Why Is a Woman s Period Light Then Mildly Heavy and Then Light Again

Aberrant Menstruation (Periods)

Typically, menstrual periods last four to seven days. Examples of menstrual problems include periods that occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days autonomously, missing three or more periods in row, and menstrual flow that is much heavier or lighter than usual.

Overview

What is abnormal menses?

Most women have menstrual periods that last four to seven days. A adult female's period usually occurs every 28 days, simply normal menstrual cycles can range from 21 days to 35 days.

Examples of menstrual problems include:

Periods that occur less than 21 days or more than than 35 days apart
Missing three or more than periods in a row
Menstrual menses that is much heavier or lighter than usual
Periods that last longer than seven days
Periods that are accompanied by pain, cramping, nausea or airsickness
Bleeding or spotting that happens between periods, afterward menopause or post-obit sexual activity

Examples of aberrant menses include the following:

Amenorrhea is a condition in which a woman'south periods have stopped completely. The absence of a period for 90 days or more is considered abnormal unless a woman is meaning, breastfeeding, or going through menopause (which generally occurs for women between ages 45 and 55). Immature women who haven't started menstruating past historic period xv or 16 or within three years after their breasts begin to develop are also considered to have amenorrhea.
Oligomenorrhea refers to periods that occur infrequently.
Dysmenorrhea refers to painful periods and astringent menstrual cramps. Some discomfort during the cycle is normal for nearly women.
Abnormal uterine bleeding may apply to a diverseness of menstrual irregularities, including: a heavier menstrual menstruation; a flow that lasts longer than seven days; or bleeding or spotting between periods, after sex activity, or after menopause.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes abnormal menstruation (periods)?

There are many causes of aberrant periods, ranging from stress to more than serious underlying medical conditions:

Stress and lifestyle factors. Gaining or losing a meaning amount of weight, dieting, changes in exercise routines, travel, disease, or other disruptions in a woman's daily routine tin have an impact on her menstrual cycle.
Birth control pills. Near birth command pills contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin (some contain progestin alone). The pills prevent pregnancy past keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs. Going on or off birth control pills can touch menstruation. Some women have irregular or missed periods for up to half-dozen months subsequently discontinuing nativity control pills. This is an important consideration when yous are planning on conception and becoming significant. Women who have birth control pills that incorporate progestin only may have bleeding between periods.
Uterine polyps or fibroids. Uterine polyps are pocket-sized benign (noncancerous) growths in the lining of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are tumors that attach to the wall of the uterus. There may be one or several fibroids that range from as small as an apple seed to the size of a grapefruit. These tumors are usually benign, but they may cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods. If the fibroids are large, they might put pressure on the bladder or rectum, causing discomfort.
Endometriosis. The endometrial tissue that lines the uterus breaks down every month and is discharged with the menstrual menses. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue starts to abound outside the uterus. Ofttimes, the endometrial tissue attaches itself to the ovaries or fallopian tubes; it sometimes grows on the intestines or other organs in the lower digestive tract and in the area between your rectum and uterus. Endometriosis may cause abnormal bleeding, cramps or pain before and during periods, and painful intercourse.
Pelvic inflammatory disease. Pelvic inflammatory illness (PID) is a bacterial infection that affects the female person reproductive system. Bacteria may enter the vagina via sexual contact and then spread to the uterus and upper genital tract. Bacteria might also enter the reproductive tract via gynecologic procedures or through childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Symptoms of PID include a heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell, irregular periods, pain in the pelvic and lower abdominal areas, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Polycystic ovary syndrome. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the ovaries make large amounts of androgens, which are male hormones. Small fluid-filled sacs (cysts) may class in the ovaries. These can often been seen on an ultrasound. The hormonal changes can prevent eggs from maturing, and so ovulation may not take identify consistently. Sometimes a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome will take irregular periods or stop menstruating completely. In addition, the condition is associated with obesity, infertility and hirsutism (excessive hair growth and acne). This status may exist caused by a hormonal imbalance, although the exact cause is unknown. Treatment of PCOS depends on whether a woman desires pregnancy. If pregnancy is non a goal, so weight loss, oral contraceptive pills, and the medication Metformin® (an insulin sensitizer used in diabetes) can regulate a woman's cycles. If pregnancy is desired, ovulation-stimulating medications can exist tried.
Premature ovarian insufficiency. This condition occurs in women under age 40 whose ovaries do not function normally. The menstrual cycle stops, similar to menopause. This can occur in patients who are beingness treated for cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, or if y'all accept a family unit history of premature ovarian insufficiency or certain chromosomal abnormalities. If this condition occurs, see your physician.

Other causes of aberrant menstruation include:

Uterine cancer or cervical cancer.
Medications, such as steroids or anticoagulant drugs (claret thinners).
Medical weather condition, such as bleeding disorders, an under- or overactive thyroid gland, or pituitary disorders that touch hormonal balance.
Complications associated with pregnancy, including miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus; for example, inside the fallopian tube).

