Menstrual Disorders Specialist

What are menstrual disorders?

Menstrual disorders are complications involving your menstrual cycle. They often affect the way you bleed during your menstrual periods or the frequency of your menstrual periods. A menstrual disorder might cause:

• Excessive menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain and cramps
• Bloating
• Depression
• Headaches
• No menstrual cycle or infrequent periods

If you rarely get menstrual periods or if they come too frequently, V CARE OB/GYN evaluates you to find out if you have a menstrual disorder. Your provider might perform a pelvic exam, blood testing, ultrasound imaging, or other diagnostic techniques to find out why your periods are abnormal. They may also ask you to keep a journal of when you get your periods and the characteristics of your bleeding and symptoms. 

What are some common menstrual disorders?

A few of the most common menstrual disorders are:

Amenorrhea

If you’ve gone three or more months without a menstrual period, you have amenorrhea. It can happen because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, obesity, an eating disorder, or other factors. 

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea involves severe cramping and uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, back pain, and headaches. It can come from a chemical imbalance in your body or an underlying condition, like endometriosis. 

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is heavy periods or periods that last for a long time, which can disrupt your life. It can come from factors like hormone imbalances, uterine fibroids, or other complications.

Oligomenorrhea

Oligomenorrhea is the opposite of menorrhagia. It presents very light or infrequent periods. 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS is characterized by any symptom you get before your period. Common PMS symptoms are bloating, acne, headaches, and irritability.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD is like PMS but more severe. It involves drastic emotions and physical discomfort before your periods.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause irregular or infrequent periods.

How are menstrual disorders treated?

Your treatment depends on the type of menstrual disorder you have and its underlying cause. Your V CARE OB/GYN provider might use one or more of these approaches to treat your menstrual disorder:

Lifestyle changes

In some cases, changing your diet or altering certain habits like drinking or smoking can help treat abnormal symptoms associated with your period. Adequate sleep is also important to hormonal balance and regular periods.

Medications

Certain medications, like hormonal contraceptives, can regulate your menstrual cycle or reduce your bleeding. 

Surgery

V CARE OB/GYN might recommend surgery if other measures don’t treat your menstrual disorder. Your provider might use endometrial ablation to destroy your uterine lining or a hysterectomy to remove some or all of your uterus. 

To find out if a menstrual disorder is affecting your monthly cycle, call V CARE OB/GYN, or book an appointment online today.