My menstrual cycle jumped after treatment. Causes of a pathological nature

With irregularity menstrual cycle Every woman faces this sometimes. Its duration can be lengthened or shortened, the duration and intensity of monthly bleeding are also not constant values. These processes are influenced by many factors, so irregular periods are not always evidence of serious malfunctions reproductive system. In some cases, such failures can be symptoms of the development of pathology, so the dynamics of the cycle must be strictly controlled.

Do irregular periods indicate illness?

The female menstrual cycle is a complex of monthly changes in a woman’s body that occur throughout her entire life. reproductive age, providing the possibility of conceiving a child. These processes are regulated by a complex neurohumoral mechanism with the participation of:

• cerebral cortex;
• hypothalamus;
• pituitary gland;
• gonads;
• peripheral organs and tissues - uterus, fallopian tubes, mammary glands, etc.

The cycle consists of three main phases, during which corresponding changes occur in the ovaries and in the endometrium of the uterus. Female reproductive function is carried out due to the following processes occurring during these phases:

1. Follicular. The production of luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones increases, under the influence of which follicles mature in the ovary. Its duration ranges from 5 to 8 days.
2. Ovulatory phase. It lasts about three days and ends with ovulation. This is the moment of exit dominant follicle a mature egg ready for fertilization.
3. The final phase is called the luteal phase. During this period, the corpus luteum actively produces progesterone, which prepares the endometrium of the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg. If conception occurs and the egg “takes root” in the uterus, pregnancy occurs. If pregnancy does not occur corpus luteum is destroyed, the level of estrogen and progesterone drops sharply, and this is a signal for the resumption of the production of LH and FSH, the start of a new cycle. Its first day is considered to be the day the menstruation begins, during which the uterus is cleared of the remnants of excess endometrium from the previous cycle.

The normal length of the cycle is considered to be from 21 to 35 days (28±7 days). The normal duration of menstruation is from 2 to 6 days (4±2), the volume of blood loss is from 20 to 60 ml. The indicated ranges refer to the norm, plus a one-time deviation of 3-5 days is considered normal. Regular cycle shifts of 6 days or more may indicate irregularities.

During reproductive age

Irregular menstrual cycles during reproductive age are the result of three main groups of factors. This is the impact external environment, diseases of the reproductive system or systemic failures in its functioning, as well as failures caused by taking medications. A separate group includes changes in hormonal levels after pregnancy, childbirth, caesarean section, lactation period, miscarriage, abortion, unsuccessful IVF, during the premenopausal period. The main reasons for shifts in the dates of monthly bleeding include:

1. External – climate change, nervous exhaustion or chronic stress, dietary changes.
2. Physiological – hormonal imbalances. The first symptoms of such disorders are weight gain and hair growth in uncharacteristic places.
3. Diseases of the reproductive organs or other systems - ovaries, uterus, liver, gallbladder and adrenal glands. Pathological disorders interactions of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, the process of blood clotting, endocrine disorders, hormone-dependent tumors, cancer, deficiency of vitamins and other compounds significant for metabolic processes, the consequences of bad habits (smoking, drug addiction, alcoholism).
4. Taking hormonal contraception, antidepressants, glucocorticosteroids, anticoagulants and other drugs.

In teenagers

Unstable periods in adolescence, at the stage of puberty of a girl, are more a natural phenomenon than a deviation. Hormonal background unstable, the body needs time to adjust to the changes occurring in it. From the moment of menarche (the first menstruation) until the cycle stabilizes, on average, about a year passes, that is, from 17 to 11 cycles. When a girl is keen on various diets and associated weight fluctuations, the likelihood of irregular bleeding increases. The period of puberty is characterized by juvenile uterine bleeding.

During menopause

During the period of the body’s preparation for menopause, which occurs after 45 years and ends the reproductive period of a woman’s life, the menstrual cycle is disrupted due to serious hormonal changes the body against the background of depletion of the supply of eggs. The process is accompanied by acyclic and cyclic, heavy or scanty irregular bleeding due to hyperplastic processes occurring in the endometrium of the uterus. In some cases, such conditions require drug correction, the use of substitution hormone therapy.

Pathological causes of irregular menstruation cycle

The cause of irregular periods may be disruptions in the reproductive and related systems, various diseases and unhealthy conditions. Among women of different ages To pathological reasons irregular cycle include:

1. During adolescence. Irregular menstruation may occur due to endocrine disorders, pathologies of the development of the organs of the reproductive system, exhaustion of the body, psychological trauma, deterioration of health, inflammation and infectious diseases of the genital organs, due to bad habits, diets, early onset of sexual activity and promiscuity sexual contacts.
2. During the reproductive period. Diseases in which disturbances of the monthly cycle are a symptom are hyperprolactinemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, malignant and benign tumors ovaries and uterus (fibroids, cancer, cystomas), inflammation and infections of the reproductive organs, endometriosis, adenomyosis, endometrial hyperplasia.
3. During menopause. Dangerous pathology, which can develop during premenopause against the background of hormonal changes - this is hyperestogenia. Due to disruptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary gland connection, the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, the development of estrogen-dependent tumors and other dangerous side effects increases.

