Irregular menstruation

Last updated
Irregular menstruation
Other namesIrregular cycles, irregular periods
Specialty Gynecology
Symptoms Change in the flow of menstrual bleeding, Change in the duration if periods, Change in menstrual cycle.
Diagnostic method Based on physical examination
Medication birth control pills

Irregular menstruation is a menstrual disorder whose manifestations include irregular cycle lengths as well as metrorrhagia (vaginal bleeding between expected periods). The possible causes of irregular menstruation may vary. The common factors of it are related to lifestyle, such as stress, body weight, and smoking status. [1] Several studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccine of any type may disrupt the menstrual cycle, although only momentarily. [2] [3] [4] This side effect should resolve on its own in the following month. [5]

Contents

Irregular cycles or periods

Irregular cycles or irregular periods is an abnormal variation in length of menstrual cycles. An individual usually experiences cycle length variations of up to eight days between the shortest and longest cycle lengths. Lengths ranging between eight and 20 days are considered moderately irregular. [6] Variation of 21 days or more is considered very irregular. [6]

Alternatively, a single menstruation cycle may be defined as irregular if it is less than 24 days or more than 38 days. [7] If they are regularly shorter than 21 days or longer than 36 (or 35) days, the condition is termed polymenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, respectively. [8]

Additionally, irregular menstruation is common in adolescence. [9] A regular menstrual cycle can be set within a year of menarche. [10] However, other studies suggest that it can take anywhere between 2 [11] and 7 [12] [13] [14] years to establish regularity after an individual's first menses.

Other types

Other types of conditions that can be referred to by "irregular menstruation" include:


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fertility awareness</span> Methods to determine menstrual phases

Fertility awareness (FA) refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health.

Calendar-based methods are various methods of estimating a woman's likelihood of fertility, based on a record of the length of previous menstrual cycles. Various methods are known as the Knaus–Ogino method and the rhythm method. The standard days method is also considered a calendar-based method, because when using it, a woman tracks the days of her menstrual cycle without observing her physical fertility signs. The standard days method is based on a fixed formula taking into consideration the timing of ovulation, the functional life of the sperm and the ovum, and the resulting likelihood of pregnancy on particular days of the menstrual cycle. These methods may be used to achieve pregnancy by timing unprotected intercourse for days identified as fertile, or to avoid pregnancy by avoiding unprotected intercourse during fertile days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstruation</span> Shedding of the uterine lining

Menstruation is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hormones. Menstruation is triggered by falling progesterone levels and is a sign that pregnancy has not occurred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual cycle</span> Natural changes in the human female reproductive system

The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs and the cyclic release of estrogen and progesterone. The uterine cycle governs the preparation and maintenance of the lining of the uterus (womb) to receive an embryo. These cycles are concurrent and coordinated, normally last between 21 and 35 days, with a median length of 28 days, and continue for about 30–45 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovulation</span> Release of egg cells from the ovaries

Ovulation is the release of eggs from the ovaries. In women, this event occurs when the ovarian follicles rupture and release the secondary oocyte ovarian cells. After ovulation, during the luteal phase, the egg will be available to be fertilized by sperm. In addition, the uterine lining (endometrium) is thickened to be able to receive a fertilized egg. If no conception occurs, the uterine lining as well as the egg will be shed during menstruation.

Menarche is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in female humans. From both social and medical perspectives, it is often considered the central event of female puberty, as it signals the possibility of fertility.

Gynecologic hemorrhage represents excessive bleeding of the female reproductive system. Such bleeding could be visible or external, namely bleeding from the vagina, or it could be internal into the pelvic cavity or form a hematoma. Normal menstruation is not considered a gynecologic hemorrhage, as it is not excessive. Hemorrhage associated with a pregnant state or during delivery is an obstetrical hemorrhage.

