Each month, a childbearing age woman has a menstrual period. Most females begin menstruation between the ages of 8 and 18, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. An average menstrual cycle lasts about 30 days. During the first half of the cycle, the uterus builds a thick lining to prepare for pregnancy. Midway through the cycle, an ovary releases an egg for fertilization. If no fertilization occurs, the egg continues to the uterus and the lining sheds. The shedding of the uterus is a menstrual period. Many problems may occur with a menstrual cycle.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period. Amenorrhea may occur for various reasons. Primary amenorrhea is when a adolescent female has not started her period before the age of 16, and secondary amenorrhea involves a woman who previously had regular menstrual periods but has not experienced a menstrual period for at least three months, according to the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Causes for amenorrhea include pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, low body fat and oral contraceptive use.
Dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful menstrual periods. Many women experience pain during menstruation and can include aching or cramping in the lower back, abdomen or pelvis. The pain may begin several days before menstrual flow and then slowly tapers as the bleeding lessens, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The pain may occur due to contractions of the uterus during the period or may come from an underlying problem to the reproductive organs such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts or fibroids.
Oligomenorrhea
Some women may experience oligomenorrhea, which is a medical term to describe having infrequent menstrual periods. Conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, also referred to as PCOS, may cause oligomenorrhea.
Menorrhagia
Menorrhagia is heavy menstrual bleeding. Symptoms associated with menorrhagia include the need to change a tampon or menstrual pad at least hourly for several hours in a row, the need to change menstrual protection during the night, large blood clots and periods lasting longer than seven days, according to MayoClinic.com. Causes of menorrhagia may include uterine fibroids, hormonal imbalances, cancer and childbirth, after which glands from the lining of the uterus grow into the uterus.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS is a condition in which a woman develops a cyst in the ovary instead of releasing an egg during the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle. PCOS can cause irregular or missed menstrual periods for women, according to The National Women's Health Information Center.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus begins to grow outside of the uterus. The lining moves through the fallopian tubes and out to pelvic organs. Endometriosis can cause painful periods. The pain may occur in the lower portion of the abdomen, the pelvis or the lower back and can begin a week or two before menstruation begins, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow inside the uterus. The growths can grow to the size of a cantaloupe, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Having fibroids may cause heavy bleeding and pain during a menstrual period, and they may cause the affected woman to bleed longer than normal. Treatment options such as embolization can help shrink the fibroids.
References
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Menstruation
- MayoClinic.com: Menorrhagia
- The National Women's Health Information: Polycyctic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- National Institute of Child Health & Human Development: Amenorrhea
- National Institite of Child Health & Human Development: Menstrual Irregularitites
