COMMON PERIOD PROBLEMS

(Appropriate for ages 12+)

Periods can be painful and heavy, however, always be on the lookout for severe symptoms. If ANY of your PMS symptoms make it hard for you to function daily contact your doctor. Below is a list of common menstrual problems that you may experience. If you have symptoms of any of these, please contact your doctor.

• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) 
  • Dysmenorrhea is period pain. Though some period cramps are normal, mild to moderate ones can still disrupt everyday life. Severe cramps may even require prescribed painkillers. Typically the treatment for dysmenorrhea is painkillers. Midol is a painkiller specifically made for period cramps and other PMS symptoms.
  • Causes of Dysmenorrhea may be…..
    • smoking
    • stress
    • a higher body mass index, also known as BMI
    • attempts to lose weight
    • depression or anxiety
    • heavy periods
    • a family history of painful periods 
    • intrauterine devices (IUDs)
    • pelvic scarring from sexually transmitted infections
    • endometriosis
    • uterine fibroids
    • ovarian cysts
• Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods) 
  • A period is classified as menorrhagia if it lasts longer than 8 days or requires a new pad every 1-2 hours. Having Menorrhagia is normal for your first few years of menstruating, however, if it continues after the first year or is excessively heavy, contact a doctor immediately 
  • Causes of Menorrhagia may be…..
    • obesity, as fat cells make a form of estrogen that can affect periods
    • uterine polyps and fibroids
    • pelvic inflammatory disease
    • hypothyroidism
    • bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease
    • kidney or liver disease
• Absent or Irregular Period 
  • An irregular period is when your period starts earlier or later than it normally should. This means that the time from the first day of your last period to the start of your next period is less than 24 days or more than 38 days.
  • An absent period means you have not had a period for three months or more. 
  • Having an irregular or absent period is normal, especially during puberty, after childbirth, or during perimenopause. If you are on birth control, take certain medications, or do high endurance training
  • However, contact a doctor if you are experiencing absent or irregular periods and do not have any of the above circumstances applicable to you.
  • Negative Causes of an Absent or Irregular Period….
    • emotional stress
    • extreme weight gain or loss
    • eating disorders, such as anorexia
    • hyperthyroidism
    • uncontrolled diabetes
    • polycystic ovary syndrome
    • pelvic inflammatory disease
    • high levels of the hormone prolactin, which is called hyperprolactinemia
    • primary ovarian insufficiency