Classification of menstrual disorders

There is a medical name and description for different types of menstrual cycle disorders. The classification is based not only on the degree of regularity of monthly bleeding, but also on its intensity, duration, and other characteristics. The main types of menstrual cycle disruptions are the following conditions:

• Oligomenorrhea – bleeding occurs every 3-4 months.
• Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for several cycles in a row.
• Opsomenorea – the discharge is scanty, the duration of bleeding is no more than 2 days.
• Menorrhagia – the duration of menstruation is greatly exceeded (up to 10 days), the bleeding is heavy.
• Hyperpolymenorrhea – the cycle is normal, bleeding is very strong.
• Dysmenoria – menstruation is accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, the cycle is regular.
• Algomenorrhea - menstruation occurs with pronounced pain syndrome, periods are irregular.
• Proyomenorrhea – short cycle;
• Metrorrhagia is uterine bleeding between menstruation.

Dangerous symptoms

Irregularity of monthly bleeding becomes a reason to consult a doctor if it is characterized by one or more the following symptoms:

1. The interval between menstruation becomes longer or shorter with each passing month.
2. The duration of the cycle does not fit into the normal interval for more than 3 months in a row.
3. Stopping monthly bleeding in a woman of reproductive age if pregnancy does not occur.
4. The length of the cycles varies from period to period, long ones are replaced by short ones.
5. A woman cannot get pregnant.
6. There are intermenstrual bloody issues or bleeding, strange color, consistency, with unpleasant smell.
7. At different periods of the cycle there are severe pain in the lower abdomen.

Diagnostics

If, after a visual examination and initial questioning of the patient, the doctor suspects that irregular bleeding is a symptom of pathology, he prescribes a series of tests and secondary laboratory research, which help to identify or confirm a preliminary diagnosis. Methods used include:

1. Blood and urine analysis, general, biochemical.
2. Tests for reproductive hormones and hormones thyroid gland.
3. Ultrasound abdominal cavity, pelvic organs, adrenal glands.
4. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
5. Hysteroscopy (a method of visual examination of the uterine cavity using special equipment).
6. Histology.
7. A smear for testing for infections, inflammation, sexually transmitted diseases.

How to restore a regular menstrual cycle

The treatment regimen is selected depending on the patient’s age, the type of abnormalities identified in her, general clinical picture diseases. Therapy is carried out in several main stages, depending on the accompanying symptoms. In case of severe uterine bleeding, before prescribing hormone therapy (treatment with oral contraceptives taken according to the usual regimen), the following measures are taken:

1. Gynecological curettage with therapeutic and diagnostic purpose.
2. Antianemic therapy.
3. Restoration of circulating blood volume.
4. Treatment concomitant diseases(hypertension, diseases of the thyroid and pancreas, adrenal glands, etc.)
5. Vitamin therapy (especially in adolescence).

Drug therapy

Treatment of menstrual cycle irregularities, characterized by irregular periods, is carried out using a comprehensive method drug therapy. Within its framework, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

1. Hormones. The goal of therapy is to normalize hormonal levels. To stop bleeding - Vikasol, Dicynon, Aminocaproic acid; then Novinet, Marvilon, Mercilon, progesterone analogues Duphaston or Utrozhestan, Norkolut, antiestrogenic agents. Before use, you must carefully study the instructions - dosage regimens for many hormonal medicines associated with the phases of the cycle. The duration of therapy depends on the diagnosis.
2. Medicines to stimulate the formation of follicles (for diagnosed infertility) - Pergonal, Choriogonin.
3. Iron supplements – for diagnosed anemia varying degrees expressiveness.
4. B vitamins, folic acid, ascorbic acid (in adolescence, during the period of establishing the cycle after the first menstruation).

Folk remedies

Recipes traditional medicine for the treatment of abnormalities of the female monthly cycle can only be used with the permission of the attending physician, in the absence of contraindications. Traditional healers For irregular bleeding, the following plants and methods of their use are recommended:

• Cinnamon. Cinnamon milk relieves the intensity of uterine cramps during menstruation. It is recommended to drink 1 glass per day (1 teaspoon of cinnamon is required for 250 ml of milk), starting a week before bleeding and until it ends.
• Turmeric. Mixture with honey, aloe juice and coriander (proportion: 20 g honey, 1 tsp juice and each spice dissolved in a glass boiled water) take 3 tbsp once a day. from the luteal phase until the beginning of the next menstruation.
• Ginger. Ginger tea(for 250 ml of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of crushed ginger root and 1 teaspoon of honey) normalizes irregular bleeding.
• Sesame seeds. Two tablespoons of crushed seeds mixed with any vegetable oil, once a day, 1 tsp. Contains a plant analogue of estrogen.

Cycle length y healthy women should be 28 days, but small deviations per week in either direction are allowed. Therefore, the cycle should range from 21 days to 35 days. Within one year from the moment of menstruation in girls, the cycle should normalize, and its length should be the same, and the difference between the previous and current cycle should not exceed 1-2 days. However, not every girl and woman has a regular cycle.

28 days is a woman’s ideal menstrual cycle

Absolutely every woman sometimes faces the problem of an irregular cycle. A delay in menstruation of up to 7 days a couple of times a year in some cases is considered within normal limits, as this can be caused by all kinds of stress, climate change, or even season change.

