Spotting Common Period Problems

How to Recognize and Relieve Menstrual Issues

Menstrual Cramps

Most women have experienced menstrual pain at some point throughout life. Sometimes cramping can be so intense that it’s scary, but don’t freak out just yet! Discomfort from period cramps is brought on mostly by uterine contractions. Below are some symptoms of standard period pain that you can easily diagnose yourself:

• Intense throbbing pain or cramping in your lower belly.
• Cramping that starts 1-3 days before your cycle, spikes 24 hours after the commencement of your period, and recedes in 2-3 days.
• Dull, continual cramping.
• Pain that transmits to your lower back, groin, and thighs.

All the above symptoms are relatively typical for a healthy woman, nonetheless, if cramps are particularly painful and constant for you, it could be a condition called dysmenorrhea. It isn’t a severe condition, but if you’re worried, ask your doctor if they can help. There are numerous at-home remedies, however, take a moment to review the ones listed below:

• Take an over-the-counter pain medication.
• Get some exercise.
• Place a heating pad on your lower back or abdomen.
• Take a nice hot bath.
• Get a little rest.

Irregular Periods

A period is considered to be abnormal if your cycle is shorter or longer than ordinary. This means that the time from the first day of your last menstrual period to the start of your next cycle is more than 38 days or less than 24 days.

Your cycle can also be considered abnormal if your period length fluctuates by more than 20 days from month to month. An example would be a cycle that jumps from a regular 25-day period to 46 days the next month and then back to 25 days the following month. If you are experiencing irregular periods, and are troubled by it, there are a few natural home remedies that can help:

• Practice yoga or meditation to reduce stress.
• Maintain a healthy body weight and exercise.
• Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D.
• Eat foods with apple cider vinegar or turmeric.
• Add more fruit to your diet, notably pineapple.

Irregular menstruation is typical for teenage girls and perimenopausal women. Adolescent girls’ cycles may be sporadic for the first few years before becoming steadier. Throughout the conversion to menopause, called perimenopause, period cycles can become more intermittent over time.

There is no shame in asking a doctor for advice if needed.

Abnormal Bleeding

Bleeding is considered excessive when it hinders everyday activities. Approximately 1/5 of women bleed so heavily throughout a menstrual cycle that performing ordinary tasks is nearly impossible – because you’re probably too busy dealing with the flow! Below are the most common causes of an abnormally heavy flow:

• Hormonal imbalances
• Uterine fibroids
• Thyroid troubles
• Blood clots
• Kidney or liver disease
• Leukemia
• Infections
• Complications from IUD
• Miscarriage

The conditions above can be rather severe. If bleeding persists longer than 7 days, or you must change your pad/tampon or empty your menstrual cup every hour – talk with your physician. To detect if you have a condition called menorrhagia, your doctor will quiz you about the history of your menstrual cycles.

Better to be safe rather than sorry.

Missing Periods

If you’re a young woman encountering the problem of having no menstrual period at all, the common condition may be what’s called amenorrhea. Typically, it’s a girl who is around 16 years old who has not started yet. In all probability, it’s related to a problem in the endocrine system, which controls hormones. Occasionally it is an issue of low body weight that delays maturing of the pituitary gland. This really needs to be checked out by a professional.

A woman who has had routine periods that abruptly stop for three or more months, can be experiencing a problem caused by declining estrogen levels. This can indicate that perimenopause or menopause has set in. Depending on your age, it can be normal, and it happens to women who are mostly in their mid to late 40s.

If estrogen levels do become too low, vaginal dryness may develop, which can cause painful sex. Hot flashes can often materialize, and depression can become prevalent. Estrogen is known to raise serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps to give you a boost for good moods. Seek hormonal therapy, and herbal remedies to help abate some of these symptoms.

A missing period, obviously, could also indicate pregnancy. Take a home pregnancy test to find out, some on the market now can even tell up to five days before a period is skipped. Thank goodness for modern medicine!

With all the issues a missed period could indicate, medical care from a professional can help with your peace of mind. Get it checked out.

PMS

PMS consist of a wide assortment of psychological and physical symptoms relating to a female’s menstrual cycle. Almost 40% of women have symptoms of PMS severe enough to disturb daily activities. There are over 100 potential manifestations of PMS, with the most prevalent being depression. Several other symptoms of PMS include the following

• Bloating
• Headaches
• Weariness
• Painful breasts
• Fatigue
• Fury
• Restlessness
• Mood swings
• Crying
• Anxiety
• Acne
• Joint pain
• Peeing less
• Constipation
• Bigger appetite

These symptoms typically begin about a week ahead of your period and dissipate when your period starts. It is normal to have some or all of these problems with the onset of your period. Some lucky women don’t have any problems at all!

If you’re having difficulty during your time of the month, it’s just best to take care of yourself. Take the advice on some of the lists above, settle in, and relax for a while. If you notice some of the more severe problems located within this article, its best to seek medical attention if you can.

Being a woman is lovely, isn’t it?