Menstruation is a natural phenomenon and it affects women’s health in a variety of ways.
Menstruation marks the beginning of the period of puberty. Hormone levels start to rise at the start of a menstrual cycle for the production of eggs and make the uterine lining ready for a potential pregnancy. These hormone levels drop if the egg is not fertilized, the uterine lining sheds, and a new cycle starts. Menstruation is defined as the endometrial shedding of the uterus that is followed by bleeding.
Everyone experiences menstruation differently. In research on almost 600,000 menstrual cycles, the duration of the menstrual period, the day of ovulation, and the length of each phase all varied significantly. According to a survey, women who bleed frequently perceive an inferior quality of life, with over a quarter skipping out on social engagements due to bleeding.
Menstrual Health Problems:
Women face various types of menstruation complications that affect their physiological and psychological health:
Dysmenorrhea:
During menstruation, unpleasant cramps are referred to as dysmenorrhea. Uterine contractions are to blame for the throbbing ache in the lower abdomen. In addition to intense discomfort, some women may have symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, and wooziness.
Amenorrhea:
Missing one or more periods is known as amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is the lack of regular menstrual cycles. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, headaches, eyesight problems, acne, and excessive body and facial hair development are all possible symptoms of amenorrhea in women. The primary cause of amenorrhea is hormonal disorders caused by difficulties with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
Irregular Periods:
A woman has a problem with irregular periods if her menstrual cycle is less than 24 days, lasts more than 38 days, or fluctuates greatly from month to month. Period irregularities are often normal. Long-lasting or severe irregularity, however, may increase the risk of various illnesses such as endometrial hyperplasia, iron deficiency anemia, infertility, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular problems.
Heavy Bleeding:
Your body may manufacture the endometrial lining overly thick if there is an imbalance of hormones estrogen and progesterone. This causes severe bleeding when the thicker lining is shed. Women who are experiencing the excessive menstrual bleeding struggle to perform daily tasks because of the discomfort they are in. They are unable to fully live their lives. Heavy bleeding during menstruation may also cause anemia.
Unusual Bleeding:
The irregular bleeding that occurs when you don’t have your period is known as unusual bleeding. In between cycles, there is heavy menstrual bleeding. An issue like cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer may be indicated by vaginal bleeding during or after menopause.
Menstrual Migraine:
Every month, women may get menstrual migraines before or during their periods. Intense throbbing in one area of the head, nausea, vomiting, and sharp sensitivity to light and sound can all be symptoms of menstrual migraine.
Menstruation Affects Mental Health:
Menstruation presents physical and psychological challenges for women. The fluctuating hormone levels make women more prone to anxiety and despair.
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome:
Many women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a collection of behavioral symptoms, a week or two before their menstruation.
Post-Menstrual Syndrome:
The behavioral symptoms that appear one to two weeks following the end of the period are referred to as a postmenstrual syndrome.
Restlessness, nervousness, unusual anger, bad temper, changes in taste, increased food cravings, changes in sleep patterns, lethargy, trouble sleeping, low mood, sudden tearfulness, uncontrollable crying, emotional outbursts, and difficulty in concentrating are some of the symptoms that many women experience before and after their periods.
Final Thoughts:
Menstrual symptoms affect every woman differently. Complications with your periods might influence your fertility and pregnancy prospects. If you are having severe discomfort or an irregularity, it is crucial to see an OB-GYN for a medical evaluation. The intensity of these symptoms will determine how they should be treated. In certain circumstances, symptom reduction is aided by regular exercise, stress reduction, dietary changes, and medications.
