Menstruation is not smooth often cause worry for some women. This condition can be in the form of a shortened or lengthened menstrual cycle, or even no menstruation at all. The causes are varied and may require medical attention.
Menstruation is the process of shedding of the uterine lining accompanied by bleeding from the vagina. Menstrual cycles usually last between 28–36 days, while menstruation itself generally lasts 3–7 days.
However, every woman has a different menstrual cycle, it can be shorter or even longer.
Non-current Menstruation Type
Menstruation is said to be irregular or irregular if the cycle occurs less than 21 days or more than 35 days. In addition, menstruation is classified as not smooth if the length of menstruation changes every month.
The volume of blood that is not the same, sometimes a lot and sometimes a little, is also a form of irregular menstruation.
Usually, irregular menstruation occurs in the first year after a woman enters puberty. This condition is usually caused by imbalanced hormones.
However, if irregular menstruation persists after the first year, this condition can be considered as abnormal menstruation and can be classified into several types, namely:
1. Polymenorrhea is a menstrual cycle that lasts less than 21 days.
2. Oligomenorrhea, which is a condition when the menstrual cycle becomes longer or there is no menstruation for more than 35 days, but less than 90 days.
3. Amenorrhea, which is a condition when there is no menstruation for 3 months in a row.
4. Dysmenorrhea, which is severe abdominal pain or cramps during menstruation.
5. Abnormal uterine bleeding, which is a condition that includes heavy menstrual bleeding, menstruation lasting more than 7 days, or bleeding and spotting between menstrual periods.
Causes of Irregular Menstruation
There are several factors that can cause irregular or irregular menstruation, including:
1. Menopause
Towards menopause generally, menstruation can be not smooth. This is because the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body becomes irregular.
2. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is generally marked by the cessation of menstruation. If you experience it, try to check with your doctor to determine whether you are pregnant or not. Doctors will usually recommend a pregnancy test and ultrasound.
3. Contraceptives
The use of contraceptives, such as the IUD (spiral) or birth control pills, can indeed cause changes in the menstrual cycle. The IUD can cause bleeding more than usual or abdominal pain during menstruation.
Meanwhile, the use of birth control pills can cause minimal menstrual blood to come out, especially at the beginning of the period of use, or even no menstruation at all for up to 6 months.
4. Lifestyle
Menstruation is not smooth can be caused by excessive exercise activity, drastic weight loss due to diet, or excess weight (obesity). These things can cause hypogonadism or reduced reproductive hormones that are in charge of regulating the menstrual cycle. In addition, stress can also affect your menstrual cycle.
5. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) is a hormonal disorder that occurs in women. Women with PCOS may experience very infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods.
Abnormalities also occur in the process of releasing eggs, which causes women with PCOS to not menstruate or experience menstruation, but only a little blood comes out.
6. Thyroid problems
The thyroid gland is located in the neck and functions to produce hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism. If the thyroid gland is problematic, menstruation will also be affected. Consult this with your doctor for a blood test to see the level of thyroid hormone in your blood.
In addition, irregular menstruation can also be caused by eating disorders, consumption of certain drugs, high levels of prolactin in the blood, to uncontrolled diabetes.
You can plan a pregnancy even if your menstrual period is irregular. Consult a doctor so that you get the right treatment.
How to Overcome Irregular Menstruation
In dealing with irregular menstruation, you must understand the factors that cause it. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you experience irregular menstruation so that it can be treated appropriately.
There are several ways to deal with irregular menstruation based on the cause, including:
1. Change your lifestyle to be healthier and manage stress well.
2. Change the contraceptive used, if after 3 months of use menstruation still does not go smoothly.
3. Treat thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome.
4. Get counseling if you’re experiencing stress that’s causing you to lose weight.
5. Perform routine reproductive organ checks.
If menstruation occurs for more than 7 days or is bleeding and feels severe pain during menstruation, consult a doctor so that the cause can be identified and appropriate treatment can be carried out.