Menstrual disorders are perhaps one of the most common problems treated by OB/GYNs, as there is rarely a woman who has not experienced some degree of menstrual disorders during her reproductive life. Therefore, it is important that every girl or woman is aware and understands what we mean by “menstrual disorder” and when she needs medical intervention. Treatment has evolved enormously in recent years.
Until it became rare for the doctor to resort to surgical treatment, which is hysterectomy, except in a few cases of advanced organic diseases.
- Causes of disturbances
- I spoke to “Your Health”, Dr. Fatima Nour Wali, a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic surgery, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Abdulaziz National Guard Hospital in Jeddah, and she explained that menstrual disorders can occur as a result for a number of reasons, including:
Organic causes, such as the presence of uterine fibroids, tumors or functional cysts in the ovaries.
- Inorganic causes, some of which may be known, but many of which cannot be precisely determined.
- Increased activity and reproduction of endometrial tissues, some of which can become non-benign uterine tumors.
In fact, the regularity of ovarian functions requires the cooperation of more than one gland, such as the thyroid gland and the pituitary gland. Rather, ovarian functions are affected by other factors, such as severe weight gain or loss. And many times we see that the psychological state has a tangible effect on the regularity of the period, so often severe anxiety is a reason for missing the period. Whatever these reasons, they eventually lead to a disturbance in the regular secretion of ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone.
- Complications of cycle disorders.
- Dr. Fatima Nour Wali says that menstrual disorders can take many forms, the cycle can be regular, and despite that, we find that women can experience uterine bleeding due to the increase in the amount of uterine bleeding or its duration, or both, and there is no doubt that the suffering will be more severe if the cycle is also irregular, and these disorders are not only socially annoying due to frequent bleeding, but also have repercussions on the general health of the affected woman, since they cause severe anemia, which in turn affects all functions of the body.
Abundant menstruation is one of the common things among women, and is defined as the loss of a large amount of blood during the menstrual cycle that reaches 80 milliliters per month, noting that the normal is 40-50 milliliters per month. , or that the days of the menstrual cycle are more than 7 days, and this can be known from sanitary napkins if they are changed 3-5 times a day and are full. Heavy periods can be caused by disease, hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or thyroid disorders. Obesity factors to help in the abundance of menstruation.
The symptoms of heavy menstruation are heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle with the appearance of paleness, lethargy and fatigue, and pieces of blood clots may come out during the menstrual cycle with menstrual blood coming out on clothes and sheets, and changing the sanitary towels. frequently daily.
- treatment
- Dr. Fátima confirms that the attending physician is the only one capable of diagnosing and treating such cases, taking a sample of the lining of the uterus and analyzing it. Treatment can be by prescribing hormonal medications with iron, surgery, laparoscopic cauterization, or a hot balloon. This should be done in discussion with the specialist obstetrician-gynecologist.
The “hormonal IUD” containing the hormone progesterone is considered a safe treatment and one of the latest treatment methods for heavy menstruation, after ensuring the integrity of the uterine lining, as it secretes a small amount of the hormone locally into the cavity uterine. . This hormone limits the growth of the uterine wall and reduces its thickness, so a thin layer is formed from the lining of the uterus, resulting in a small amount of blood during the menstrual cycle. Therefore, the hormonal IUD is considered the first line of treatment for cases of heavy menstruation, in the event that the endometrium is intact.
The hormonal IUD has other benefits in addition to contraception, since it is used in cases of abundant menstruation, and treats cases of increased endometrial density, and its effectiveness lasts 5 years.