Diagnosis and Tests

How is abnormal menstruation (periods) diagnosed?

If any aspect of your menstrual cycle has changed, you should keep an accurate record of when your flow begins and ends, including the corporeality of flow and whether you pass big blood clots. Go along track of whatsoever other symptoms, such as haemorrhage between periods and menstrual cramps or pain.

Your doctor will inquire you nigh your menstrual bike and medical history. He or she volition perform a concrete examination, including a pelvic examination and sometimes a Pap test. The doctor might also order sure tests, including the following:

Claret tests to rule out anemia or other medical disorders.
Vaginal cultures, to look for infections.
A pelvic ultrasound test to bank check for uterine fibroids, polyps or an ovarian cyst.
An endometrial biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is removed from the lining of the uterus, to diagnose endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, or malignant cells. Endometriosis or other conditions may also exist diagnosed using a procedure called a laparoscopy, in which the doctor makes a tiny incision in the abdomen and then inserts a thin tube with a light attached to view the uterus and ovaries.

Direction and Treatment

How is abnormal menses (periods) treated?

The treatment of abnormal period depends on the underlying cause:

Regulation of the menstrual bike: Hormones such as estrogen or progestin might exist prescribed to help control heavy bleeding.
Pain control: Balmy to moderate hurting or cramps might exist lessened by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such equally ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Aspirin is not recommended because it might cause heavier bleeding. Taking a warm bath or shower or using a heating pad might assist to salve cramps.
Uterine fibroids: These can be treated medically and/or surgically. Initially, most fibroids that are causing mild symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you lot experience heavy haemorrhage, an iron supplement might be helpful in preventing or treating anemia. Low-dose birth control pills or progestin injections (Depo-Provera®) may assistance to command heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. Drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists may exist used to shrink the size of the fibroids and control heavy bleeding. These drugs reduce the body's production of estrogen and stop period for a while. If fibroids do non respond to medication, there are a multifariousness of surgical options that can remove them or lessen their size and symptoms. The type of procedure will depend on the size, blazon and location of the fibroids. A myomectomy is the unproblematic removal of a fibroid. In severe cases where the fibroids are large or cause heavy bleeding or pain, a hysterectomy might be necessary. During a hysterectomy, the fibroids are removed forth with the uterus. Other options include uterine avenue embolization, which cuts off the blood supply to the agile coarse tissue.
Endometriosis: Although there is no cure for endometriosis, over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers may help to lessen the discomfort. Hormone treatments such as nativity control pills may help prevent overgrowth of uterine tissue and reduce the amount of blood loss during periods. In more severe cases, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or progestin may be used to temporarily stop menstrual periods. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove excess endometrial tissue growing in the pelvis or abdomen. A hysterectomy might be required equally a last resort if the uterus has been severely damaged.

In that location are other procedural options which can help heavy menstrual bleeding. A five-year contraceptive intrauterine device (IUD), called Mirena®, has been canonical to assist lessen bleeding, and tin be as effective as surgical procedures such every bit endometrial ablation. This is inserted in the doctor's office with minimal discomfort, and also offers contraception. Endometrial ablation is another choice. Information technology uses heat or electrocautery to destroy the lining of the uterus. It is usually only used when other therapies take been tried and failed. This is because scars from the procedure can make monitoring the uterus more than difficult if bleeding persists in the time to come.

Prevention

How can the chance of aberrant catamenia (periods) exist reduced?

Here are some recommendations for self-intendance:

Effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle past exercising moderately and eating nutritious foods. If you have to lose weight, do and then gradually instead of turning to diets that drastically limit your calorie and nutrient intake.
Brand certain you lot get plenty balance.
Practice stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
If you are an athlete, cutting back on prolonged or intense exercise routines. Excessive sports activities can cause irregular periods.
Apply nascency control pills or other contraceptive methods as directed.
Change your tampons or germ-free napkins approximately every four to six hours to avoid toxic shock syndrome and prevent infections.
See a dr. for regular bank check-ups.

Living With

When should you seek medical attending for abnormal period (periods)?

Contact a doctor or medical professional if you lot have any of the following symptoms:

Severe pain during your catamenia or between periods
Unusually heavy bleeding (soaking through a sanitary pad or tampon every hour for ii to three hours) or passing big clots
An abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
High fever
A menstruum lasting longer than seven days
Vaginal haemorrhage or spotting between periods or after you have gone through menopause
Periods that get very irregular later yous have had regular menstrual cycles
Nausea or vomiting during your period
Symptoms of toxic stupor syndrome, such as a fever over 102 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting or dizziness

Yous should likewise see a doctor if you call up you lot might be meaning.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14633-abnormal-menstruation-periods