[b]Irregular menstrual period[/b] Written by Dr. Gary S. Sy Wednesday, 21 February 2007 PERIODS can sometimes be a real pain. They can make you feel sick. They can give you a headache. They can make your stomach ache. Yes, periods can be a real pain, and things can be even worse if they decide to become irregular. Irregular periods are one of the most common menstrual complaints around. Usually, irregular periods are nothing to worry about, but on occasion, they can signal health complications. [b]Regular period[/b] Before we can define an irregular period, we must first determine what a regular period is. People often say that a regular period occurs every 28 days, but actually, every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. Depending on your body and your hormones, you may get your period every 20 days or you may get your period every 35 days. A good way to determine if your periods are regular is to keep a chart and count the number of days between each period. If they occur with roughly the same number of days between each cycle, then your periods are regular. A regular period typically lasts 5 days, but it is completely normal to menstruate for anywhere between 3 and 7 days. [b]Irregular period[/b] Irregular periods aren’t unusual – they affect about 30 percent of women in their reproductive years. An irregular period is any type of bleeding that is abnormal when compared to your usual menstrual cycle. This can include a late period, an early period or bleeding between periods, it can also appear as particularly heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) or scanty bleeding. Many women also experience irregular periods in the form of a missed period, continuos periods, or periods that occur twice in one cycle. [b]Causes of irregular periods:[/b] * Anovulation (failure of ovaries to produce mature, or release eggs) * Endometrial polyps (the endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus) * Endometrial hyperplasia (thickening/build up of the uterine wall) * Endometrial cancer * Uterine fibroids * Abnormal thyroid or pituitary function * Pregnancy complications – like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus) * Hormonal changes, such as menopause * Changes in birth control pills or estrogen that you take * Use of certain drugs like steroids or blood thinners (for example, warfarin or Coumadin) * Use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control * Recent trauma, surgery, or other uterine procedure * Pelvic inflammatory disease or other infection * Stress, change in diet or exercise routine, recent weight loss or weight gain, travel, or illness. [b] Cause your hormone levels to change:[/b] * Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, your body will begin producing different levels of hormones. This will cause numerous pregnancy symptoms, including an end to your period. * Stress: Stress is a common cause of irregular periods. If you are fatigued, worried, or anxious this can cause your hormones to become unbalanced. * Diet: A poor diet or extreme weight loss or gain can also affect your hormones. Women with anorexia or bulimia often have no period or irregular periods. * Exercise: Intense exercise can wreak havoc on your body, often causing irregular periods. * Menarche: The cycles after a girl’s first period may be irregular for some time. It can take up to 3 years to get regular periods. * Menopause: Menopause causes changes in your hormone levels, and is often signaled by irregular periods. * Hormonal Birth Control: Birth control pills and irregular periods sometimes go hand in hand. It can take a while for your body to adjust to the new levels of hormones delivered by hormonal birth control. [b] Complications:[/b] For most women, an irregular period is nothing to be worried about; the majority of women will eventually develop a regular cycle with regular periods. Sometimes though, underlying complications can be the cause of these period problems. If you are noticing particularly irregular periods, or have gone a year or more with missed periods, see your health care professional. If you experience extreme cramping, heavy period bleeding, dizziness, nausea, or fainting you should also visit with your health care provider. [b]Polycystic Ovary Syndrome[/b] Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a fairly common complication, affecting about 10 percent of all women. PCOS causes cysts to form on the ovaries, interfering with regular ovulation. Symptoms of this syndrome include: Excessive hair growth, weight gain, acne, dandruff, high blood pressure, and infertility. If you display any of the symptoms, you may want to make an appointment to get checked for PCOS. Left untreated, it can lead to other more serious complications, including endometriosis, heart disease, and ovarian cancer. [b]Inflammatory Bowel Disease[/b] Inflammatory bowel disease causes inflammation of the lower intestines (also known as the bowel). It is linked with irregular periods, and may also be accompanied by symptoms of weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Inflammatory bowel disease can become severe, and sometimes requires hospitalization or surgery. If you have any of these symptoms, ask your doctor to check you for inflammatory bowel disease. [b]Treating irregular periods[/b] Depending on the cause of your irregular periods, there may or may not be much you can do about them. If you have only been experiencing irregular periods for a short time (less than 7 months), it is likely that your periods will become regular again on their own. However, if there is an underlying medical condition that is causing your irregular periods, then receiving treatment for the condition should help to get your periods back on track. If you find that irregular periods are becoming annoying, there are some things that you can try to help regular your hormones. * Reduce your stress levels. Take time to meditate, relax, or just hang out. This may help put your cycle back on track. * Get help for your eating disorder. If you are anorexic, bulimic, or if you suffer from other types of disordered eating, you must seek help. Not only will these eating disorders interrupt your menstrual cycle, but they can also severely affect your liver, bowel, throat, and heart functions. * Don’t over exercise. While it is important to exercise regularly and keep fit, exercising too much can be problematic. If you are an endurance athlete, try to cut back on your training a little but, until your irregular periods return to normal. [b]Medical treatments[/b] There are a few medical treatments which may be helpful in regulating your period: * Hormonal contraceptive: Hormonal contraceptives are often used to help regulate menstrual cycles. These contraceptives combine estrogen and progesterone and maintain your body’s hormones at specific and balanced levels. They are available by prescription and come in oral, patch, ring, and injectable forms. * Hormone supplements: If you have a specific hormone problem, such as overproduction of testosterone, hormonal supplements may be able to help regulate your periods. Speak with your health care provider for more information. [b]Laboratory tests that may be performed include:[/b] * Pap smear * Endometrial biopsy * Pelvic ultrasound * Lab tests such as thyroid function tests, CBC, pregnancy test In some cases of heavy bleeding, dilation and curettage, "D and C," may be required. If a tumor is found, surgery (a hysterectomy) will sometimes be needed. "Fibroid" tumors (uterine fibroids) are common and are not related to cancer. Fibroids may stop growing by themselves, and surgery may not be needed depending on the amount of bleeding, the location of the fibroid, and the response to various treatment attempts. Fibroids often stop growing at menopause, so an operation can be avoided by waiting. However, if there has been rapid growth of the fibroid tumor or if your Pap smear is abnormal, surgery or another type of therapy may be necessary. If the heavy bleeding is related to hormonal abnormalities, treatment of the specific abnormality will correct the bleeding. Female hormones (birth control pills or progestins) are commonly used to regulate menses. Source: Manila Bulletin http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED2007022187695.html http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/library/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=27