Irregular menstrual cycle -

- this is how different things can manifest themselves gynecological diseases. In addition to the irregular cycle, the nature of menstruation is also disrupted: suddenly they become more painful and come profusely, for example. Any deviation from the usual state should excite the woman; this should not be delayed; she should consult a gynecologist.

Main causes of irregular periods

The causes of irregular periods are varied and there can be a great variety of them. But if we generalize them, we can divide them into the following groups:

1. External factors, that is, the impact on the cycle of a variety of physiological reasons, such as regular stress, the body is constantly in an excited state, climate change, nutritional changes, etc.
2. Pathological condition of the whole organism.
3. Medicines that affect the whole body (for example, hormones, anti-seizure drugs, and medications used for depression).

Factors related to the pathological condition:

• Ovarian pathology. The connection between the ovaries and the pituitary gland may be disrupted, ovarian cancer, drug stimulation of ovulation, weak second phase of the cycle, ovarian surgery, various injuries female organs.
• Endometriosis. With such a disease, it does not matter whether it is extragenital endometriosis or genital, since the disease still affects the hormonal sphere, resulting in a hormone imbalance.
• Blood clotting is impaired.
• Liver and gallbladder diseases are present.
• The uterine cavity was curetted.
• Cancer of the uterus, female reproductive glands, and also the thyroid.
• Polyps on the lining of the uterus.
• Sudden weight change.
• Uterine infantilism, double uterus, septum in the uterus.
• Bad habits such as overuse alcohol, less often - smoking.

Disruptions in the cycle may also indicate infertility.

Irregular periods in teenagers

The reasons for a girl’s irregular periods are quite natural and can be explained by physiological factors. The hormonal background has not yet begun to function normally, therefore, both the duration and the menstruation themselves can be completely different, starting at different time and proceed the same way - each time differently.

According to doctors, the cycle will be restored within one to two years.

But there are also pathological factors that can be the causes of irregular periods in adolescence:

1. Obesity;
2. Vegetative-vascular dystonia;
3. Constant colds;
4. Traumatic brain injuries;
5. Obesity;
6. Sexual infections;
7. Sclerocystic ovaries;
8. Deviations in the development of the reproductive system.

Girls' addiction to diets also plays a big role in irregular periods, since they can lead to excessive weight loss, as well as to hypovitaminosis, as a result of which the menstrual cycle is disrupted. Psychology also influences the regularity of the cycle (for example, a girl is too susceptible to emotions, which means the cycle will “jump”). In addition, bad habits and chaotic sexual intercourse have an impact on the regular cycle.

It is very important to determine why the cycle is disrupted in adolescence, because these can be both physiological and pathological factors that can cause juvenile bleeding. With this complication, menstruation lasts more than a week and is much heavier in nature. As a result, anemia may occur as a complication. Very often juvenile uterine bleeding may be caused by constant stress or infectious processes.

If menstrual irregularities are caused by juvenile bleeding, then therapy is usually built in two stages:

1. The first stage - treatment is carried out using hormonal drugs and hemostatic agents (Vikasol, Dicynon, Aminocaproic acid).
2. If a girl prolonged bleeding and abundantly expressed, with symptoms such as low hemoglobin, weakness, constant dizziness, then in this case curettage is usually indicated. In order to prevent the effective hymen from breaking, the patient is injected with novocaine 0.25%. In this case, the scraping must be sent for histological examination. If hemoglobin is within normal limits, the doctor prescribes hormonal pills With low content hormones.
3. In addition to hormonal and surgical treatment In some cases, blood transfusion occurs.
4. If you have anemia, you need to take iron-containing preparations, such as Ferrum lek, Tardiferon, Sorbifer-Durules and others.
5. Treatment hormonal contraceptives usually lasts at least three months. During this time, the body recovers.

If a teenage girl has a mild case of menstrual irregularities, complex vitamin therapy with special vitamins, for example, Cyclovita, is prescribed.

Disorders of the menstrual cycle during menopause

Women at the age of 45-55 (and some even at 40) experience menopause. But in addition to the fact that there is a disruption in the menstrual cycle, vegetative-vascular disruptions in metabolism and in mental state(a rush of heat, cold, osteoporosis, psycho-emotional instability may be observed).

During the premenopausal period, reproductive function declines, the follicles in the gonads do not mature, and the production of gonadotrapins is disrupted. As a result, the endometrium undergoes pathological restructuring.

Some women may experience irregular periods after 40 years, the reasons for which lie in early menopause, the ovaries are depleted ahead of schedule, and in this case hormonal treatment is necessary.

How to restore the cycle?

Treatment of cycle disorders in women of childbearing age

Every girl sooner or later faces a problem such as irregular periods, but women can have a wide variety of reasons.

To diagnose the causes, come to the gynecologist with a monthly calendar.

The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound, blood test for hormones, hysteroscopy and, in rare cases, an MRI. Naturally, treatment is aimed at eliminating the causes, in each case it is different.