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), previously known as menorrhagia or hypermenorrhea, is a menstrual period with excessively heavy flow. It is a type of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

Anovulation is when the ovaries do not release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle. Therefore, ovulation does not take place. However, a woman who does not ovulate at each menstrual cycle is not necessarily going through menopause. Chronic anovulation is a common cause of infertility.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), also known as (AVB) or as atypical vaginal bleeding, is vaginal bleeding from the uterus that is abnormally frequent, lasts excessively long, is heavier than normal, or is irregular. The term dysfunctional uterine bleeding was used when no underlying cause was present. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is excluded. Iron deficiency anemia may occur and quality of life may be negatively affected.

Oligomenorrhea is infrequent menstruation. More strictly, it is menstrual periods occurring at intervals of greater than 35 days, with only four to nine periods in a year. Menstrual periods should have been regularly established before the development of infrequent flow. The duration of such events may vary.

The ambulatoria cycle is a menstrual cycle bby varonil degrees ok menstrual intervalos and the absence ofna ovulación and a literal phase. Un the absence ok ovulación, there will ve información.

In obstetrics, gestational age is a measure of the age of a pregnancy taken from the beginning of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP), or the corresponding age of the gestation as estimated by a more accurate method, if available. Such methods include adding 14 days to a known duration since fertilization, or by obstetric ultrasonography. The popularity of using this measure of pregnancy is largely due to convenience: menstruation is usually noticed, while there is generally no convenient way to discern when fertilization or implantation occurred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaginal bleeding</span> Medical condition

Vaginal bleeding is any expulsion of blood from the vagina. This bleeding may originate from the uterus, vaginal wall, or cervix. Generally, it is either part of a normal menstrual cycle or is caused by hormonal or other problems of the reproductive system, such as abnormal uterine bleeding.

Extended or continuous cycle combined oral contraceptive pills are a packaging of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) that reduce or eliminate the withdrawal bleeding that would occur once every 28 days in traditionally packaged COCPs. It works by reducing the frequency of the pill-free or placebo days. Extended cycle use of COCPs may also be called menstrual suppression, although other hormonal medications or medication delivery systems may also be used to suppress menses. Any brand of combined oral contraceptive pills can be used in an extended or continuous manner by simply discarding the placebo pills; this is most commonly done with monophasic pills in which all of the pills in a package contain the same fixed dosing of a synthetic estrogen and a progestin in each active pill.

Intermenstrual bleeding, previously known as metrorrhagia, is uterine bleeding at irregular intervals, particularly between the expected menstrual periods. It is a cause of vaginal bleeding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menstrual disorder</span> Medical condition affecting menstrual cycle

A menstrual disorder is characterized as any abnormal condition with regards to a woman's menstrual cycle. There are many different types of menstrual disorders that vary with signs and symptoms, including pain during menstruation, heavy bleeding, or absence of menstruation. Normal variations can occur in menstrual patterns but generally menstrual disorders can also include periods that come sooner than 21 days apart, more than 3 months apart, or last more than 10 days in duration. Variations of the menstrual cycle are mainly caused by the immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, and early detection and management is required in order to minimize the possibility of complications regarding future reproductive ability.

Polymenorrhea, also known as frequent periods, frequent menstruation, or frequent menstrual bleeding, is a menstrual disorder in which menstrual cycles are shorter than 21 days in length and hence where menstruation occurs more frequently than usual. Cycles are regular and menstrual flow is normal in the condition. Normally, menstrual cycles are 25 to 30 days in length, with a median duration of 28 days.

Hypomenorrhea or hypomenorrhoea, also known as short or scanty periods, is extremely light menstrual blood flow. It is the opposite of heavy periods or hypermenorrhea which is more properly called menorrhagia.

Menstrual suppression refers to the practice of using hormonal management to stop or reduce menstrual bleeding. In contrast to surgical options for this purpose, such as hysterectomy or endometrial ablation, hormonal methods to manipulate menstruation are reversible.

