Violation of the menstrual cycle hormonal failure. Menstrual irregularities: should they be treated? Symptoms of menstrual disorders

Date of: 01.07.2020

What question does a gynecologist always ask at an appointment? Correct: “When was your last menstrual period?”

The most responsible of us will either turn to the calendar in the old fashioned way, where “red days” are marked with circles, or (which is much more convenient) use a special application on a smartphone. The rest will try to reconstruct the events from memory: "Um ... somewhere in the twenties."

We all know from school that the length of the cycle in women is 28 days with a possible deviation of up to a week in any direction. As part of the individual norm, the cycle should be at least 21 and not more than 35 days. In adolescence, the menstrual cycle schedule is determined for about a year after the first menstruation. But after a year, the cycle should already be expressed: it can be 25 days, and 32 days - the main thing is that menstruation begins at regular intervals, with a minimum (1-2 days) error. In other words, the norm of the menstrual cycle is when you can say that your "mechanism works like a clock." A deviation for a longer period or a tendency to reduce the time distance between “red days” from (for example) 27 days to 24, then 22, then 21 ... and so on - this is a reason to see a doctor.

The regulation of the menstrual cycle takes place on at least five levels: the first is the cerebral cortex, which is activated in response to all our states and emotional experiences. The second level of regulation is the synthesizing releasing factors (that is, issuing commands) hypothalamus. The third level of regulation is the pituitary gland. It is he who, receiving commands from the hypothalamus, produces follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. Under their influence, at the fourth level of regulation - in the ovaries - estrogens (or progesterone, depending on the phase of the cycle) begin to be synthesized. The fifth level of regulation of the menstrual cycle is considered, in fact, the uterus, fallopian tubes and vagina. The uterus responds to the command of the ovaries by changing the state of the endometrium, the fallopian tubes help the promotion and meeting of the egg with the sperm (in case of favorable circumstances and a suitable phase of the cycle), the microflora of the vagina forms (also in accordance with the phase of the cycle) an acidic, alkaline or neutral environment.

Often the phases of the female cycle are compared with the change of seasons, which is not surprising if you think about it:

But ... it also happens that "these very days" live according to their own schedules, regardless of either the calendar or our plans. And then it becomes a cause for concern. Today it is not so easy to meet a representative of the fair sex, who at least once in her life has not encountered problems in the menstrual cycle. There are many reasons for this, they can act in combination and be caused by a very real disease, or they may not be completely clear even to your gynecologist. Lack of sleep, a diet, a session, a sudden change in climate on vacation - all this can easily make the cycle move. In general, a slight (up to a week) delay or premature onset of menstruation a couple of times a year against the background of such events can be understood.

However, if shifts and disturbances of the menstrual cycle in the form of delays, shortening of the cycle, changes in the length of “critical days” in time, insufficiency or excess of their volume or soreness make themselves felt not for the first time, this should make you wary. The way menstruation behaves reflects not only the mental, but also our physical state. Of course, it is better to think about the reasons together with your doctor, because any violations can be the first bell of hidden diseases (and not only gynecological ones). So, consider the most common health situations in which there is an irregular menstrual cycle.

1. Deviation from the norm of weight

The fact is that the presence of menstruation depends on the amount of fat in our body (which is the main "store" of estrogen hormones). As a percentage, if the amount of fat mass is 20% below normal, menstruation may begin to fail. It often seems to young thin girls that the absence of menstruation for several months is not a problem, however, at a more mature age, this issue will become much more acute.

Sooner or later, almost every one of us will want children, for which it will take a long time to restore the cycle in order to increase fertility. And even if you don’t want children, irregular menstruation and problems with gynecology are a fairly common topic among women who are fond of the now fashionable “drying”. Drastic weight loss, excessive physical activity, a rigid or monotonous diet for the sake of maintaining a slender shape and fragile outlines - this is a sure way to get cycle problems. It is worth remembering more often that not only the beauty of a woman, but also her health depends on the distribution of the fat layer.

It happens that the cycle goes astray and with excessive completeness. In the presence of excess weight, women often experience such menstrual irregularities as oligomenorrhea (rare menstruation) or amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). As in the case of thin girls, such problems with the cycle further lead to the development of infertility. Also, with obesity, not only delays or absence of menstruation can occur, but also uterine bleeding, which is a consequence of hyperestrogenemia - an excess of estrogens in the body.

In both the first and second cases, the deviation from the norm of weight should be controlled by you so that they are not sharp. You do not need to be zealous with physical activity and lose weight in two weeks, just as you should not abruptly switch to high-calorie foods in order to gain weight. Everything should be in moderation.

2. Vitamin deficiency

Look closely at the picture above. If there is something on it that you really want to eat right now, ask what useful substances this product contains. Most likely, you are missing them right now. The lack of certain substances in the body can also cause irregular periods. Insufficient intake of vitamins, necessary micro- and macroelements in the body and their digestibility from food directly depend on a healthy diet. The lack of such substances leads, as a rule, to a slowdown or a violation of metabolic processes. You may not know that you are deficient in one of the B vitamins or an essential amino acid, and the hormonal system has already responded to this. An organism "affected" by beriberi is able to pause some processes that are not directly related to life support. Therefore, there may be a delay or other failure in the menstrual cycle. If you don’t have the opportunity to monitor the correctness and regularity of nutrition (after all, this is a whole science), today there are special vitamin complexes for normalizing the menstrual cycle, designed for each of its phases.

