Menstrual disorders

Menstrual disorders cover a broad spectrum of abnormalities related to the menstrual cycle. These conditions, frequently experienced by women, significantly influence reproductive health, daily life, and overall well-being. For healthcare professionals, a deep understanding of these disorders is fundamental for effective diagnosis and management.

Lining of Uterine Wall

Classification[edit | edit source]

Menstrual disorders can be grouped based on their manifestations:

Amenorrhea - Absence of menstrual periods
- Primary amenorrhea: Absence of menstruation by age 15 or within 5 years of breast development.
- Secondary amenorrhea: No menstruation for three consecutive cycles or six months in previously menstruating women.
- Exercise amenorrhea: Cessation of menstruation due to excessive physical activity.
- Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: Resulting from stress, weight loss, or excessive exercise.

Anovulation - Absence of ovulation
Dysmenorrhea - Painful menstruation
Hematocolpos - Accumulation of menstrual blood in the vagina
Hypogonadism and Hypergonadism - Reduced and increased functional activity of the gonads respectively
Hypergonadotropic hypergonadism - Elevated gonadotropin and sex steroid levels
Hypomenorrhea - Scanty menstrual flow
Polymenorrhea and Oligomenorrhea - Frequent and infrequent menstrual cycles, respectively
Oligoamenorrhea - Infrequent menstruation
Polymenorrhagia - Excessive and frequent menstruation
Menometrorrhagia - Heavy menstrual bleeding at irregular intervals
Catamenial pneumothorax - Lung collapse related to menstrual cycle
Intermenstrual bleeding - Bleeding between periods
Heavy menstrual bleeding - Excessive menstrual blood loss
Metropathia haemorrhagica - Irregular bleeding due to prolonged estrus
Gonadotropin-resistant ovary syndrome - Ovaries that do not respond to gonadotropins

Etiology[edit | edit source]

The origins of menstrual disorders are diverse, often including:

Hormonal imbalances
Structural abnormalities in the reproductive tract
Stress, significant weight gain or loss, and excessive exercise

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Correctly identifying menstrual disorders often involves:

Comprehensive medical history
Physical and pelvic examinations
Laboratory tests, including hormone level evaluations
Imaging modalities such as ultrasound, MRI, and hysteroscopy

Management[edit | edit source]

Treatment strategies hinge on the specific disorder and its root cause:

Hormonal therapy
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain
Surgical interventions like Dilation and curettage (D&C)
Lifestyle adjustments

Prognosis[edit | edit source]

Proper diagnosis and management usually allow most affected women to experience symptom relief and maintain a regular reproductive lifespan.

References[edit | edit source]

Apgar BS, Kaufman AH, George-Nwogu U, Kittendorf A. (2007). Treatment of menorrhagia. *American Family Physician*, 75(12), 1813-1819.
Fraser IS, Critchley HO, Broder M, Munro MG. (2011). The FIGO recommendations on terminologies and definitions for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding. *Seminars in Reproductive Medicine*, 29(5), 383-390.
Harlow SD, et al. (2014). Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10: addressing the unfinished agenda of staging reproductive aging. *Climacteric*, 15(2), 105-114.

Menstrual disorders Resources
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