If no serious reasons there is no cycle failure, then they are limited vitamin preparations and lifestyle correction. A woman should have a normalized daily routine, she should eat well and eliminate all stress. If the cause of irregular periods is obesity, then it will be quite enough to bring your weight back to normal. You can also try traditional methods(more about them below).

If bleeding occurs, then, despite its severity, curettage is necessary for both treatment and diagnosis.

Typically, doctors prescribe for treatment:

• Oral contraceptives, that is, drugs containing hormones, according to the general treatment regimen.
• If the luteal phase is defective, then Duphaston or Utrozhestan (this is an analogue of the important hormone progesterone) is prescribed.
• Of course, it is necessary to treat the disease that led to the disruption of menstruation.

Treatment of bleeding in women during menopause

If unusual bleeding appears during menopause, then curettage of the uterine cavity is required, because such bleeding may indicate atypical hyperplasia or endometrial adenocarcinoma. In this case, even the question of removing the uterus may arise.

As a rule, in case of irregularities in the menstrual cycle during menopause, it is necessary to prescribe gestagens: Duphaston, 17-OPK. Antiestrogenic drugs (Gestrinone, Danazol) can also be prescribed.

Folk remedies to combat irregular periods

1. 10 days before the expected menstruation, you need to add bread from sprouted grains or even the grains themselves - for example, sprouted wheat, buckwheat - to your diet. Why are they so useful? It is in the sprouts that there are a lot of biologically active vitamins and substances that have a positive effect on the performance of the ovaries.
2. Fresh carrot juice, it turns out, is not only tasty, but also healthy - it puts you in order. female hormones. Take 150g carrot juice and combine it with cream (50g). You need to take this juice before meals for ten days every month.
3. An infusion of swamp mint normalizes the cycle. To prepare it you will need: 2 tablespoons of dry herbs, a glass of hot boiling water. Pour water over the herb and leave for 5 minutes.

The regularity of the menstrual cycle worries any woman, whether you are a teenage girl or a woman childbearing age, or you are over 40 years old. Perhaps it is precisely the coming of menstruation that indicates some kind of disease. That is why it is necessary to determine as quickly as possible what the cause is, since when the cause is eliminated, the cycle also normalizes. Be healthy!

The body of women is special and the reason for this is the presence of false reproductive function. Consequently, it is simply impossible to avoid disruptions in the functioning of the sensitive female body. This also applies to the menstrual cycle - this function of the women’s body reacts in a special way to various internal and external influences.

The duration of the menstrual cycle is usually 21-28 days. The beginning of the cycle is considered the first day of menstruation. In this case, the menstrual cycle should not exceed 33 days. If there is a delay of 5-7 days, you need to worry about whether health problems have arisen.

It is considered a violation certain cases delays in menstruation. For example, if the delay is more than 14 days, then this should be regarded as a pathology known as oligoovulation, in other words, the rare occurrence of ovulation. In addition, a violation of the monthly cycle is also considered when regular offensive The menstrual cycle suddenly changes - increases or decreases.

Why does the cycle change?

There are many reasons for this.

• Infection of organs located in the pelvis. To find out its presence, you need to take certain tests for uroplasma, chlamydia, etc. Currently, thanks to the capabilities of modern medicine, these infections are being treated.
• Diseases of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, diabetes, and other diseases internal organs. The listed ailments lead to dysfunction of both organs and the entire body of a woman.
• Hormonal imbalance. It does not occur by chance, being the result of dysfunction of the endocrine system. Or a deficiency of such an essential sex hormone as progesterone may be detected. Progesterone levels drop significantly over several years before the onset of menopause and causes various dysfunctions.
• Hereditary factor. In this case, a woman cannot avoid pathologies of the menstrual cycle.
• Exhausting diets, heavy physical activity. Busy lifestyle with excessive physical activity together with strict diet, vitamin deficiency and useful substances often causes pathologies of the female system and disruption of the monthly cycle.
• Stress, pathologies of the central nervous system. The statement of our grandmothers “All illnesses come from nerves” is more relevant than ever. Constant stress disrupts the established rhythm of the body’s functioning and destabilizes general state, and the very sensitive female body is unable not to react to an imbalance in its work. Depression has negative impact on the woman’s condition – appears headache, intestinal disorders, the menstrual cycle and sleep are disrupted.
• Climate change. A woman’s delicate body, as a rule, is subject to discomfort when changing climate zones, which negatively affects the condition of their fragile and vulnerable body.
• Radiation and poisoning.
• Use medicines. Sometimes women do not take medications in recommended doses or take them too much. for a long time, which can also affect monthly cycle not in the best way.
• Addiction to bad habits– drug addiction, smoking, alcoholism. All this has a very serious impact on the health of any human body.

If for a woman a constantly changing menstrual cycle is a fairly common phenomenon and is observed throughout her life, then this is simply a feature of the women’s body. But if the change in the menstrual cycle occurs in an unusual way, then you should carefully understand the reasons and get rid of them.

