Progesterone, or "the pregnancy hormone," plays a key role in a woman's reproductive cycle. It causes ovulation, maintains pregnancy and keeps you from ovulating while you are pregnant. Progesterone levels rise and fall throughout the monthly...
Progesterone is a hormone that plays an important role in your menstrual cycle. The rise and fall of progesterone in your body is associated with stimulating your menstrual cycle and is also associated with pregnancy. If your progesterone levels...
The definition of a regular or normal menstrual cycle can vary widely from woman to woman, according to Medline Plus. On average menstruation occurs every 28 days and lasts from 4 to 7 days. A woman may skip periods due to pregnancy, hormonal...
Symptoms of endometriosis include pain during periods as well as discomfort when going to the bathroom or having intercourse. Another common symptom, heavy bleeding during your period, may lead to dizziness. Treatments are available for both...
Endometriosis is a disorder of the female reproductive system where the endometrium (uterus lining) grows into other places such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and tissue lining of the pelvis. Regardless of location, endometrium acts it is does...
The menstrual cycle is a completely natural and healthy event that occurs once a month in every woman's life from puberty until menopause. Though most women view the process as a menace, the National Women's Health Information Center states that...
Ovarian cysts are sacs of fluid that develop in or on the ovary. These cysts usually cause no symptoms and go away within two or three menstrual cycles. However, large cysts or cysts that do not go away may cause symptoms that affect the...
Heavy menstrual bleeding is problematic for many women. It has several causes, some of which can indicate the presence of reproductive system disorders. Physicians use a patient's history, physical examination and diagnostic testing to determine...
Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the inside of a woman's uterus--the endometrium--grows on the outside of the uterus. This abnormal growth of tissue typically occurs within the pelvis and can affect the ovaries, fallopian...
Heavy bleeding during menstruation is called menorrhagia. Most women at some point in their reproductive years have experienced heavy bleeding during their period, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can occur due to hormonal imbalances, uterine...
It has been estimated that as many as 75 percent of women have uterine fibroids at some point in their lives. Many women will never know they have them, however, because they do not always cause symptoms. When they do, the symptoms can vary...
Dong quai herbal supplement is derived from the dried root of a perennial plant found in Japan, China and Korea. It has been used for thousands of years and is still used today as an alternative treatment for menstrual disorders.
There are several reasons why a woman may have a heavy period. The term heavy period is relative, and any woman that notices a change in her menstrual flow should see her doctor. While some cases of increased menstrual flow are the result of...
Birth control injections are a form of contraceptive containing medroxyprogesterone acetate---a synthetic hormone that inhibits ovulation, alters uterine lining and thickens cervical mucus. Typically administered to the upper arm or hip, a single...
The foods you eat can't prevent or heal endometriosis. Yet some nutrients may provide some relief from cramping. Additionally, if you experience heavy blood loss during your periods, you may lose valuable nutrients. Kelp is rich in minerals lost...
Fibroids are growths that most commonly appear along the muscular walls of the female uterus. They affect up to 50 percent of adult women in the United States, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Although...
Heavy uterine bleeding and blood clots occur for many women each month during their menstrual cycle. The severe form of this condition, also referred to as menorrhagia, can cause significant amounts of blood loss. The average menstrual flow lasts...
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....
Women who have menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, lose more blood during their period than woman who have normal periods. The MayoClinic.com explains that a woman with menorrhagia loses 81 mL compared to 30 to 44 mL for a woman without...
Endometriosis affects the female reproductive system. The endometrium is the tissue that lines the uterus. When these tissues grow in other places outside the uterus, such as on the fallopian tubes or ovaries, the resulting condition is called...
Heavy menstrual bleeding, termed menorrhagia, can be caused by a hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids or polyps. The Mayo Clinic states that a woman with heavy menstrual bleeding loses 81 mL during her period; in comparison, a normal menstrual...
Plan B is an emergency method of birth control that contains the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel. Women who have unprotected sexual intercourse can help prevent pregnancy by taking this prescription medication within 72 hours after intercourse....
A uterine fibroid tumor is a noncancerous growth that develops in the uterus. It is also called a fibromyoma, myoma or leiomyoma and typically occurs during a woman's childbearing years. The Mayo Clinic website notes that three out of four women...
Menstruation, or having a period, occurs every month that an egg is not fertilized in a woman's reproductive system. A menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. The average length of a menstrual...
Irregular menstrual bleeding is bleeding that occurs outside of the normal menstrual period. This can be extremely heavy or scanty bleeding during or after the menstrual cycle. Irregular menstrual bleeding can be caused by stress, severe...
The pear-shaped organic structure that is situated in a woman's pelvis is the uterus, or the womb. Uterine cancer can develop in the tissue that lines the uterus, also known as the endometrium. The Merck Manual states that cancer in a woman's...
Important body functions depend on ensuring normal levels of iron in your body. While iron is critical for good health, an estimated 3 million Americans remain iron deficient, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports. At greatest...
Anemia interferes with your body's ability to produce the blood cells needed to transport oxygen to your tissues and organs. While it's well known that doctors urge anemic patients to eat iron-rich foods like liver and spinach, fewer people...
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths. Fibroids may be discovered during a pelvic examination. If your doctor suspects a fibroid in your uterus, she will likely recommend an ultrasound. This painless test uses sound waves to create a picture...
