A woman experiences menstruation as a sign of a biological procedure and a fundamental component of her reproductive system. It is common for women to experience changes in their menstrual cycle. However, you should be concerned about some changes in pattern.
Moreover, identifying abnormal factors allows people to handle these conditions without panicking.
We will talk about the eight most frequent irregularities of menstruation and their related causes.
What are Abnormal Periods?
Problems with the menstrual cycle are known as abnormal periods when they turn from typical healthy cycle patterns. The normal duration for a menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, and bleeding happens during a 2 to 7-day period. Hence, medical professionals label menstruation as abnormal when periods show signs of excessive heaviness, lightness, increased or less frequency, unpredictability, and pain.
Different types of menstrual irregularities happen because of hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, lifestyle choices, and reproductive health disorders. Knowledge about abnormal menstrual periods remains essential for one’s well-being because they signal possible medical issues that need a professional diagnosis.
Below are eight different irregular periods that medical professionals classify as abnormal menstruation.
1. Menorrhagia (Heavy or Prolonged Periods)
Menorrhagia refers to excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. A woman diagnosed with this condition must replace her sanitary pad or tampon every single hour for extended periods that exceed seven days.
Moreover, severe cramps develop in combination with anemia from this condition. The main factors behind heavy or prolonged periods consist of hormonal imbalances and the existence of uterine fibroids.
2. Hypomenorrhea (Light or Short Periods)
The condition known as hypomenorrhea shows minimal bleeding during menstruation, which also has a reduced duration shorter than two days. Hormonal contraceptives and stress, together with major weight loss, can cause these symptoms to appear. However, persistently, light periods should be checked with a healthcare provider.
3. Polymenorrhea (Frequent Periods)
The condition of polymenorrhea affects women who experience menstrual cycles less than 21 days long, thus resulting in regular heavy periods. The presence of thyroid problems, menopause, and ovulation difficulties lead to this condition.
However, a medical examination of frequent bleeding might become necessary to pinpoint the reason behind this situation.
4. Oligomenorrhea (Infrequent Periods)
A doctor medically defines oligomenorrhea as a condition where menstrual periods appear beyond 35-day intervals. Infrequent periods develop from three different causes including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), excessive exercise and eating disorders. A woman’s ability to get pregnant can decrease when her periods appear less than eight times a year while these irregular periods often indicate other medical problems.
5. Amenorrhea (Absence of Periods)
Women between reproductive age should menstruate regularly yet the absence of period cycles is known as amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea identifies the lack of menstruation in females above 15 years of age. Secondary amenorrhea describes when an individual who has a regular menstruation cycle stops bleeding for at least three months. Medical experts identify pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, PCOS, or thyroid disorders as major causes of this condition.
6. Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods)
In this, women have heavy and frequent menstrual cramps that appear during menstruation. Dysmenorrhea falls into two categories: primary, when menstrual cramps have no medical cause, and secondary when reproductive system disorders like endometriosis and fibroids affect periods. The treatment of this pain sometimes demands medical attention.
7. Metrorrhagia (Bleeding Between Periods)
Without any warning signs, women experience metrorrhagia, which represents unexpected bleeding in between their menstrual periods. The irregular bleeding occurs because of hormonal imbalances and uterine fibroids, polyps, or infections.
Seek professional medical consultation because only a healthcare provider can identify the root cause to suggest suitable therapy.
8. Menometrorrhagia (Heavy and Irregular Bleeding)
A woman presents with both heavy menstrual periods of menorrhagia as well as irregular bleeding of metrorrhagia at the same time in a condition known as menometrorrhagia. Women frequently suffer from strange intervals of menstrual bleeding that lasts excessively long.
The three main potential sources of these symptoms involve conflicting hormones together with the abnormal shape of the uterus or the development of cancerous cells. The medical examination needs immediate assessment to handle this condition properly.
Conclusion
So, these are the eight major abnormal menstruation types. Understanding these health problems and the different forms of irregular menstruation is good for your well-being. Any irregular menstruation condition requires immediate medical consultation for diagnosis and the right treatment.
Stay active and maintain your hygiene during periods especially. Use Embrace period pads if you experience any abnormal flows and are worried about stains and leakage.
They are typically made to give you confidence and protection during these days. Please consult your doctor if you notice an unusual period of flow. Early detection is better than regret!