Therefore, you need to listen to your body; if problems occur in its functioning, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Helped us:
Dmitry Lubnin
Obstetrician-gynecologist, candidate of medical sciences, author of the book “An Honest Conversation with a Russian Gynecologist”

Duration of the menstrual cycle

For most women, the menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but the concept of “normal” in this case is very arbitrary: 21–35 days is also okay. By the way, it has been noted that women living in the northern regions have a longer cycle, while southern women usually have a shorter cycle, but options are possible here too. “The main thing in this matter is regularity,” says gynecologist Dmitry Lubnin. – If your cycle is always 35–36 days, then this is your personal norm. But if it’s 26, then 35, then 21 days, there’s a reason to visit the doctor.”

It's time to see a doctor if:

• The cycle jumps.
• The cycle is too long (more than 36 days).
• Or suspiciously short (less than 21 days).
• Clots appeared in the discharge.
• You started to lose more blood than it should be. It is believed that approximately 80 ml of blood per menstrual cycle is a normal loss, and anything more is alarming. Question: how can you determine at home that you are not going overboard with milliliters? "Watch how much hygiene products you started using it,” the expert advises. “If you suddenly need more, or instead of pads with two drops on the package, you start choosing those with three on them, it makes sense to visit a gynecologist.”
• Everything was going as usual, and suddenly “it poured like buckets,” but next month the amount menstrual blood again close to normal. “If this was also preceded by a one or two day delay, then perhaps we're talking about about early miscarriage, says the doctor. “Especially if you and your partner only use interrupted coitus as a measure of protection.” Go to see a doctor - at least to make sure that everything is okay with you.

Know that as you approach 40, your cycle usually gets shorter, and this is completely normal.

Periodicity of menstruation

I've probably heard that women who spend a long time side by side have their cycles synchronized? The honest truth. “This is often observed in women’s sports teams or among neighbors in a dorm, for example,” the expert confirms. – It’s not yet clear what’s going on here. One can only say that The menstrual cycle, even in a healthy woman, can sometimes fluctuate and these changes reflect the body’s response to external and internal factors.” Why go far? If you get nervous at work, you get delayed (and worry again, for a different reason). “But the lability of the cycle is an individual matter,” adds the doctor. “For one, even a little hassle can cause a glitch in the program, while for another, severe stress doesn’t matter.”

You lose 32 liters of blood during your life during menstruation.

Stages of the menstrual cycle

1. Menstruation
   What's happening: the mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) is torn away - if pregnancy has not occurred, you do not need this thing. From the first day of menstruation, the countdown of a new cycle begins.
   Time: approximately 4 days (2–6 is also normal).
2. Follicular phase
   What's happening: Several follicles with eggs grow in the ovaries. There, female sex hormones estrogens are produced, under the influence of which fresh endometrium begins to form in the uterus. One follicle confidently pushes forward and eventually bursts, releasing a mature egg - ovulation occurs. The egg enters the fallopian tube, where it waits for the sperm, and its former home turns into the so-called corpus luteum.
   Time: approximately 10 days (for some women 15–16).
   Expect delays if: a full-fledged follicle has not grown, which means there is nothing to burst. No ovulation - no corpus luteum. Then this phase of the cycle drags on until the overgrown endometrium is rejected on its own. Sometimes a delay in menstruation lasts up to several months.
3. Luteal phase
   What's happening: The corpus luteum produces another female sex hormone, progesterone. It prepares the endometrium for the attachment of a fertilized egg and the beginning of pregnancy. If nothing happens, the corpus luteum curtails its activity, and the uterus begins to reject the mucous membrane. Menstruation begins again.
   Time: approximately 12–14 days.
   Expect delays if: the corpus luteum does not calm down and stubbornly continues to function. As a result, we again have a delay in menstruation. If for some reason the corpus luteum winds down its activities too quickly, menstruation begins earlier.

Enemies of the menstrual cycle

• stress;
• merciless training;
• sudden weight loss;
• frequent illnesses;
• smoking;
• alcohol abuse.

Problems during menstruation

You cry with or without reason

If it calms you down a little, extreme sentimentality in critical days about 30% of women differ. Humble yourself: until the biochemical storm caused by natural hormonal changes, your eyes will still be wet. Good news: regular use complex carbohydrates- such as green vegetables, legumes, cereals and whole grain bread - helps keep emotions in check.

400 times (on average) critical days happen to you.

Sensitive nipples make it difficult to exercise

Blame it on the hormones progesterone and prolactin, which cause breasts to swell and react sharply to touch. There are ways to improve the situation. Keep track of how much caffeine you currently consume - it would be better to reduce the amount of the energizing substance. Next, choose a sports bra that will provide good support for your breasts during exercise. Finally, you can look at pharmacies for special silicone nipple covers to protect your nipples from irritating friction.

Lost strength

The mechanism is clear: the body loses iron along with the blood, and as a result you become lethargic. In addition, the important mineral is involved in the production of serotonin, so Along with a loss of strength during menstruation, there is usually a depressive mood. Make sure to include more iron-rich foods in your diet during this period. We remind you: spinach, lentils, beans, buckwheat, liver, black currants are your friends forever. There is evidence that fennel tea can help cope with monthly bouts of fatigue.

