Most women’s bodies follow a monthly menstrual cycle throughout their reproductive years. While few look forward to their menstrual periods, up to 1 in 4 women suffers from a menstrual disorder.
Menstrual disorders include conditions like heavy periods, severe cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). These conditions can be painful and frustrating, and they can interfere with your ability to enjoy your life.
The types of menstrual disorders impact your body in different ways, but it’s important to know that they can be treated. Farly Sejour, MD, Natalie Gould, WHNP-BC, and our compassionate team at Solace Women’s Care offer a range of menstrual disorder treatments from hormonal birth control to endometrial ablation.
If you suffer from a menstrual disorder that makes your monthly cycles painful or otherwise unbearable, managing your condition can offer you:
Many menstrual disorders make your menstrual cycles and your periods unpredictable. Menorrhagia (heavy bleeding) can make your periods last much longer than the usual seven days.
Metrorrhagia causes irregular periods and spotting between periods, while oligomenorrhea is a condition that causes infrequent and unpredictable periods.
Whether they’re long, short, or infrequent, irregular periods are annoying. Treating your underlying menstrual disorder can help your body follow a more regular cycle, so you know when to expect your period and roughly how long it will last each month.
Women with menorrhagia often have unusually heavy or long menstrual periods. Heavy bleeding is common, but many women don’t know that what they experience each month isn’t normal — and they don’t seek treatment.
Treating menorrhagia can reduce the flow and duration of your period. In general, your period shouldn’t last longer than seven days. Period flow should be manageable with a single pad or tampon.
If you have to wear more than one pad or change pads or tampons more than once an hour, your menstrual flow may be too heavy.
Menstrual cramps before and during your period are common. But severe pain that limits your usual activities is never normal. Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual disorder that causes severe cramps, and it shouldn’t be ignored.
Treating dysmenorrhea can reduce the pain you experience in the days leading up to and during your period. While you may still feel cramps, they should not limit your activities or induce other symptoms like nausea or vomiting.
The mood swings that accompany PMS and PMDD can seriously impact your daily life. Anxiety, anger, depression, irritability, and more can make you feel like you aren’t in control of your own emotions.
PMS and PMDD are intense, but they’re treatable. By addressing the underlying cause, you may find that your moods are less extreme and more predictable as your monthly period approaches.
Your menstrual cycle governs your fertility. An irregular or unpredictable cycle may mean that your body isn’t ovulating normally — and if you don’t ovulate, you can’t get pregnant.
If you’re trying to have a baby, identifying and treating your menstrual disorder can help regulate your menstrual cycles. More regular menstrual cycles are easier to track, so you can identify when you're most fertile and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Menstrual disorders are common, and they impact your health in a number of ways. If you suffer from heavy, painful periods, irregular cycles, or another condition, book an appointment at Solace Women’s Care.
Dr. Sejour and our team provide comprehensive gynecology care to identify what’s causing your symptoms, and help you find a treatment plan that fits your needs. Call our Conroe, Texas, office at 936-441-7100 or send us a message online today.