3. Stress

Stress of various properties can also lead to irregular periods. Nowadays, city life at its crazy pace for many people is one continuous stress. Statistics says that for the beautiful half of humanity, the time has come when malfunctions in the reproductive system are more likely a matter of time. But there are also cases when the female body can specifically “hibernate”.

For example, it is known that during the wars, many women did not menstruate, which has its own name - “wartime amenorrhea”. Strong nervous tension, chronic fatigue, lack of sleep or nutrition signal to the body that now is not the time to procreate. Indeed, in fact, the monthly renewal of the uterus has the only meaning - preparation for pregnancy. A stress-weary brain refuses to think about conception. A sharp change in climate has the same effect: going on vacation to another hemisphere, we knock down our biological clock. If this is not a vacation, but, for example, moving to another country, then usually in a couple of months the cycle returns to normal. However, if this does not happen, and the menstrual cycle "fails" for several months in a row, you should consult a doctor.

4. Low uterine tone

Sometimes menstruation can be very scarce or rare due to the weak tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus, when the organ cannot normally push out blood and clots, against which the body seems to adjust, reducing the abundance of menstruation. Such a phenomenon can occur both due to a lack of substances that command the contractility of smooth muscles, and due to the lack of minimal physical exertion. In the latter case, an entry to the gym will help to improve the contractile function of the uterus, and even better - to a belly dance.

With a low tone of the uterus, you will also have to resort to drug therapy, which involves taking drugs containing oxytocin or prostaglandins - substances that increase uterine contractions. Such therapy must be supervised by a doctor, since the slightest deviation from the indicated dosage upwards can lead to spasms and pain. The right dosage is everything.

5. Hormones and oral contraceptives

An imbalance of hormones in the body is one of the most common causes of menstrual irregularities. As a rule, this happens due to taking medications that affect the state of the organs of the endocrine system. Everything in our body is very closely interconnected, and hormones not only of the ovaries, but of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, which, in turn, “communicate with other glands and areas of the brain.

Oral contraceptives are another factor that can have a significant impact on the menstrual cycle, even for a long time. After the abolition of birth control pills, the body always takes some time to tune in again to smooth operation without the participation of synthetic hormones. However, it happens that with the wrong choice of drug or with the individual characteristics of the body, cycle failures can be repeated again and again. To this may be added problems with weight or skin.

Hormones are an incredibly complex system, and it is very easy to shake it. Harder to put in order. In this case, only a doctor can determine why the failure began in this case and track the entire chain of processes, in our case it is a gynecologist or endocrinologist. The doctor will definitely prescribe a blood test for hormones, and then a more detailed diagnosis. An ultrasound may also be required, for example, of the thyroid gland, pelvic organs, and sometimes an MRI will be necessary to examine the pituitary gland. Correction of the menstrual cycle in these cases is most often carried out with the help of drug therapy (and only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor!).

6. Motherhood

Both during pregnancy and after childbirth, the female body includes hormonal circuits that correspond to the needs of this condition. Therefore, irregular periods in young mothers are an understandable phenomenon. During breastfeeding, the hormone prolactin is produced, which is popularly called the "milk hormone", because it is he who is responsible for the production of milk. At the same time, prolactin also suppresses the production of hormones in the ovaries - this is how nature makes sure that mommy is not distracted by the conception of the next children until she feeds the newborn.

Medical childbirth, formula feeding and contraindications to breastfeeding (for example, if the mother has implants), postpartum drug therapy, individual health indicators, and drastic changes in lifestyle turn the level of female hormones into a real "swing". The onset of menstruation 6-7 weeks after birth is considered to be early. Usually the first menstruation after childbirth is profuse.

The late onset of menstruation after childbirth (with continued breastfeeding) coincides with the time when the child begins to stand up - about a year. In general, these are the limits of the norm. But if your menstrual cycle does not make itself felt within 2 months after stopping breastfeeding, or bleeding continues for more than 7 days, they are plentiful, blood loss is more than 150 ml - you should find time and run to the doctor.

7. Blood problems

Anemia, anemia and other diseases associated with a change in the number of blood cells can lead to disruptions in the menstrual cycle, up to the complete cessation of menstruation. As you know, up to 100 ml of spotting comes out with menstruation, but if there are problems with the “blood resource” in the body, it will, of course, save them, and no hormones will force the body to make such losses. The other extreme is a violation of blood clotting, when, on the contrary, menstruation can be too plentiful.

The connection of an irregular menstrual cycle with a violation in the composition of the blood will help to identify the tests. After determining the extent of the violation, hemostatics are prescribed - drugs that have a wide range of actions, the main of which are increased blood clotting, normalization of hemoglobin levels, acceleration of blood cell division, and improvement of vascular tone. If the problem is related to anemia, then drugs or vitamin-mineral complexes with a high iron content are also prescribed.

8. Infections of the pelvic organs

Infections, as well as associated inflammatory processes, are one of the common causes of menstrual irregularities. Untreated inflammation leads to even more serious consequences than cycle failure - for example, adhesions and infertility. Therefore, such conditions require mandatory and immediate treatment. If you feel something is wrong - it makes sense to be examined for the presence of infection as soon as possible. However, some infections may be asymptomatic. The same applies to numerous sexually transmitted infections. If you are concerned about uncharacteristic and irregular discharge, pain in the appendages and fever, immediately go to the gynecologist. If the problem is identified, corrected and adequately treated, the cycle should also return to normal.

