8 Types of Abnormal Menstruation

From hard-to-handle mood swings to distressing cramps, your periods can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, varying in intensity and severity. No matter if it is your 1st time or 101st, your periods have a phenomenal ability to surprise you, be it in terms of timing, length or flow. At times, you may experience unbearable cramps, while at others, nothing at all. The menstrual cycles of women are as unique as they are and it is all good unless there is an abnormality, which is often a sign of an underlying ailment. In this blog, we have elaborated on 8 different types of abnormal menstruation, with the help of the best doctors in Pune. Continue reading for more.

Menorrhagia:

Menorrhagia, often referred to as hypermenorrhea, is a menstrual disorder marked by an extremely heavy and considerably prolonged flow of blood. Clinically, it may be defined as the loss of more than 80mL of blood per cycle or periods that exceed 7 days. As per the World Health Organization, nearly 18 million women, lying in the age group of 30 to 55 years, experience heavy menstrual bleeding, with nearly 10 per cent of these being at risk of developing anaemia or being identified as being menorrhagic.

In most cases, menorrhagia is linked to hormonal disturbances that hinder the sufficient production of essential reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Other underlying causes of menorrhagia include fibroids, thyroid disorder, vaginal infection, cancer, pregnancy-related complications and intrauterine device implantation.

Polymenorrhoea:

Polymenorrhoea is a condition in which the menstrual cycles of a woman are short and more frequent, which means that a female will have her periods at an interval of shorter than 3 weeks (21 days). For instance, one may have more than 1 period in the same month. Polymorphous has nothing to do with the intensity or volume of the flow. The span of periods is also normal, i.e. anywhere between 3 to 7 days. Women with polymenorrhoea are likely to experience difficulties in conceiving.

In some cases, it can happen naturally, whereas in others, it is a result of an underlying factor such as hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids, polyps, polycystic ovarian syndrome and even stress. Hence it is advisable to get yourself evaluated if you are experiencing the problem. Proper medical care can help to alleviate any major complications associated with polymenorrhoea.

Dysmenorrhoea:

Period cramps and pain are the biggest nightmares of any woman. For some, it may happen so frequently that they somehow get used to it. For others, it may not be as frequent but equally painful. Dysmenorrhoea is a condition characterized by painful menstruation, which is often excruciating. The pain may radiate towards the back and abdomen. Sometimes, it may even involve the legs. The condition is often linked to elevated levels of certain naturally occurring chemicals, i.e. prostaglandins, in the body, that lead to contraction or tightening of muscles.

Period pain is generally categorized as dysmenorrhoea if it lasts for more than 3 days and does not improve with any medication. The condition is broadly classified into two types- primary dysmenorrhoea and secondary dysmenorrhoea. The former starts 2 – 3 days before your periods or during your periods. The latter is a result of an underlying medical condition such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy-related complications. You are quite likely to experience the problem if you are obese, tend to smoke a lot, take excessive alcohol or had an early onset of menstruation.

Amenorrhoea:

Amenorrhoea is a medical condition marked by the absence of periods, consecutively for 3 months. A woman suffering from the condition is likely to experience other symptoms including headache, hair loss, acne outbreak, and excessive facial hair growth. It is often linked to underlying problems that can be managed well with timely medical intervention. Nearly 1 out of every 4 women are likely to experience the problem once in a lifetime, which is not linked to pregnancy, lactation and menopause.

The problem can be broadly classified into two types – primary amenorrhoea and secondary amenorrhoea. The former is marked by the delayed onset of 1st periods i.e. if one has not started menstruating by 15 years of age, and is predominantly a result of a genetic abnormality. The latter is marked by an abrupt stop when you have been already menstruating. It is commonly seen in pregnant or lactating women. Secondary amenorrhoea can also be triggered by stress or a chronic medical ailment.

Hypomenorrhoea:

Hypomenorrhoea is a type of menstrual disorder in which a female has very light periods. It can be said that it is the opposite of menorrhagia. In this case, instead of heavy and prolonged periods, a woman has shorter periods with very little flow. It is typically characterized by a blood flow of less than 80 ml, which may be experienced for a day or two. It is quite common in women who are about to hit menopause and girls who have recently started to have their periods.

It is most commonly seen in women who take contraceptive pills or have undergone IUD implantation. There are a variety of other factors that can lead to hypomenorrhoea. It may be inherited or linked to an underlying condition like Asherman’s syndrome, which is marked by the development of scar tissues in the pelvic area. Some women may also experience hypomenorrhoea during the first few months of their pregnancy. It is not generally a concern in the 1st trimester, however, it is advisable to see a specialist and go for proper evaluation if you experience it in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of your pregnancy.

Oligomenorrhoea:

Oligomenorrhoea is a menstrual disorder in which a woman experiences irregular periods. Normally, a menstrual cycle lasts for anywhere between  21 to 35 days, however, in the case of oligomenorrhoea, a woman may have her periods after an interval of more than 35 days and are generally unpredictable. Around 12 per cent of menstruating women experience oligomenorrhea in their lifetime.

Just like many other menstrual disorders, oligomenorrhoea is generally linked to hormonal abnormalities which could be linked to problems like polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian s, adrenal gland tumours, Cushing’s syndrome, primary ovarian syndrome, hyperthyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Oligomenorrhoea may also be seen in women who are diabetic, and those who have been taking contraceptive medication. Oligomenorrhoea  is generally managed by addressing the underlying cause and resorting to healthy lifestyle modifications. Without proper management, it can alleviate the risks of cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, infertility and even endometrial cancer.
Premenstrual syndrome:

If you are a woman and you can’t relate to this, there’s no hesitation is saying that you are extremely lucky. Premenstrual syndrome or PMS refers to a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms that a woman starts experiencing before her periods. Around 3 out of every 4 women experience it in their lifetime. In the majority of the cases, the symptoms are mild and not a cause of concern, however in around 5 per cent of women, these can be severe and often debilitating. This is commonly referred to as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Premenstrual syndrome may be characterized by symptoms like anxiety, stress, irritability, mood swings, food cravings, changes in libido, unbearable cramps, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, constipation and acne flare-ups. The symptoms can be so intense that they can interfere with your daily life and prevent you from indulging in normal day-to-day activities. Premenstrual syndrome is usually caused by hormonal changes that take place as you are about to have your period. Experts have also found a link between premenstrual syndrome and depression. Regular stress management, developing healthy eating habits and indulging in physical activities can help bring down the risks of premenstrual syndrome to some extent.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder:

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome which can give rise to intense physical and emotional symptoms. Although it is not known why this exactly happens, experts believe that it could be linked to the hormonal disturbances that are seen in the body during menstrual cycles. It is generally seen in women who have a family history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder or premenstrual syndrome, a personal history of depression and postpartum depression.

Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder may experience a wide spectrum of varied symptoms ranging from agitation and anger to forgetfulness and insomnia, bloating and constipation to acne and skin inflammation, breast pain and reduced urine output to eye infection and hot flashes.

By now, you must be familiar with the different types of abnormal menstruation and what causes them. Ignoring such problems for long will only give rise to complications that can impact the quality of your life. It is important to note that these problems are manageable in the majority of cases, however, this is possible only if you seek proper medical intervention and get yourself evaluated without further delay. You can find the best gynaecologist in Pune at Surya Hospital, who will help you with personalized treatments and approaches to ensure the best outcomes.