Regulation of the menstrual cycle can take up to two years. After puberty, most women already have a regular menstrual cycle.
Menstrual bleeding usually lasts about five days, but can vary from two to seven days. The number of menstrual secretions in healthy women is 50-200 g, with clean blood containing 20-70 grams
Some women suffer from an irregular menstrual cycle - this is when the time between menstruation, as well as the amount of blood released during menstruation, varies considerably.
Oligomenorrhea - a violation of the menstrual cycle, accompanied by rare or irregular menstruation with an interval of more than 35 days and a duration of 2-3 days.
What are the causes of oligomenorrhoea?
There are many reasons that lead to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle:
1. Polycystic ovary syndrome - also known as PCOS, or Stein-Leventhal syndrome. In this disease in the ovaries many formations are formed - cysts. This condition is characterized by irregular menstruation, obesity, acne and hirsutism - excessive hair growth. Women with PCOS have chronic disorders of ovarian function, an abnormally high level of androgens in particular - testosterone (hyperandrogenism). According to research, about 5% to 10% of women of reproductive age suffer from PCOS. In women suffering from PCOS, anovulatory menstrual cycles. Patients with PCOS have a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) of diabetes, heart disease, endometriosis, and uterine cancer. Experts argue that in many cases, weight loss and constant exercise can reduce the likelihood of these risks.
2. Imbalance of female sex hormones, which can lead to irregular menstruation, can also be caused by:
- Extreme weight loss . A low mass of the body is a common cause of the irregular menstrual cycle.
- Intensive weight gain. Obesity can sometimes cause problems with the menstrual cycle.
- Emotional stress .
- Food disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can lead to hormonal imbalance, resulting in an irregular menstrual cycle
- Heavy physical loads - women who are engaged in power sports, too, may have problems with the menstrual cycle.
3. Age
- The period of puberty - irregular menstruation for several years of puberty, is normal.
- The period of menopause - during menopause in women, there are violations of the menstrual cycle. Lean bleeding can be replaced by uterine bleeding.
4. Breastfeeding - most women do not have or do not have regular menstruation while breastfeeding continues.
5. Diseases of the thyroid gland - irregular menstruation can be caused by diseases of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces hormones that affect the metabolism of our body.
6. Contraceptives - IUD (intrauterine spiral), can cause severe bleeding, and taking birth control pills may be accompanied by spotting between menstruation. When using contraceptive pills, for the first time, it is not uncommon for a woman, and the phenomenon is passing.
7. Oncological diseases - bleeding between menstruation can be caused by cervical cancer or uterine cancer. Oncological diseases can also be accompanied by bloody discharge and during sex. Severe bleeding, with such oncological diseases is rare
8. Endometriosis is a disease in which the growth of endometrial tissue occurs (which in its morphological features resembles the mucous membrane of the uterus) outside the uterine cavity. The endometrium is a layer of the uterus that is rejected during menstruation and comes out in the form of bloody discharge. So, during menstruation in the organs affected by endometriosis, the same changes occur as in the endometrium.
9. Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs are infectious diseases of the female reproductive system. With early detection - they can be treated with antibiotics. However, if the infection is not recognized in time it spreads to the fallopian tubes and the uterus can lead to the chronic disease, in the worst case to severe consequences. Chronic process is accompanied by constant pain, infertility. Of the many symptoms, intermenstrual bleeding and spotting during sex are also prominent.