Swelling appears

And here you are not alone - with similar problem About 73% of women experience it. Unfortunately, doctors have not yet gotten to the bottom of true reasons unpleasant phenomenon, but found that severe fluid retention during menstruation is aggravated by salt and alcohol. Action plan: minus salty and alcoholic foods, plus foods containing omega-3 fatty acids ( sea ​​fish, walnuts, pumpkin seeds). Total
2 grams healthy fats per day can significantly improve the situation.

I really want sex

In fact, it is believed that it is during these days that libido should decrease; the peak of playful desires usually occurs during ovulation, when the likelihood of having offspring is highest. There is a theory according to which women become psychologically liberated during menstruation.- Of course, it’s a risk unwanted pregnancy minimal. Another explanation: in difficult times, we need more warmth and pleasant tactile sensations, and sex with a loved one in this regard is what you need.

Severe cramps

Experts from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say that half an hour of aerobic exercise a day can ease your suffering. But the main thing here is not to go too far. "Strengthened physical exercise can increase the tone of the uterus, warns Dmitry Lubnin. – Many female athletes note that impact training during menstruation only increases discomfort " One of the most simple means self-help - a warm heating pad. 10–15 minutes - and the vessels dilate, blood begins to circulate better, and the pain subsides. According to research, painful spasms can reduce orgasm. So, good morning!

Why don't antispasmodics always help? “The purpose of such medications is to relax the muscles of the uterus, but if the spasm is significant, then the remedy may not cope,” explains Dr. Lubnin. Muscles contract under the influence of special substances - prostaglandins, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) deal with them most effectively; they should be taken the day before the start of menstruation - for prevention.

Overall you feel very bad

Accompanying painful spasms are nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea. Do not believe those who claim that this is a common picture for menstruation, they say, you were born a woman - be patient. Most likely, we are talking about dysmenorrhea, which is divided into primary and secondary. In the case of the latter severe cramps and other delights can be symptoms of endometriosis or, for example, uterine fibroids, so run to the doctor immediately. And primary dysmenorrhea is successfully treated with oral contraceptives and/or NSAIDs. It’s also impossible to do without the doctor’s participation, you understand.

Can I use tampons at night?

"You can if you have copious discharge, says the expert. “If they are small, it’s better to limit yourself to gaskets.” And in general, try not to get carried away with tampons - with medical point From a perspective this is not the best option. “Even during menstruation, oxygen must enter the vagina, which is necessary for the life of the lactobacilli living there,” insists Dr. Lubnin. “In addition, because of the tampon, some of the menstrual blood remains inside you, and this is an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms.” In general, priority is given to pads, tampons – depending on the circumstances.

It just so happens that the reproductive function is activated in the girl’s body at the moment when she does not care about this function at all. Having just put the dolls aside, the girl is faced with a whole series of little-understood processes occurring in her body, which immediately begin to be heatedly discussed among her peers, with consultations from those who are older. And mothers in this situation do not always rise to the occasion, since they themselves are poorly versed in this topic.

So, let’s figure out once and for all what happens to you every month, dear women, what is considered normal, what should alert you.

Most women answer a question about the length of their menstrual cycle with a similar phrase “about once a month, a couple of days earlier than the previous month”- this intricate phrase denotes the duration of the cycle of 28 days. This cycle length occurs in most healthy women, but does this mean that a shorter or longer cycle is a manifestation of pathology? No!

Recognized that a normal menstrual cycle can last from 21 to 35 days, that is, plus or minus a week from the average of 28 days. The duration of menstruation itself can normally range from 2 to 6 days, and the volume of blood lost should be no more than 80 ml. A longer cycle occurs among residents of the northern regions, a shorter cycle among those living in the southern regions, but this is not an absolute pattern.

Regularity is important in the menstrual cycle. That is, if a woman’s cycle is always 35-36 days, then this can be absolutely normal for her, but if it is either 26, then 35, then 21, this is not the norm. Thus, Irregularity can be considered a pathology(when menstruation comes at an uneven period of time), long cycle(more than 36 days) or short cycle(less than 21 days). In general, the menstrual cycle can vary greatly depending on the condition of the woman and the situation in which she finds herself.

However, different women lability of the menstrual cycle depending on external and internal factors can be different. For some, a little stress can already lead to a delay in menstruation, while for others, severe depression is not a reason for menstrual irregularities. One woman's menstrual cycle can match another's if they long time exist together. This is often seen on women's sports teams or when cohabitation in dorm. It is not entirely clear what explains this fact. All we can say is that menstrual cycle although there is a clear mechanism, but may vary significantly in a normal healthy woman and these changes are a reflection of the body’s reaction to external and internal factors.

The menstrual cycle is not always stable

The most irregular period is the first two years after the start of menstruation and three years before its end (menopause). Violations during these periods are due entirely physiological reasons, which we will talk about below.

Where do these numbers come from and why might they change?

The menstrual cycle is divided into three phases: menstruation, the first phase (follicular) and the second phase (luteal). Menstruation lasts on average 4 days. During this phase, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed due to failure to become pregnant.

First phase lasts from the end of menstruation until ovulation, that is, on average until the 14th day of the cycle with a 28-day cycle (the days of the cycle are counted from the moment the menstruation begins).