9. Pathology of the ovaries

With our current ecology, this phenomenon is not uncommon: disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries inevitably affect the regularity of menstruation.

For example, the appearance of an ovarian cyst is especially characteristic of women of childbearing age, and these are perhaps the most common neoplasms of the female reproductive system. Tumor-like formations of the ovaries can be triggered by malfunctions in the endocrine system, congestion in the vascular system of the small pelvis, and all the same genital infections.

Ovarian cysts have an extensive classification, which is associated with the "complex" structure of this organ. Each of the diseases of this important organ for women's health is characterized by its own set of symptoms. Fortunately, most ovarian pathologies can be successfully treated if detected early.

10. Non-gynecological diseases

Menstrual irregularities can be a symptom of serious and even deadly diseases. Diabetes mellitus, damage to the central nervous system, a benign or malignant tumor both in the genital area and in other organs - all this affects how the female reproductive system behaves. In other words - if the body is fighting the disease - it is not up to reproductive functions. And even if you do not plan to have children in the near future, you need to monitor your cycle because regular menstruation is one of the main indicators of the well-being of the body.

11.Heredity

In some women, the menstrual cycle is habitually irregular throughout life, moreover, this condition is not accompanied by the other conditions listed above, but at the same time is not amenable to adjustment. There are about 5% of such women, and this disorder in them is due to a genetic predisposition. This becomes a problem when planning a pregnancy, because when the cycle “fails”, it is not possible to track ovulation. In this case, a specialist of the appropriate profile - a gynecologist, endocrinologist or reproductologist - will help to resolve the situation.

So, we have listed the most common causes of the failure of the female monthly cycle. The best way to avoid many health problems is to carefully monitor how your reproductive system behaves. Install the application on your phone - this will help you to determine the difference between a one-time cycle shift and really irregular periods. In addition, the electronic calendar will not only track your cycle, but also calculate the dates of ovulation, report the expected start of your period, and also ask about your well-being and mood on each day. Thanks to this feature, you will be able to better control the manifestations of PMS, which is truly priceless. And what is even more valuable - you will always answer your gynecologist's "favorite" question to the nearest day.

Be attentive to your body!

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Menstrual irregularities are considered abnormalities such as a too long or short menstrual period, the absence of menstruation for 2-3 months, as well as irregular menstruation. In the first few months after puberty, the cycle is usually unstable, and this is completely normal. In addition, the failure of the cycle of menstruation often occurs after the completion of oral contraceptives. In other cases, this is a signal from the body that something is not right with it. Pay attention to the signs listed below.

Signs of failure of menstruation

If your menstrual cycle lasts less than 21 days (from the first day of your period until the next one) or more than 33, this is a cause for concern. Although for some such a deviation may be the norm - a lot depends on heredity. Only a doctor will help to resolve doubts.
A sign of a failure of menstruation may be the absence of a cycle as such. Mark the start days and duration of your period on the calendar to see the pattern and understand how regular they are.
Abnormal duration of menses. Too plentiful or long (more than 5 days) periods are considered a deviation from the norm and, in addition, bring a lot of inconvenience.

Failure of menstruation: causes

If you have a period failure, the reasons can be varied. A consultation with a gynecologist will help resolve this issue. If you've already made an appointment and are thinking about possible reasons, here are a few options:

Diet and excessive exercise. If you have changed your diet drastically or lost a lot of weight, this can affect your menstrual cycle. Often, violations occur in girls who are engaged in bodybuilding, sit on a protein diet, exhaust themselves with exercises and eat a lot of sports nutrition. The body reacts to abnormal loads for it, and menstruation stops. Diets and being underweight often interfere with conception and healthy childbearing.
Hormonal disbalance. Thyroid disorders and other hormonal problems are a very common reason for irregular periods. A blood test for hormones will help you find out the details. In addition, as already mentioned, after stopping the use of hormonal contraceptives, menstruation may be irregular for six months. If the problems don't end after six months, it's time to be wary.
Infections. Cycle disorders are often a signal that you have a sexually transmitted infection (such as chlamydia). But don't worry: after you complete the course of treatment, everything will return to normal.
Stress. Depression and stress affect the nervous system, which in turn causes menstrual irregularities. In this case, vacations, long walks and a pleasant hobby will save you.
Pregnancy. If the delay occurs for the first time,

In an adult healthy woman, the menstrual cycle should be regular. Irregularity, a change in the number of days of the cycle, or its complete cessation outside the period of pregnancy are reasons for visiting a doctor.

How to calculate the monthly cycle in women

The cycle is counted from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next. On average, the ovarian-menstrual cycle lasts 25-35 days. To track the regularity of the cycle, it is necessary to mark dates on the calendar for at least three months. And it is better to mark the dates constantly - this will help track any changes in the cycle in a timely manner.

It is necessary to monitor the regularity of the cycle for:

health care. Any changes may indicate disease.
pregnancy planning. This will help calculate the day of ovulation.
personal feeling of comfort. This will help you plan vacations, workouts in advance, as well as stock up on feminine hygiene products.

