Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual cycles often bring about a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Menstruation can be either too heavy or too light, or complete absence of a cycle.

Disorders of cycle length

Oligomenorrhea –Infrequent menstruation

Polymenorrhea - cycles with intervals of 21 days or fewer.

Amenorrhea -absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age.

Disorders of Flow

Hypomenorrhea - light or scantly menstrual blood flow.

Menorrhagia - abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period.

Metrorrhagia - bleeding at irregular times, Menometrorrhagia (meno = prolonged, metro = uterine, rrhagia = excessive flow/ discharge) prolonged or excessive uterine bleeding occurs irregularly and frequently.

Dysmenorrhea - cramps or painful menstruation

Causes

•               Uterine abnormalitites (Fibroids)

•               Sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea)

•               Steroid consumption

•               Chronic pelvic diseases

•               Immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis

•               Polycystic ovarian disease

Psychological factors

•               Anxiety

•               Stress

•               Emotional trauma;

•               Drugs

•               Drug addiction

•               Steroid administration

•               Metabolic or endocrine diseases

•               Nutritional deficiency

Peripheral causes:

•               Ovarian cyst,

•               Pelvic tumors

Diagnosis

•               General examination

•               Abdominal and pelvic examination

•               Transvaginal ultrasound

•               Dilatation and Curettage

•               Hysteroscopy

Management

General Management

•               Encourage to eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and calcium.

•               Exercise regularly

•               Adequate sleep

•               Use absorbent tampon

•               Avoid caffeine.

•               Eat smaller, and frequent meals

•               Vitamin or mineral supplements

•               Avoid alcohol,

•               Avoid self medications

Medical Management

•               Hormonal therapy

•               Iron supplementation to prevent anaemia.