UNEVEN MENSTRUAL CYCLE? KNOW THESE WHAT, WHY AND HOW

Knock knock are you there?

Are you someone who awaits your period like this?

While menstruation is a red sign, not getting regular and even periods is cause for bigger concern. As regular menstruation is an indicator of a women’s reproductive health.

You are not alone! Studies say many women are reeling from minor to major menstrual problems from time to time. From lifestyle changes to tumours reasons are many when it comes to the root of the issue. 

In this read let us dig deeper into menstruation-related problems and find all the WHAT, WHY and HOW about it:

WHAT are menstrual problems?

Knowing whether you are going through a menstrual problem is the first phase. Check if you have any problems like these:

• Bleeding that last more than 7 days
• Missing more than 3 periods in a row
• Periods that occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart
• Too heavy or too low menstrual flow 
• Periods with heavy pain, cramps, nausea or vomiting
• Bleeding/spotting that happens between periods, after menopause or following sex.

WHY is this happening?

Abnormal/uneven periods can be the result of many underlying health or lifestyle issues. Some of the reasons are these: 

Stress and lifestyle factors: Losing or gaining weight abruptly, poor diet, disruption in the sleeping cycle, changes in exercise routines and other illnesses (thyroid, cancer etc) can impact the proper functioning of the menstrual cycle.

Birth-control/contraceptive pills:  Using contraceptive pills on or off affects menstruation to a greater extent.

• Most birth control pills contain a combination of hormones (estrogen and progestin)
• Some women have irregular or missed periods for up to six months after discontinuing birth control pills. 

Uterine polyps or fibroids:  Don’t get petrified by these, let me explain.

Uterine polyps are small noncancerous growths in the uterus lining whereas Uterine fibroids are tumours in the uterus wall. 

• There may be one or several fibroids in varying sizes (apple seed to grapefruit). If it is large, it may cause discomfort
• Tumours can cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods. 

Endometriosis: It happens when the endometrial tissue (tissue that lines the uterus) starts to grow outside the uterus on the intestines or other organs in the lower digestive tract etc. It may cause abnormal bleeding, cramps or pain before and during periods.

Pelvic inflammatory disease: PID is a bacterial infection that affects the female reproductive system.

• Unsafe sex, gynecologic procedures or childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion can be the reason for the infection.
• It will cause heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, irregular periods, pain in the pelvic and lower abdominal areas, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: I am sure you must have heard about PCOS.

• In this condition, the ovaries make large amounts of androgens, which are male hormones. 
• These hormonal changes can prevent eggs from maturing, so ovulation may not take place consistently resulting in irregular periods or complete end menstruating. 

Other causes include:

• Premature ovarian insufficiency in women under age 40. 
• Uterine cancer or cervical cancer.

• Medications, such as steroids or anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners).
• Medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, an under or overactive thyroid gland, or pituitary disorders affect hormonal balance.
• Complications associated with pregnancy, including miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
• Start of menopause (usually between the ages of 45 and 55)

HOW to fix it?

Most of the time uneven menstruation can be fixed by proper self-care and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the first step in fixing your cycle. If the issue is minor or major it is better to consult a good doctor!

You can also try these self-care techniques:

• Varied and balanced diet. Try to include leafy greens, more vegetables and fruits in your diet and cut cabs and fat to the required amount.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and maintaining your BMI
•  Do not sign up for unscientific and random diet plans 
• Take proper rest at times and maintain a fixed and consistent sleep schedule.
• Practice stress reduction and relaxation techniques by doing yoga or by other means.
• It is said that excessive sports activities can also cause irregular periods. So do not put stress on your body. 
• Use birth control pills/contraceptives as directed. And do not consume them without proper guidance from your doctor.
• Do not self-medicate at any cost
• Change your tampons or sanitary napkins approximately every four to six hours to avoid getting infections(like toxic shock syndrome).
• Do regular checkups and visit your doctor as directed

Bad reproductive health is an emerging issue these days. Your stressful and unhealthy daily routine can have an impact on your menstrual cycle and you may end up in bad reproductive health without you being noticed. Self-care and proper medical assistance are the only way out of these exhausting problems.

So stop worrying about your periods! First, know where you are and dig out the reason and resolve them with patience. 

In the end, all that matters is your wellness!