Abnormal menstruation can be a sign of disturbances in the body, ranging from mild to dangerous. Therefore, it is important to recognize the characteristics of abnormal menstruation so that later it can be checked and treated as early as possible.
Abnormal menstruation is not only limited to the pattern or menstrual cycle that is longer than usual. If you experience certain changes, both in terms of blood volume to the symptoms you feel are different than usual, this is also a condition to watch out for.
Characteristics of Abnormal Menstruation _ _
Here are the characteristics of abnormal menstruation that you need to know and their causes:
1. Menstruation more and longer
Menstruation is considered abnormal if the blood that comes out is excessive ( menorrhagia ). This is indicated by you having to change the pads every 2 hours or the discharge of blood clots that are more than 2.5 cm in size. Menstruation that lasts more than 7 days is also considered excessive
Losing a lot of blood can cause anemia which is characterized by easily tired, pale, and short of breath that needs to be treated.
Conditions that can cause menorrhagia to include:
1. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
2. Polyps or fibroids in the uterus
3. Endometriosis
4. Adenomyosis
5. Pelvic inflammation
6. Cervical cancer
2. Menstruation is delayed or stopped
Menstruation late or not smooth is also an abnormal condition. A woman who does not experience menstruation for 3 consecutive periods or has not experienced menstruation when she is 15 years old is called amenorrhea.
There are several things that cause amenorrhea, including:
1. Is pregnant
2. Doing strenuous exercise excessively
3. Have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa
4. Having problems with glands in the brain (hypothalamus), thyroid gland disorders, and other hormone balance disorders
5. Having problems with the uterus
6. Early menopause
In addition, the use of certain drugs can also cause menstruation to be delayed or stop, including antidepressant drugs, allergy medications, birth control pills, and chemotherapy drugs.
3. Severe pain during menstruation
Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) is normal. However, some women may experience menstrual pain that is so severe that they are unable to carry out any activities.
Dysmenorrhea can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, back pain, and diarrhea. Severe pain during menstruation can occur without a cause, but it can also be a sign of certain health problems, such as:
1. Endometriosis
2. Adenomyosis
3. Pelvic inflammation
4. Fibroids
4. Menstruation outside of time
Menstruation can sometimes come early or even occur twice a month. This is due to several factors, including:
1. Stress and bad lifestyle
2. Weight change
3. Perimenopause
4. Sexually transmitted infections
5. Thyroid disease
Another abnormality is menstruation in women who have gone through menopause or have stopped menstruating for more than 12 consecutive months. The most common causative factors are vaginal atrophy, cervical polyps, and thickening of the uterine wall ( endometrial hyperplasia ).
Abnormal menstruation is not always caused by disease. However, if you experience changes in menstrual patterns as described above, you should consult a doctor to anticipate any disturbances or diseases.