Cause of Irregular Periods

What is Irregular Periods?

Normal Menstrual Cycle vs. Irregular Periods

The normal menstrual cycle happens every 21 to 35 days. It may last for 3 up to 7 days which varies from one woman to another. There are women who have heavy menstrual flows while others experience otherwise. But what every woman should take note of is metrorrhagia. Metrorrhagia is a medical condition where a woman experiences bleeding in between periods. The possible cause as to why irregular bleeding occurs in between periods could be because of abnormalities that may involve the female reproductive system or in most cases, hormones. This could also attribute to irregular periods.

Cause of Irregular Periods

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
One of the most common reasons as to why a number of women experience irregular menstrual bleeding is due to Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding. A woman may only be sure that she has this is if she has undergone a series of laboratory tests and thorough clinical examinations. Women who have this problem have problems with ovulating because of hormonal imbalance. Treatment for this includes oral contraceptive pills or inducing ovulation if a woman wishes to get pregnant.

Pregnancy Complications
If you are aware that you are experiencing irregular periods, health experts recommend that you first have it checked and treated before getting pregnant. The reason for this is because a woman may not be aware that the bleeding is no longer due to irregular periods but because of pregnancy complications already. Bleeding in the early part of pregnancy can be dangerous and needs to diagnosed as early as possible. Possible pregnancy complications that manifest bleeding are ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy outside the uterus.

Uterine Polyps
Uterine polyps is the growth of the uterine wall that protrudes within the cavity of the uterus and can also cause irregular periods. Women who are diagnosed with uterine polyps are mostly in their 40’s but it may also happen to women in their younger years. It is still unknown as to why uterine polyps occur in women but health experts have noted that it is common among women who are obese, hypertensive and have undergone Tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer.

Treatment for Irregular Periods
It is advisable that women take note of their periods on a monthly basis in order to find out if the pattern of their monthly periods is consistent. This is a useful aid in order to see if you are experiencing abnormalities in your menstrual cycle. If you have been experiencing excessive bleeding for a certain period of time already, you should have it checked by your physician. Irregular periods may also be avoided by means of having a healthy diet which will help you stay fit and healthy and control your hormones. If your exercise is a strenuous one, it may be time for you to change it as it may also affect menstruation.

Cause of Irregular Periods related link

Menopause and Mood Swings

Cause of Missed Periods

Missed Periods Explained

Menstruation is one of the things that make a woman unique from the men. It normally happens every once a month which begins from puberty and ends on menopause. Menstrual cycles are largely brought about by the hormone particularly estrogen. It is with the increase of estrogen where the uterine lining thickens but with decreased estrogen the uterine lining sheds off causing menstruation. With this we can say menstruation is affected by the rise and fall of hormones but we should also take a look at the other reasons why missed periods occur.

What is a Missed Period?
In the medical field, absence of menstruation or a missed period is termed as amenorrhea. Amenorrhea may be primary or secondary. Primary amenorrhea is when a woman does not experience menstruation until she reaches 16 years of age while secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for more than 6 consecutive months that has already experienced menstruation on the previous months.

Cause of Missed Periods

Pregnancy
Normally during menstruation, estrogen levels are high allowing the uterus lining to thicken in preparation of the fertilized egg. The egg will come from the ovary passing through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. The fertilized egg will be attached to the uterus wall. In pregnancy, instead of the uterus lining to shed, it will stay as it is to support the fertilized egg until it develops to be a fetus thus the missed period or absence of menstruation.

Breastfeeding
Estrogen is responsible for producing prolactin which causes milk in the breasts. During the peak of breastfeeding, estrogen levels are high but it will eventually decrease when the baby is weaned from breastfeeding. There are women who may experience ovulation during breastfeeding while there are those who experience missed periods.

Lifestyle Stress
Stress, may it be in the form of emotion or physical can affect menstruation causing missed periods because it affects hormonal levels. When a woman undergoes depression or emotional stress, the hormone cortisol is affected making its level high which affects progesterone and estrogen thus causing missed periods. Extreme exercises and sudden weight change may also cause missed periods.

Menopause
When a woman approaches her thirties, the estrogen and progesterone levels decrease. Before the onset of menopause, a woman undergoes the phase called perimenopause which may last for two to eight years. It is during perimenopause when the levels of estrogen and progesterone are irregular and one manifestation of this are missed periods.

Cause of Missed Periods related link

Body Changes after Menopause

Meaning of Blood Clots during Period

Blood Clots During Period

Menstruation is one of the signs that a girl is on her way towards womanhood. Although periods vary from one woman to another, there are certain precautions that every girl should know in order to be aware of what is normal and what is not. One of the things that most girls experience is blood clots during period.

What are Blood Clots During Period?

Blood clots during period is something that is common but it is not being explained much as to why it exists during menstruation which causes some women to worry about it too much. Although there are several reasons as to why blood clots during period are present, it is important to find out what is normal and not.

Causes of Blood Clots

Hormonal Changes

Blood clots during period occur due to hormonal changes brought about by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the uterine lining to shed and if there is disturbance between the balance of the hormones, blood clots form. Hormonal imbalance in women is due to the following reasons:

Enlarged Uterus

During pregnancy, the uterus enlarges enabling it to carry the child in the womb. After the child is delivered, the uterus goes back to its normal size. But there are instances when blood is collected in the uterus forming clots before it leaves the body thus blood clots are seen during menstruation.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition that is because of the wrong growth of tissues and these tissues are supposed to form on the lining of the uterus. If it grows on other places, it may cause severe bleeding and blood clots. Medical intervention is required for treatment.

Side Effects of Medications or Treatments

If you happen to be under treatment or on a certain medication such as steroids, do expect that blood clots are present during your menstruation.

