As the female body shows signs of transition from a girl into a woman, a lot of complex changes happen in the body. Menstrual cycle is one major symbol of the transition. With the fluctuating hormonal levels, innumerable changes occur in the body and it projects out in different ways in every woman. Check out 5 common menstrual problems suffered by women.
1. Pain during periods
When the lining of the womb sheds its layers, it leads to menstrual flow. This becomes painful at times, as your womb contracts during the process. Not everyone feels much pain, but for some it becomes unbearable. Studies say that if the pain is intolerable, it can be due to too many prostaglandins, or pain-causing chemicals that help in contraction.
2. Heavy blood flow
Another common menstrual problem is heavy blood flow or menorrhagia. Common signs include soaking of sanitary pad or tampon per hour, need to change pads overnight, heavy flow of blood that lasts for 7 days, flow that includes clots and the like. It generally happens due to imbalance in hormones or fibroid growth. Serious underlying problems like cancer can also not be neglected.
3. Irregular periods
An irregular period is another problem that most of the women are worried about. Early or late periods, prolonged days of periods, heavy or less flow of blood, come under the irregular periods category. This can happen due to the hormonal imbalance in the body or due to change in the method of contraception. Factors like polycystic ovary syndrome, weight loss or too much exercise can also cause hormonal imbalance resulting in irregular periods.
4. Mood swings and irritability
Premenstrual syndrome and perimenopause both cause mood swings and irritability. Intense hormonal changes are the main cause for this. Women who suffer from depression during this period might not have had a history of the same. Premenstrual symptoms like mood changes and irritability generally occurs a week before the cycle. Sometimes mood swings can seriously affect relationships, especially if the partner fails to understand the reason behind it.
5. Headache and bloating
Headache and bloating are common among women during periods. Both the hormones, estrogen and progesterone play a vital role in these changes. When estrogen production fluctuates or rather stops, the bile produced in the liver comes down leading to bloating from constipation. Also, low levels of estrogen triggers chemical reactions in the brain resulting in headaches.
Mainly caused by hormonal changes, women suffer from various menstrual problems in their life. Though most of the symptoms are harmless, some can be a warning symptom of an underlying disease. So, if you feel the symptoms are out of control, consult your gynecologist at the earliest.
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