone and adrenal androgens is increased. The latter delay the release of gonadotropic hormones by the pituitary gland. As a result, the ovaries and genitals atrophy, hypomenorrhea, oligomenorrhea occurs, then

Menstrual Disorders of Ovarian Origin may be:

  • Hyperhormonal and
  • Hypohormonal.

Each of these forms, in turn, is divided into:

  • Hyperestrogenic and Hyperprogesterone;
  • Hypoestrogenic and hypoprogestogenic.

Hyperestrogenic Menstrual Disorders develops with a persistent follicle, follicular cyst, small cystic degeneration of the ovaries.

  • Follicular cyst formed as a result of the further development of a persistent follicle. The follicle can grow to the size of an orange. The hormonal activity of the follicular cyst depends on the nature of the lining epithelium. Most often, under the pressure of cystic fluid, the cells of the granular membrane atrophy and do not function. Less commonly, they function and secrete estrogens, hyperestrogenism, which causes premenstrual tension and uterine bleeding.
  • Small cystic degeneration of the ovaries.
    In this case, several follicles mature. They come in different developmental ages and sizes. Many of them function, secrete estrogens and cause a clinical picture of hyperestrogenism.

Hypoestrogenic form of Menstrual Disorders mainly occurs in sexually mature women, often due to chronic purulent, as a result of which the white membrane of the ovaries hardens, the ovaries themselves scar and their blood supply and innervation are disrupted. In such conditions, the follicles do not fully develop and undergo early atresia, scarring. The latter leads to hypoestrogenism, often to obesity, hypomenorrhea, amenorrhea.

Menstrual Disorders due to excess progesterone secretion (hyperlutheinism) .
This form occurs with persistent corpus luteum or with luteal cysts. Persistent corpus luteum is rare. Excessive secretion by the pituitary gland is considered a probable cause. LTG(luteinotropic hormone, prolactin). At the same time, the corpus luteum, which normally atrophies after 12-14 days of existence, does not undergo reverse development and continues to secrete progesterone. In the endometrium, changes appear that mimic pregnancy, loosening and enlargement of the uterus, there is a delay in menstruation, which is often mistakenly regarded as a sign of pregnancy.
In practice, there are cases when the corpus luteum atrophies incompletely and releases progesterone in moderate amounts, which delays the maturation of new follicles. The sloughing endometrium under such conditions cannot be restored, menorrhagia sets in.

Luteal cysts also release progesterone and cause menstrual irregularities.

Hypoluteal cysts associated with insufficient release of progesterone.
The reasons are often: diencephalic-pituitary pathology, mental trauma, in which the release of gonadotropic hormone by the pituitary gland decreases. This form is characterized by secondary sexual infantilism, hypomenorrhea, amenorrhea, decreased sex drive.

Menstrual Disorders Due to Insufficient Ovarian Function v may be primary and secondary.
In the latter case, they are due to insufficient release of gonadotropic hormones by the pituitary gland. Secondary failure can also occur as a result of mental trauma (in about 25% of cases).
Primary failure is associated with anatomical abnormalities, as well as ovarian reactivity to Tretyakov Gallery.
Differentiating these two forms is difficult enough. With the secondary pituitary form, the introduction of gonadotropin has a positive effect, in cases of primary insufficiency, the effect does not happen.

Menstrual irregularities associated with gynecological diseases: endometritis, vesicovaginal fistulas, inflammatory tumors. In this case, amenorrhea, opsomenorrhea (the duration of the cycle is delayed for more than 35 days) and other deviations are mainly observed.

Finally, menstrual irregularities are observed in severe debilitating infectious diseases, anemias, vitamin deficiencies and heavy physical labor with insufficient nutrition.

TREATMENT OF MENSTRUAL DISORDERS.

Treatment is difficult and varied, since menstrual irregularities are polyetiological and polypathogenic.

  • The therapy is carried out on a case-by-case basis:
    • Fortifying - vitamin therapy, remedial gymnastics;
    • C edative -- calming the nervous-emotional system,
    • Hormonal.
  • Treatment of amenorrhea, hypomenorrhea, opsomenorrhea of ​​ovarian origin is carried out at the beginning of the cycle estrogen to create the follicular phase and then gestagens - secretory transformation.
  • For secondary hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, it is recommended gonadotropin at the beginning of the cycle in increasing doses, in the middle - large up to 5000 units every three days.
  • With severe hypoplasia of the ovaries and uterus, estrogens within 2-4 months.
  • To stimulate the gonadal function of the pituitary gland, it is recommended to use estrogen in small doses.
  • With infantilism of the uterus, it is recommended physiotherapy in the pelvic area, mud therapy, diathermy.
  • In stubborn cases, gynecography to identify anatomical defects.
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