Symptoms of menstrual irregularity

an increase or opsomenorrhea - the duration of the cycle is more than 35 days;
reduction or proyomenorrhea - the cycle lasts less than three weeks;
cessation of menstruation or amenorrhea;
cycle instability;
the duration of menstruation is more than seven and less than three days;
too much or too little discharge.

Any problems, delays and other changes in the cycle or discharge should alert and become a reason for contacting a gynecologist.

Dangers of menstrual cycle failure

Any changes in the cycle - the duration, color and abundance of secretions, should be taken very seriously. If the changes in the cycle are more than 5 days, consult a doctor. Behind the diagnosis can be such serious diseases as tumors of the brain, ovaries, uterus, ectopic pregnancy, tuberculosis and other hormonal problems.

Causes of menstrual cycle failure

diseases of the pelvic organs;
hormonal disorders;
infectious diseases;
diabetes;
benign and malignant tumors;
pregnancy;
childbirth or abortion;
taking antibiotics or other medications;
stress;
sudden weight loss or weight gain;
acclimatization;
chronic fatigue;
change in the rhythm of life;
lack of vitamins.

It is considered normal to change the cycle within 3-5 days. A longer delay, instability, cessation of menstruation is a reason to undergo an examination in gynecology.

Failure of the menstrual cycle

At each age, failures of the menstrual cycle are associated with different reasons.

In adolescence

The first menstruation begins in girls at the age of 12-13. During the first year, the cycle may be irregular, but during this period there must be at least 8 cycles. If menstruation does not start after the age of 14 or the cycle does not become regular within a year, you should consult a doctor.

During menopause

This period occurs in 45-50 years. During premenopause, the production of the female sex hormone estrogen begins to decrease. This process takes two to ten years. Menopause is the period when the last menstruation passes. If after that there is no menstruation for a year, this means the cessation of the ovaries and the onset of the postmenopausal period. There are serious changes in the body.

After pregnancy and childbirth

After giving birth, a woman may need time to recover. There is no specific time period during which menstruation should begin again. On average, up to five months. The first months of the cycle may be irregular. It should be noted that in the postpartum period, women may experience permenstrual syndrome, as well as some changes during menstruation. For example, to disappear pain, if they were before.

When breastfeeding

The lactation period affects the female body. This is due to the production of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the secretion of breast milk. It suppresses the work of the ovaries, throwing the forces of the female body to feed the child. Therefore, menstruation may not occur until the end of breastfeeding.

After taking antibiotics

Menstruation is not a reason to delay antibiotic treatment if necessary. However, after this, some changes are possible: slight changes in the dates of the cycle, the amount and shade of the discharge. As a rule, antibiotics themselves do not cause changes. To a greater extent, the cycle is affected by dysbacteriosis, malnutrition during illness, stress, and inflammatory processes.

After taking birth control

Modern oral contraceptives are popular not only as a highly effective method of protection against unwanted pregnancy. With the help of such hormonal drugs, you can improve the condition of the skin, get rid of excess weight and stabilize the cycle. When choosing drugs, you must consult a doctor so as not to harm the body.

While taking oral contraceptives, the ovaries rest. Menstruation is the result of the action of medications. The first 1-2 months the body is rebuilt, so the cycle may be unstable.
After the drug is discontinued, the body returns to its previous state, and this restructuring may also take time. The ovaries begin to function again after rest, so the first couple of months the cycle can be unstable.

After sports

Playing sports can also introduce instability into the normal cycle. There are several reasons:

high load on the body - especially on the pelvic muscles;
chronic fatigue;
decrease in the percentage of adipose tissue;
taking steroid drugs.

The cycle can change for a couple of days - this is considered the norm. For more serious changes, visit your doctor's office immediately.

After the stress

Stress has a huge impact on the state of the body. After the difficulties experienced, women quite often experience a delay in the cycle. In this case, not only failures are observed, but also a change in the number of allocations.

Stressful situations for the body can also be considered the restructuring of the body of a woman in adolescence and premenopausal age. During these periods, cycle instability can also be observed.

Treatment of menstrual irregularity

The cycle change itself is not a disease, but only a symptom. The main task will be the diagnosis and treatment of the disease that led to the failure of the cycle.

For diagnosis, the following types of examinations can be carried out:

examination by a gynecologist;
taking smears;
general blood analysis;
blood biochemistry;
hormone analysis;
scraping from the cervix;
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
blood clotting analysis;
Analysis of urine;
hysteroscopy;
biopsy.

The information obtained will help determine the cause of cycle violations.

Next, you need to cure the underlying disease that caused the violation of the cycle. For this, surgery, antibiotics, hormonal drugs, physiotherapy, psychotherapist consultations and more can be used - it depends on the nature of the disease.

Preparations for recovery

To restore the hormonal background of the female body, additional medication may be required. They are prescribed depending on the cause of the violations. With an increased amount of testosterone - preparations "Janine", "Diana -35". With violations of the production of progesterone - "Duphaston", "Progesterone", "Utrozhestan". In case of violations of estrogen production - "Estradiol" or analogues.

Do not choose the drug yourself, so as not to be mistaken. It's better to see a doctor.

Traditional medicine

It is possible to maintain the health of the body during treatment not only with the help of drugs. Diet and lifestyle also play an important role. It will be useful:

adhere to proper nutrition, consume a large amount of protein;
taking vitamins and iodine;
tea with herbs - wormwood - 1-6 days of the cycle, sage - 6-15 days, goose cinquefoil - 16-25 days;
moderate physical activity.