Other Causes of Blood Clots

Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumors that happen to grow in the womb area. If a woman has uterine fibroids, blood clots may happen during periods. Apart from the blood clots, heavy menstrual flow is also noted.

Miscarriage

For women who have a history of miscarriage, expect to see blood clots or gray clumps of tissues. If you happen to have experienced miscarriage, be sure to consult your physician if you take note of blood clots and other symptoms before your next pregnancy.

Heavy Periods

A heavy menstrual flow could also attribute as to why blood clots occur. Although a woman has a natural ability of being able to stop blood clots, this ability may also not work during really heavy menstrual flows thus causing blood clots.

Experiencing blood clots during period is fine but if you notice that they happen to be really big clots and experience pain, it would be best to consult your doctor. Having regular check-ups with your gynecologist would also be helpful to ensure that you healthy.

Blood Clots during Period related link

Menopause and Weight Gain

Cause of Missed Periods but Not Pregnant

Missed Periods

Menstrual problems are something that most women experience during their reproductive years. Although menstrual cycles come differently for each woman, it is still important to understand the various reasons of why there are months when menstrual periods are missed but not due to pregnancy. Missed periods or medically known as amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. We might right away think that it is due to pregnancy, although this may be true in most cases, still, there are other reasons why some women experience missed periods even if they are not pregnant. It is important to be conscious of this because menstrual irregularity may be brought about by underlying health problems that a woman may be unaware of.

Causes of Missed Periods but not Due to Pregnancy

Adolescence
Girls who are on their adolescent stage often experience missed periods during the start of their menstruation and this is something not to worry about as this is normal. But there should be concern when it is experienced with severe cramps, irritability and mood swings. Health experts advise girls to keep track of their monthly periods and take note of heavy bleeding or pain or anything that they find unusual.

Medications
There are specific types of medicines that can cause missed periods. Medications such as birth control pills, patches, rings, shots and intrauterine devices affect menstruation. Using steroids and blood thinners can also attribute to missed periods. If you happen to have just recently stopped but still experience missed periods, you will have to wait as the medications may still be found in your system.

Stress and Changes in Weight
Stress can affect us in many ways. In women, a manifestation of severe stress can cause missed periods. This is because stress can cause rise and fall of the hormonal balance in the body thus directly affecting menstruation. A sudden change in weight—may it be gain or lose, may cause missed periods too. It is advisable to deal with stress by getting into yoga, meditation and a good massage. As for weight change, women may try getting into an exercise regimen which may allow the body to adjust until it achieves hormonal balance.

Medical Conditions causing Missed Periods

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is one of the common causes as to why some women experience missed periods. This condition happens when there is excessive production of the hormones estrogen and androgen which rather should be estrogen and progesterone which are hormones necessary for ovulation to happen. When ovulation does not happen, sacs filled with fluid build-up on and in the ovaries. This syndrome is commonly characterized by heavy menstruation, obesity, acne and infertility.

Pituitary Tumors
Pituitary tumors are tumors that affect the pituitary gland. This gland is only the size of a pea and functions by producing certain types of hormones. Pituitary tumors that are benign cause excessive production of the hormone prolactin which can interfere with menstruation causing missed periods. This tumor may be treated with medications and if needed, surgery may be done.

Hypothyroidism
Another medical condition that may cause missed periods is hypothyroidism. This is the condition in which the thyroid gland is not able to produce adequate amounts of the thyroid hormone which the body needs to function normally. Disorders involving the thyroid glands can either produce too much or too little of the hormone prolactin. Disruption of this hormone may cause menstrual irregularities.

Cause of Missed Periods but Not Pregnant related link

Best Exercises during Menstrual Periods

Exercises during Menstrual Periods

In order to stay fit and healthy, a balanced diet needs to be accompanied with the right and regular exercise. For women, exercise during menstrual periods comes in hand not just to stay fit but it is also said to be a useful tool in managing painful menstrual cramps. With the right set of exercises, relief to menstrual cramps may happen. Exercises during menstrual periods should include the key parts of the body involved during menstruation which are the lower back, abdomen, buttocks, upper thighs and legs.

Benefits of Exercises during Menstrual Periods

Menstrual periods are experienced differently be each woman. Some undergo menstruation smoothly while some experience it with pain and this is where exercise plays a beneficial role. Exercise may not be the first thing you would think of during menstruation but true enough, it is one of the best aids to managing PMS or premenstrual syndrome. Although in most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers and drinking water are the best known methods in easing menstrual cramps, exercise during menstrual periods does not only relieve pain but it also gives energy, wards of mood swings and irritability.

Best Exercises during Menstrual Periods

Yoga
Yoga is one of the most recommended exercises during menstrual periods not just staying fit but in also managing pain that occurs during menstrual periods. Most women find it hard to function fully throughout the day because of the cramps, back pain and muscle fatigue. In yoga, you get to slowly stretch those tired and sore muscles and use an exercise ball to place pressure on affected areas for relief. There are also certain poses that are beneficial to the back muscles and promote comfort making menstruation more tolerable.

Light Aerobics
Doing light aerobics helps you in taking control of your body as you work on easing pain brought about by your period. Light aerobics including walking which is said to help in relieving pain from cramps and bloating. For those who use tampons, swimming can be a great form of light aerobics which helps relieve back pain. Doing swimming exercises allows you to perform the exercise comfortably while on the water.

Other Exercises
Apart from yoga and light aerobics, you may also perform other exercises during menstrual periods such as cycling with legs up in the air, or lie down and slowly raise your legs and bring your knees to your chest and stay in that position for 5 to 10 seconds and slowly bring down your legs. These exercises are helpful in improving blood circulation to the pelvis and relieve pain.