Most women will have an irregular menstrual cycle at some point in their reproductive years. Menstrual irregularities can begin at puberty or when a woman's reproductive years come to an end, nearing menopause. Other times, abnormal menstrual...
Saw palmetto, an herbal supplement that's been around for centuries, most commonly sees use today as a product for men to reduce the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or benign prostate enlargement. It works by lowering your levels of...
Hormonal fluctuations, genetics and other factors can contribute to irregular menstruation and menstrual disorders according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. One or more missed periods is called amenorrhea. Menorrhagia is when a woman...
A woman's menstrual cycle---whether in the long or short-term---can be affected by many things. Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, says missing periods, having overly frequent periods or experiencing clotting or spotting is not uncommon and may be able to...
Irregular menstruation refers to either deficient or excessive menstrual bleeding. It includes abnormalities like amenorrhea, or the absence of a period; oligomenorrhea, or infrequent periods; menorrhagia, or abnormally heavy periods; and...
Certain health conditions and dietary restrictions result in malnutrition or undernutrition with inadequate levels of protein and fats being consumed. Limiting protein and other necessary nutrients can affect your menstrual cycles, causing them to...
On average, menstrual flow occurs every 28 days---most women have cycles between 24 and 34 days---and lasts approximately four to seven days, reports Medline Plus. Not all women will experience a consistent menstrual cycle. Any woman that...
The menstrual cycle involves the maturation and release of an egg from the ovary, a thickening of the uterine lining, breast growth in preparation for pregnancy, then a shedding of the uterine lining during menstruation if pregnancy fails to...
Irregular periods are not uncommon, and weight gain is linked with irregular menstruation in at least two ways. Weight gain and obesity might be considered a cause of an irregular period, or weight gain and an irregular period might be symptoms of...
Each menstrual cycle involves cycles of hormonal changes within the body that cause ovulation, the release of the egg from the ovary, the thickening of the uterine wall in preparation for pregnancy and menses, which is the shedding of the...
Alli, or orlistat, is used with an individualized low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program to help people lose weight, says MedlinePlus.com. Alli is available over-the-counter at local pharmacies and retail stores. It works by helping to...
Traditional Chinese medicine makes use of sometimes complex combinations to treat both male and female infertility. These formulas are generally made to meet the needs of individuals, because infertility can have any number of causes. Stress,...
The male hormone testosterone is present in both men and women. Generally, women have about 7 to 8 percent of the amount of testosterone that men have. This small amount of the male hormone supports bone strength, muscle growth and a healthy...
Both male and female bodies manufacture testosterone, a male hormone responsible for bone strength, muscle development and maintenance and libido, among other things. In men, too much testosterone is rarely a problem, but in women, too much...
Ovarian cysts are small sacs of fluid that grow inside or on the surface of your ovaries. They are also known as functional cysts because they occur during your normal menstrual function and usually form when your ovaries produce excess estrogen....
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Using condoms with every act of sexual intercourse can significantly reduce your risk of acquiring this infection. Untreated chlamydia can lead to the...
In "Clinical Nutrition Insights," Joseph L. Mayo, MD, writes that chasteberry contains numerous compounds that help to balance and normalize the female reproductive system. Chasteberry appears to indirectly affect two hormones: progesterone,...
Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone made in the ovaries to assist with conception and sustaining pregnancy. During a female's normal menstrual cycle, the level of progesterone fluctuates depending on what stage of the cycle she is in....
Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is an injection given every three months for the prevention of pregnancy. The progestin in this injection prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucous and thinning the uterine...
Being overweight or underweight can cause numerous medical problems. Being underweight can weaken your immune system and skeletal system and cause irregular menstruation in women. Being overweight can cause serious problems such as heart disease...
A period occurs when the vagina discharges blood and uterine tissue. This is called menstruation, and it normally happens every month. Hormones effect a woman's menstrual cycle. According to the National Women's Health Information Center, a young...
What is considered normal when it comes to menstruation varies woman to woman; typically, menstrual periods occur every 24 to 34 days and last four to seven days. If you are experiencing irregular or abnormal cycles, several culprits are possible....
Your BMI, or body mass index, provides a good indication of whether you have a healthy weight and body fat percentage. Excessive exercising can create an unhealthy calorie deficit, leading to weight loss and an unhealthily low BMI.
Orlistat is an oral medication to aid in weight loss. The drug inhibits the intestinal enzyme lipase. Lipase breaks down dietary fat into smaller substances that can be absorbed by the intestine into the bloodstream. By blocking lipase, orlistat...
In light of the high costs of medical treatment for infertility, many women seek to boost their fertility with natural herbal remedies. Although modern scientific studies have not confirmed that herbs can effectively treat fertility, they have...
Progesterone is a female hormone that helps regulate ovulation and menstruation. Synthetic versions, such as progestogens or progestins, work in similar ways and exist in both hormone-replacement products and birth control pills. Used as a...
Vitex agnus-cactus is a tree that grows in the Mediterranean regions and central Asia. Its fruits are used in medicinal preparations to treat a wide range of hormonal and menstrual problems in women. Before taking any herbal medicine, including...
According to the National Institutes of Health, any variation to a normal menstrual cycle is considered an irregular period, or oligomenorrhea. NIH defines a normal period as lasting four days in a 24 to 34 day cycle; however, the length of the...
If you have experienced irregular menstruation, fibroids, menopausal symptoms or miscarriage, you may have a hormone imbalance. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones necessary for menstruation, conception, pregnancy and healthy menopause, and...