This phase is characterized by the following events: several follicles begin to grow in the ovaries (from birth, the ovaries contain a lot of small vesicles (follicles) containing eggs). During their growth, these follicles secrete estrogens (female sexual hormones) into the blood, under the influence of which the mucous membrane (endometrium) grows in the uterus.

Shortly before the 14th day of the cycle, all follicles except one stop growing and regress, and one grows to an average of 20 mm and bursts under the influence of special stimuli. This process is called ovulation. An egg emerges from the ruptured follicle and enters the fallopian tube, where it awaits the sperm. The edges of the ruptured follicle gather (like a flower closing for the night) and this formation is now called the “corpus luteum.”

Starts immediately after ovulation second phase of the cycle. It lasts from the moment of ovulation until the start of menstruation, that is, about 12-14 days. During this phase, the woman's body waits for the pregnancy to begin. In the ovary, the “corpus luteum” begins to flourish - the corpus luteum formed from the burst follicle sprouts vessels and begins to secrete another female sexual hormone (progesterone) into the blood, which prepares the uterine mucosa for the attachment of a fertilized egg and the beginning of pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, then a signal is sent to the corpus luteum and it curtails its work.

When the corpus luteum stops secreting progesterone, a signal is sent to the uterus, and it begins to reject the no longer needed endometrium. Menstruation begins.

With different cycle lengths, the duration of the phases is reduced - this means that one woman needs 10 days for the follicle to mature, while another needs 15-16.

Having understood what the menstrual cycle consists of, it is easy to understand what determines its duration normally and in the presence of pathology.

Why is everything often unstable at the very beginning and then, after childbirth, it gets better?

The female reproductive system matures gradually, and being a complex mechanism, requires a setup period. The fact that a girl's first menstruation occurs does not mean that its system is mature and ready to work fully(although for some, the menstrual cycle starts working correctly from the very beginning).

The functioning of the female reproductive system can best be compared to an orchestra, the coordinated play of all the instruments of which creates the unique sound of a piece of music - in our case regular menstrual cycle. Just as instruments in an orchestra require a period of tuning, all components of the reproductive system need to agree with each other to understand and work together harmoniously. Such a rehearsal usually takes about 6 months - for some it is longer, for others it is shorter, and for others it may take longer.

Why do there be delays or do my periods start earlier?

Everything is very simple - if during the first phase of the cycle it is not possible to grow a full-fledged follicle, which could burst in the middle of the cycle (ovulation), then the second phase of the cycle, accordingly, does not begin (no ovulation - there is nothing to form the corpus luteum from). The first phase lasts a long time, until the uterine mucosa (endometrium), which has grown under the influence of estrogen, begins to be rejected on its own (like a pyramid of cubes collapses when it is stood too high). The cycle in this situation can last up to several months.

In this case, in the next cycle, ovulation may occur and the cycle will have a normal length. When such alternation occurs, they speak of an irregular menstrual cycle.

Another reason for delayed menstruation may be too long existence of the corpus luteum. As I noted above, it lives for about 10 days and then begins to curtail its work, since pregnancy has not occurred. But sometimes it happens that despite the fact that pregnancy has not occurred, the corpus luteum continues its work and menstruation does not occur, and occurs only when the corpus luteum finally decides to leave.

More earlier onset of menstruation This is usually due to the fact that the notorious corpus luteum, on the contrary, stops its work too early. This leads to more early start menstruation.

Remember how the orchestra sounds when it tunes its instruments - the same cacophony from the menstrual cycle is often observed at the beginning. The components of the reproductive system negotiate so that they can grow a follicle in 14 days, start the ovulation process, and maintain the corpus luteum for at least 10 days. At the beginning, she does not succeed in all stages of this work and this is manifested by an irregular menstrual cycle.

But this adjustment can be seriously interfered with by the person himself. Nothing has such a negative impact on the development of the reproductive system as stress(intensive study, exams, unhappy love), intense sports training, extreme weight loss, frequent illness, smoking, alcohol and drugs. Against the backdrop of all of the above, quite often periods disappear and then you have to wait a long time for them. And the reason is very simple, I would say there is simple biological expediency in this - in extreme living conditions and when, for health reasons, a woman cannot bear healthy offspring - the reproductive function is switched off until better times. It’s not for nothing that during the war most women stopped menstruating; this phenomenon was even given special term"wartime amenorrhea."

What to do about it?

Let me make it clear right away that I don’t take into account various diseases, I'm talking about some common menstrual cycle adjustment problems. Such cycle disorders are solved by taking hormonal contraception. Here we need to return again to the comparison with the orchestra. If the orchestra starts to go out of tune, you must stop playing completely, give the musicians a rest and start again. Hormonal contraception does just that. She turns off the reproductive system and “rests” the entire time she takes contraception. Then, after its cancellation, the system begins to work again and, as a rule, the cycle failures disappear.

Why does the cycle quite often become stable after childbirth, and sexuality flourishes?

The orchestra can rehearse as much as it wants, but it is finally played only when it performs its first concert from beginning to end. Pregnancy is the only purpose for which the reproductive system is designed in the body. Only after the first full pregnancy After childbirth and the period of breastfeeding, the reproductive system matures completely, since during this period all the functions provided by nature are realized. After pregnancy, a woman finally matures and all the not fully “unpacked” properties of the body finally begin to work in full force.