However, remember that these methods are not a treatment, but complement the main course of treatment, if there are no contraindications.

Starting from the age of 11-12, every woman in her life facing menstruation. It is a sign that the body is mature and physically ready to bear offspring. This phrase may scare you - few people can imagine a future mother who herself still plays with dolls.

But the fact remains - if menstruation has come, the girl becomes a girl. Her body begins to produce female sex hormones responsible for possibility of conception and bearing a child.

Menstruation becomes a regular occurrence in a woman's life and continues until menopause- the period when the production of hormones decreases and the woman ceases to be able to bear children. However, not everyone's menstrual cycle runs like clockwork. Cycle failures, too plentiful or scanty periods, two periods in one month or a delay not associated with pregnancy - every woman can face this.

Why do menstrual irregularities occur? What are the dangers of such violations? How to identify them and how to treat? All these questions are answered in this article.

The reasons why woman's menstrual cycle can give a sudden failure, differ in nature. They are physiological, psychological and caused by taking certain medications. The most common reason why a woman's menstrual cycle starts to go astray is age factor.

At the onset of a certain age, the body ceases to produce the right amount sex hormones responsible for the stable functioning of the female reproductive system. Menopause is coming - a difficult emotional and physical condition for a woman. Following the menopause, during which menstruation usually continues to go, menopause is coming. And from this age the woman actually becomes infertile.

During this period, there are often cases of prolonged menstrual bleeding, during which develop anemia, significant disruptions in the arrival of menstruation: the time intervals between cycles are either halved or lengthened to several months.

After childbirth, women also have problems with cycle instability. This is due to significant hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth and subsequent breastfeeding.

According to statistics, in 30% of women the menstrual cycle is restored to its previous state 3-4 months after childbirth, in 20% the cycle is restored within six months, in the rest - either after the end of breastfeeding, or within a few years after the birth of the baby.

Most common failure reasons in the menstrual cycle:

severe stress;
recent abortion or miscarriage;
taking hormonal drugs;
taking drugs that affect the thyroid gland;
climate change (temporary failure);
chronic depression;
chronic bacterial infections of the pelvic organs;
inflammatory processes of the reproductive system;
oncological diseases;
recent severe colds and antibiotics;
birth of a child;
recent onset of menstruation, adolescence;
recent onset of sexual activity;
metabolic disease;
the beginning of the menopause;
menopause;
rigid diets.

All of these factors can cause a serious disruption in the functioning of the body and the female reproductive system, which leads to the fact that the monthly cycle becomes unstable. If you are concerned about the symptoms described in one of the sections below, this is a reason to see a doctor.

Symptoms: how to determine that the cycle has gone astray?

Failure of the menstrual cycle is considered to be its serious deviation from the norm. Some women begin to worry when their periods do not come on their due date, or they come a few days earlier. Such short-term failures are normal, as long as they do not occur too often.

Until a certain point, menstruation came stably, the cycle was equal in time, but there was a failure. Has changed cycle length, has become unstable, the duration of menstruation has changed.
During menstruation, the discharge became too profuse and painful; or her term was reduced, and the allocations became scarce. The latter may indicate serious ovarian problems(polycystic).
Menstruation comes several times a month, goes as usual (polymenorrhea).
Menstruation delayed by more than 2 weeks, but pregnancy not confirmed. (Amenorrhea).
Periods disappeared, and do not appear for more than two months.
Cycle duration less than 21 days, or more than 34 days.

As you can see cycle disorder both changes in its duration and the intensity of discharge and sensations during menstruation are considered. The appearance of severe pain that was not there before, heavy bleeding is a sufficient reason to seek medical advice.

Causes of failure in teenagers

Most often, problems with the cycle occur in completely young girls. In most cases, gynecologists urge not to see this as a cause for alarm. The young body has just entered the maturation phase, the hormonal background is still not stabilized during puberty.

For the first few years, the menstrual cycle in a teenage girl is just being established. Menstruation can come irregularly, with large intervals between cycles.

Often there are anovulatory cycles, as a result of which menstruation does not occur. The internal reproductive organs continue to form, menstruation is painful, prolonged and plentiful. Sometimes the situation manifests itself in the opposite form: menstruation come rarely, go no more than 2-3 days.

You should not worry too much about such failures, since for most women a stable cycle is established only by the age of 18-20 or after the birth of a child. But it is necessary to monitor the situation by visiting regularly. gynecologist. To regulate the menstrual cycle, girls are often prescribed light oral contraceptives, which allow normalizing hormonal levels. Take pills on your own without consulting a doctor Not recommended so as not to harm the developing organism.

In women of childbearing age

Often the cycle goes astray in an adult woman with fully formed reproductive organs and stable hormonal background. The main reason for this phenomenon is severe stress that affects the functioning of the thyroid gland. That, in turn, provokes disturbances in the production of hormones, and the female menstrual cycle suffers.

Diets, severe weight loss, taking hormonal contraception without a doctor's prescription, abortion pills, inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs - all this becomes failure cause. In a woman with a stable cycle, abnormalities that occur more than once are a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor and a complete examination.

What women take for a failure in the menstrual cycle may be a pregnancy - normal or ectopic. Therefore, pay special attention to your body during a long delay. If the tests do not show pregnancy, this does not guarantee its absence.

