Monday, March 30, 2009

Differentiating the Different Menstrual Irregularities

Women have been given the birth right of child-bearing. In relation to that privilege, they also have to endure monthly menstrual periods. If you think all women regularly have their menstrual cycle or that they have it easy during their menstruation, then you may want to think again.

Although some women go through their periods easily, a lot of women experience different kinds of menstrual irregularities. Some don't get their periods while some bleed irregularly. Now, if you're not pregnant and you're experiencing these things, then there's a possibility that a bigger condition needs to be sought out.

But let's talk about the different menstrual problems. Here's a list of them:

Amenorrhea. Literally translating to an absence of bleeding or blood, this condition is characterized by not having menstrual period by the age of 16. It could also refer to a condition wherein a woman stops having menstrual cycles for at least 3 months and is not pregnant.
Oligomenorrhea. This term refers to an infrequent menstrual period or by having menstruation come every now and then.

Dysmenorrhea. This refers to having painful periods. One of its many symptoms include menstrual cramps and migraines.

Endometriosis. This condition occurs when tissues that usually grow inside the womb grows outside instead. This can cause pain before your period and during the first five days of your menstruation. This condition may also cause a woman to bleed heavily during her period.

Among the four indicated here, only endometriosis is an actual condition. Amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea are all just symptoms or indicators of a more serious condition. Amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea can both be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), while dysmenorrhea can be a symptom of endometriosis.

With this in mind, women should be keen to pay attention to what happens during their menstrual periods. You wouldn't know when those simple menstrual irregularities could turn out to be something serious.

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