The reproductive system must be used for its intended purpose - this is important; menstruation is not a function of the reproductive system, but a monthly reminder that it exists at all and is still working.

Let's step beyond 30...

Time passes, the reproductive system, which on average is allotted to exist in working order for 38 years (from 13 to 51), instead of performing its function is limited only to regular menstruation.

For reference: on average, a woman experiences about 400 menstruation during her life (with 2 births) and loses about 32 liters of blood, while during reproductive behavior (pregnancy, childbirth, 3 years of breastfeeding, and only then 1-2 menstruation and pregnancy again ) there are about 40 menstruation periods.

In addition, as a woman ages, her history of various gynecological and general diseases, and all this begins to affect the state of the reproductive system and, therefore, is reflected in menstrual irregularities. Inflammation, abortion, gynecological operations, overweight or underweight, general chronic diseases may cause problems.

Menstrual irregularities in the form of delays or earlier onset of menstruation a couple of times a year can occur even in the absence of any pathology.

As a rule, this is due to climate change or other stresses on the body (illness, hard work, personal problems, etc.). All nervous professions can lead to either delays in menstruation, their earlier onset or complete cessation.

Every woman is different, so everyone's cycle will change differently depending on the type of stress response and the phase of the cycle in which it occurs. For most women nervous work have no effect on their menstrual cycle at all. Cycle disorders, especially if it was stable before, often make a woman think that something is wrong with her. Not in all cases you need to panic.

If you can clearly remember any negative events in the recent past that greatly shocked you, then most likely this is a one-time cycle disruption and there is nothing wrong with it. If there is no menstruation for a very long time (and the pregnancy test is negative), then you need to consult a doctor. If menstruation came earlier and does not end, this is also a reason to rush to see a gynecologist.

Sometimes Cyclic disorders can manifest as very frequent menstruation(several times a month). And there is no need to delay it - see a doctor immediately.
But if the regularity of the cycle disappears completely– this is also a reason to see a doctor.

Regularity– the main indicator of the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Sometimes it happens that a cycle had one duration and suddenly becomes shorter while maintaining its regularity. As a rule, this is due to the fact that the second phase of the cycle becomes shorter, as the corpus luteum begins to work less. Such changes are more often observed closer to 40 years. This is not a reason to panic, but simply a reflection that your reproductive system will change as you age, just like you.

Early menopause

This is one of the very common fears of women. In fact, this fear is exaggerated, since early menopause quite rare. It is mainly due to rare congenital diseases, rare systemic diseases, a consequence of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy at oncological diseases) and other rare conditions. There are situations when, as a result of surgery, a woman’s ovary or part of it is removed. Then menopause may occur earlier due to the fact that there is little tissue left in the ovaries that could support the normal functioning of the reproductive system.

Early menopause As a rule, it is manifested by the cessation of menstruation and the appearance of symptoms of insufficiency of female sex hormones (hot flashes, irritability, tearfulness, insomnia, etc.). There is no prevention of this disease.

Painful periods and PMS

For some reason it is generally accepted that bad feeling This is normal during menstruation. Presence of pain, nausea, migraines during menstruation is not normal. This condition painful menstruation called dysmenorrhea and requires treatment. Even if these phenomena are expressed insignificantly, they can and should be corrected.

Dysmenorrhea it happens like primary(most often in at a young age), when it is most likely due to simply the immaturity of the reproductive system and secondary– when it is a reflection of a number of serious gynecological diseases.

The same applies to premenstrual syndrome. In general, the widespread popularization of this syndrome allows women to attribute their sometimes not entirely adequate actions and behavior to manifestations of this syndrome. However, PMS is not a woman’s personality trait., which everyone has to put up with. PMS is a disease, which has incompletely understood causes, whole list symptoms and specific therapeutic measures. Manifestations of PMS can and should be corrected. Take monthly illness for granted in modern conditions wrong. If you have such problems, consult a doctor.

How it all ends

Decline of the reproductive system usually occurs in the same way as its formation. Menstruation becomes irregular and there is a tendency to be delayed. This is due to the same reasons as in the beginning.

The ovaries respond less well to stimuli from the brain. It is not possible to grow follicles that could reach ovulation - accordingly, the cycle is delayed. If ovulation occurs periodically, the resulting corpus luteum does not work well. Because of this, periods either start earlier or, on the contrary, are delayed for a long time. Eventually your periods will stop, and if you haven't had them for more than 6 months, you should see a doctor. Based on hormonal tests and ultrasound, the onset of menopause can be assumed.

Sometimes there are cases when menstruation stops for a long time, and according to tests and ultrasound, the onset of menopause is expected. This can be especially frightening for young women. However, this may only be a temporary period, and menstruation may resume on its own, for example after proper rest.

Thus, the myth that 28 days is the norm and everything that differs from this figure is pathology has been debunked. The main thing in the menstrual cycle is its regularity, and the duration of the cycle can fluctuate over a wide range.

And yet, there is a simple rule, if you regularly go through preventive examination see a gynecologist (at least once a year), if any disorders appear, do not put off an “unpleasant” trip to the gynecologist - then you will almost never have serious gynecological problems.