References

  1. ↑ Bae, Jinju; Park, Susan; Kwon, Jin-Won (2018-02-06). "Factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularity and menopause". BMC Women's Health. 18 (1): 36. doi: 10.1186/s12905-018-0528-x . ISSN   1472-6874. PMC   5801702 . PMID   29409520.
  2. ↑ Laganà, Antonio Simone; Veronesi, Giovanni; Ghezzi, Fabio; Ferrario, Marco Mario; Cromi, Antonella; Bizzarri, Mariano; Garzon, Simone; Cosentino, Marco (2022-01-01). "Evaluation of menstrual irregularities after COVID-19 vaccination: Results of the MECOVAC survey". Open Medicine. 17 (1): 475–484. doi:10.1515/med-2022-0452. ISSN   2391-5463. PMC   8919838 . PMID   35350834.
  3. ↑ Muhaidat, Nadia; Alshrouf, Mohammad A.; Azzam, Muayad I.; Karam, Abdulrahman M.; Al-Nazer, Majed W.; Al-Ani, Abdallah (2022-03-28). "Menstrual Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Investigation in the MENA Region". International Journal of Women's Health. 14: 395–404. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S352167 . PMC   8976114 . PMID   35378876.
  4. ↑ Edelman, Alison; Boniface, Emily R.; Benhar, Eleonora; Han, Leo; Matteson, Kristen A.; Favaro, Carlotta; Pearson, Jack T.; Darney, Blair G. (2022-05-05). "Association Between Menstrual Cycle Length and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination: A U.S. Cohort". Obstetrics & Gynecology. 139 (4): 481–489. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004695. ISSN   0029-7844. PMC   8936155 . PMID   34991109.
  5. ↑ Laganà, Antonio Simone; Veronesi, Giovanni; Ghezzi, Fabio; Ferrario, Marco Mario; Cromi, Antonella; Bizzarri, Mariano; Garzon, Simone; Cosentino, Marco (2022-01-01). "Evaluation of menstrual irregularities after COVID-19 vaccination: Results of the MECOVAC survey". Open Medicine. 17 (1): 475–484. doi:10.1515/med-2022-0452. ISSN   2391-5463. PMC   8919838 . PMID   35350834.
  6. 1 2 Kippley, John; Sheila Kippley (1996). The Art of Natural Family Planning (4th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: The Couple to Couple League. p. 92. ISBN   0-926412-13-2.
  7. ↑ "Period problems?". womenshealth.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  8. 1 2 3 "What are menstrual irregularities?". nichd.nih.gov/. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  9. ↑ "Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign". American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. ↑ Zhang, Katie; Pollack, Staci; Ghods, Ali; Dicken, Carrie; Isaac, Barbara; Adel, Goli; Zeitlian, Gohar; Santoro, Nanette (2008). "Onset of Ovulation after Menarche in Girls: A Longitudinal Study". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 93 (4): 1186–94. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-1846 . PMC   2291492 . PMID   18252789.
  11. ↑ Legro, Richard S.; Lin, Hung Mo; Demers, Laurence M.; Lloyd, Tom (March 1, 2000). "Rapid Maturation of the Reproductive Axis during Perimenarche Independent of Body Composition". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 85 (3): 1021–1025. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.3.6423 . PMID   10720033.
  12. ↑ Engle, E.T.; SHELESNYAK, M.C. (1934). "First Menstruation and Subsequent Menstrual Cycles of Pubertal Girls". Human Biology. 6 (3): 431–453. JSTOR   41447202.
  13. ↑ Treloar, A.E.; Boynton, R.E.; Behn, B.G.; Brown, B.W. (1967). "Variation of the human menstrual cycle through reproductive life". International Journal of Fertility. 1 (2): 77–126 – via POPLINE.
  14. ↑ Vollman, R.F. (1977). "The Menstrual Cycle". Major Problems in Obstetrics and Gynecology. W.B. Saunders Co. 7: 1–193. PMID   836520 – via POPLINE.
  15. ↑ "Vaginal bleeding between periods: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
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