After childbirth

Failures in the menstrual cycle after the birth of a baby is an absolutely normal phenomenon. The first reason is the need to restore organs that have been stretched or damaged during childbirth.

More often uterus suffers, which greatly stretches during the development of the child. While the organs are repairing and returning to their natural state, the menstrual cycle will either be absent or become irregular.

The second reason for the absence of menstruation after childbirth is the active production of prolactin hormone affecting ovarian function. This hormone is actively produced during breastfeeding, and suppresses ovulation. In the absence of ovulation, menstruation does not come, since standard process during the cycle (menstruation, egg maturation, ovulation, in the absence of conception - menstruation) is suppressed.

The timing of the recovery of the cycle after childbirth depends on when it ends period of breastfeeding. If a woman constantly breastfeeds her baby "on demand" - wait for the restoration of the cycle no earlier than the first year after childbirth. If the baby’s diet is mixed or he is transferred to complementary foods from 6 months old, menstruation will be restored six months after birth. If a woman is not breastfeeding, the ovulatory cycle will be restored by 13-14 weeks after birth, soon after it will begin come menstruation.

After 40 years

The main reason for the failure of the menstrual cycle after 40 years is arrival of menopause. This phase in a woman's life is a period of another hormonal adjustment, and is accompanied by changes in mood, deterioration in well-being, and cycle failures.

The hormones responsible for the maturation of the egg and the arrival of menstruation are produced worse, in smaller quantities, and unstable. The cycle changes accordingly. Periods may disappear a long period time.

Do not be afraid of this natural process. Menopause is the stage preceding menopause - a period sexual dormancy(rest from childbirth). A woman can also enjoy sexual intimacy, but becomes incapable of the birth of a child.

If menopause is severe, you should consult a doctor to prescribe drugs that normalize hormonal levels.

After 50 years

After 50 years in the body of a woman menopause is coming. This process is characterized by the failure of the menstrual cycle, and then its complete absence. The level of hormones in the body decreases, the eggs stop maturing, there is no ovulation.

During this period there may still be changes in the nature of menstruation: for example, an increase in its duration or the appearance of copious discharge. Then the menstruation stops completely.

As mentioned above, menopause occurs in every woman and this is an absolutely natural process. On average, most women have this period for 50-56 years. Menopause does not require being under medical supervision and taking any medication.

Treatment

Depending on the cause of the failure in the menstrual cycle and the age of the patient, gynecologists resort to various measures for his treatment.

Most often, the patient is prescribed hormonal therapy in order to restore hormonal levels.

In the event of failures due to stress, consultations with a psychologist and antidepressants are prescribed. If gynecological diseases have become a factor in the failure, an appropriate course of treatment is carried out.

One thing is important: if you have a disruption of the menstrual cycle, do not self-medicate, this can only harm you. Entrust the solution of the problem to a qualified specialist who will establish both the cause of the failure and prescribe the correct treatment.

At a certain period of life, violations of the cycle occurred, probably, in every woman. Violation of menstruation , which many ladies are accustomed to consider as something ordinary, are actually a signal of problems with women's health.

What is NMC in gynecology? This is a disturbed menstrual cycle that happens to women at different periods of their lives.

Irregular menstruation - delays or a shorter cycle, indicate violations of the physical or mental state of the woman. The monthly cycle is a kind of biological clock of the body. Failure of their rhythm should alert and cause a visit to the doctor so that the diseases are detected in a timely manner. Below we will talk about why the menstrual cycle fails, and what a woman should do in such a situation.

What is the menstrual cycle

It is important to clearly know what the cycle of menstruation is in women, and what should be the normal menstrual function.

menarche , that is, the first menstruation, in girls occurs in the period from 12 to 14 years. At what age girls begin menstruation depends on their residence. The further south a teenager lives, the earlier menarche occurs. It is important for parents to monitor when girls begin menstruation in order to understand whether the body develops normally.

Between the ages of 45 and 55, the menstrual period ends. This period is called premenopausal.

During the period of menstruation, the functional layer of the mucous membrane of the uterus is rejected as a result of a decrease in production in the body. The monthly cycle of a woman is divided into three phases.

1 phase , follicular, characterized by the production, under the influence of which ripen follicles . From all the follicles, a dominant follicle is subsequently released, from which a mature egg is later released.
2 phase The menstrual cycle is the shortest phase, lasting approximately 1 day. At this time, the follicle ruptures and the egg is released from it. It is important to understand, speaking about what distinguishes the second phase of the menstrual cycle, that this is the time when the egg is ready for fertilization. This is the fertile phase when conception can occur.
3 phase , luteal - the period when synthesis begins progesterone a yellow body that arose at the site of a ruptured follicle. Progesterone prepares the endometrium for the subsequent implantation of a fertilized egg. But if there was no conception, the corpus luteum gradually dies, progesterone production decreases, and the endometrium is gradually rejected, that is, menstruation begins.

If progesterone deficiency is noted, estrogen production is activated again, and the cycle repeats again. For ease of perception, a phase diagram by day is useful, where all phases of the cycle and the names of these phases are indicated.

Thus, the menstrual cycle is cyclical changes that occur after a certain period of time. The duration of a normal cycle should be from 21 to 35 days. If there is a deviation in a certain direction for 3-5 days, this cannot be considered a pathology. However, if more significant shifts are noted, then the woman should be alerted to why the menstrual cycle is shortened or it becomes longer.

If a woman has a normal menstrual cycle, how many days menstruation lasts is a purely individual indicator. The normal duration of menstruation is from three to seven days. It is important to consider, paying attention to the duration, that this condition should not be a very difficult period for a woman. After all, an important characteristic is not only the norm of duration, but also the fact that menstruation should not cause very strong discomfort. During this period, there is a loss of about 100-140 ml of blood. If there is profuse blood loss or a woman notices that the delay norm is violated, it is important to immediately contact a gynecologist.

The regulation of the cycle occurs at 5 levels.

The first level is the cerebral cortex	If the cycle of menstruation has gone astray, the reasons may be related to emotions, stress, feelings.
The second level is the hypothalamus.	It is the synthesis of releasing factors that affect the third level.
The third level is the pituitary gland.	It produces follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones or gonadotropic hormones that act on the fourth level.
Fourth level - ovaries	Under the influence of pituitary hormones, depending on the phase of the cycle, the synthesis of estrogens or progesterone occurs.
Fifth level - female genital organs	There are changes in the endometrium in the uterus, the epithelium in the vagina is updated, peristalsis in the fallopian tubes is noted, which contributes to the meeting of spermatozoa and the egg.

In fact, the causes of menstrual irregularities are very diverse, and there are many of them. Conventionally, the causes that provoke a violation of the menstrual cycle can be divided into three groups:

First are external factors that affect the normal cycle. That is, etiological factors affect the cerebral cortex. A woman may note that the cycle has decreased or, conversely, it is longer if she has changed the climate dramatically, has been in a state of prolonged stress, “sat down” on a strict diet, etc.
Second - a consequence of pathological conditions relating not only to the reproductive system, but also to the body as a whole. So, the reasons for the failure of the menstrual cycle after 40 years are often associated with the onset of the menopause. However, it is possible that the reasons for the failure of the menstruation cycle after 40 years are due to the presence of health problems in a middle-aged woman.
Third - Influence of medicines. Often the answer to the question of why the menstrual cycle fails is treatment with a number of drugs. A delay or other failure is possible both after the start of taking certain drugs, and after they are stopped. We are talking about hormonal contraceptives, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, glucocorticoids, etc.

Factors associated with pathological conditions

Ovarian pathologies - we are talking about a violation of the connection between the ovaries and, oncological diseases of the ovaries, drug stimulation of ovulation, insufficiency of the second phase of the cycle. Also, irregular periods associated with ovarian pathology can be the result of negative professional influences, radiation, vibration, and chemical influences. The reasons for the irregular cycle of menstruation may be associated with surgical interventions on the ovaries, injuries of the genitourinary organs, etc.
Impaired communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland - an irregular cycle may be associated with too active or insufficient release of gonadotropic hormones and releasing factors. Cycle disorders are sometimes the result of a pituitary or brain tumor, pituitary hemorrhage, or necrosis.
- if a woman develops endometriosis, both genital and extragenital, the hormonal nature of this disease leads to an imbalance of hormones.
Violation of the process of blood clotting - hemophilia, other genetic pathologies.
Curettage of the uterus - the endometrium is damaged if curettage is performed after an abortion or for the purpose of treatment. As a result, complications may develop - inflammatory processes of the uterus and appendages. There are also irregular periods after childbirth.
Diseases of the liver and gallbladder .
The appearance of hormone-dependent tumors - oncological processes in the uterus, adrenal glands, mammary gland, thyroid gland.
in a chronic form - there is no formation of a full-fledged endometrium.
Polyps of the uterine mucosa .
Sudden "jumps" in body weight - both weight loss and provokes irregular periods in adolescents and adult women, since adipose tissue produces estrogens.
Infectious diseases - can have a negative effect on the ovaries. Moreover, both infections that were transferred in childhood (for example, or), and sexual infections can provoke a failure of menstruation.
Presence of uterine abnormalities - septum in the uterus, sexual infantilism, etc.
Endocrine pathology - often associated with it are the causes of irregular periods after 40 years.
Pathology of the uterus tumors, hyperplasia.
mental illness - epilepsy, etc.
Having bad habits .
, hypovitaminosis .
Chromosomal abnormalities.

What to do with this or that health problem, and how to normalize the cycle, will tell the gynecologist, who must be visited if the menstruation has "lost".

How can a cycle disorder manifest itself?

Amenorrhea - Menstruation is absent for six months or more. At primary amenorrhea violations are noted from the moment when the onset of menstruation occurred in girls; in the secondary - violations appeared after a certain period of normal cycles.
Oligomenorrhea — menstruation occurs once every few months (3-4). After 45 years, such manifestations may be associated with.
Opsomenorrhea - meager periods, lasting no more than 1-2 days.
Polymenorrhea - prolonged menstruation (more than 7 days) with a normal cycle.
Hyperpolymenorrhea - Abundant discharge is noted, but the cycle is normal.
menorrhagia - heavy and prolonged menstruation (more than 10 days).
metrorrhagia - irregular bleeding, sometimes they can appear in the middle of the cycle.
Proyomenorrhea - frequent menstruation, in which the cycle is less than three weeks.
Algomenorrhea - very painful periods, in which a woman becomes unable to work. Algomenorrhea can also be primary and secondary.
- this is the name of any violation of the cycle, in which there is pain during menstruation and unpleasant vegetative disorders: unstable mood, vomiting and nausea, etc.

The cause of frequent menstruation, as well as other disorders described above, can be associated with a wide variety of pathologies. A woman should be alerted to any violations. For example, very frequent periods after the age of 40 may indicate the development of serious diseases.

Often, violations of the cycle are noted in adolescents when the formation of menstruation occurs. This phenomenon is due to physiological reasons. In girls, the formation of a hormonal background occurs, and both the reasons for the short cycle of menstruation and the causes of delays are associated with this. In adolescents, the length of the cycle can be different each time.

The process of formation can continue for 1-2 years. But the girl must clearly know how to count the duration of the cycle of menstruation in order to track how many days the cycle lasts and whether it is gradually becoming. This is important not only for those who are already sexually active, but also for girls who need to know the duration of the cycle and for hygiene purposes, and to track their health status. Mom must definitely explain to her daughter how to correctly count the cycle of menstruation. An example of such a calculation is also important for a teenager.

There are the following pathological factors that affect the regularity of menstruation in adolescents:

infections of the brain and membranes;
traumatic brain injury;
frequent colds;
genital infections;
sclerocystic ovaries.

The formation of the monthly cycle is also negatively affected by the fact that young girls practice strict diets, as a result of which not only excessive weight loss is noted, but also hypovitaminosis, menstruation disorders.

Interestingly, the regularity of menstruation is influenced by the nature of adolescents.

Doctors identify several more important factors that can affect the formation of the cycle:

early onset of sexual activity, promiscuous contacts;
anomalies in the development of the reproductive system;
having bad habits.

Due to a disturbed menstrual cycle in a teenage girl, the so-called juvenile uterine bleeding . This condition is characterized by prolonged periods. As a rule, long and heavy periods last more than a week. This leads to anemia and serious deterioration in the adolescent's condition. As a rule, the causes of prolonged periods are associated either with moral overstrain or with infections.

Disrupted cycle in premenopause

Treatment of menstrual disorders in adolescents

If a teenage girl has a menstrual cycle, and the condition is complicated by juvenile bleeding, a two-stage therapy is performed.

With prolonged severe bleeding, when the girl is worried about weakness, dizziness, and at the same time she is lowered (up to 70 g / l), the doctor decides to conduct curettage. Next, a histological examination of the scraping is carried out.

Provided that the hemoglobin index is from 80 to 100 g / l, hormonal tablets are prescribed (,).

Also, if necessary, carry out antianemic therapy (blood transfusion, erythrocyte mass, infucol, rheopolyglucin). Iron preparations are also prescribed in the treatment regimen.

A teenager is prescribed hormonal drugs for a period of not more than three months. Treatment of anemia lasts until hemoglobin levels rise to normal.

Treatment of cycle disorders in women of childbearing age

The treatment of menstrual disorders in this case is similar to the treatment regimen for such disorders in adolescents. Both at the age of twenty, and the treatment of menstrual irregularities at the age of 40 with bleeding is carried out by scraping. It is carried out for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

It is important to replenish the volume of circulating blood, for which colloidal solutions are used. Antianemic treatment and symptomatic hemostasis are also practiced. Provided that curettage did not work, the doctor may decide on hysterectomy or ablation (burning out) of the endometrium.

It is also important to properly treat those concomitant diseases that could provoke a cycle disorder. So, with hypertension, it is important to take prescribed medications, limit the intake of salty, as well as fluids. In case of liver pathology, one should adhere to the correct diet, take hepatoprotectors.

Some women also practice folk remedies. However, such methods must be practiced very carefully, since without consulting a doctor there is a risk of missing a serious pathology. And even the violation of the menstrual cycle after 45 years, perceived by a woman as the beginning of menopause, is the basis for visiting a doctor.

Since cycle failures can be the cause, women of childbearing age are prescribed if necessary Choriogonin And Pergonal - drugs to stimulate the development of active follicles. In order to stimulate ovulation should be taken.

Bleeding during menopause

With bleeding during menopause, the patient must be prescribed a curettage of the uterine cavity. After all, bleeding can indicate serious pathologies, in particular the development atypical hyperplasia or endometrial adenocarcinomas . Sometimes the doctor may decide to hysterectomy .

Sometimes a patient during menopause is prescribed gestagens: Depo Provera , , 17-OPK .

In the course of treatment, antiestrogenic drugs can also be prescribed - Danazol , Gestrinone , 17a-ethynyl testosterone .

conclusions

In case of violation of menstruation, the question of how to restore the cycle of menstruation must be immediately addressed by a woman of any age. Those who are interested in how to restore the menstrual cycle with folk remedies should remember that such manifestations are just a symptom of the underlying disease, which must be treated correctly, according to the scheme prescribed by the specialist.

It is not always necessary to take hormonal pills to restore menstruation to eliminate such problems. Sometimes a woman for whom the question of how to restore the menstrual cycle without hormones is relevant is even helped by changing the daily routine and eating habits. For example, women who are obese can help normalize their weight. And for those who practice very strict diets, it is enough to increase the calorie content of the diet and overcome the depletion of the body. In any case, in case of “malfunctions” of the cycle, it is important for both young girls and women with menopause to consult a gynecologist who will tell you how to proceed.