Are you one of those people who wonder why my periods are delayed?
Wondering what’s the correct menstrual cycle? Confused and worried about why it differs from others ?
The ‘time-table’ of menstruation
Menstruation duration differs from woman to woman. The length, regularity, frequency, and pattern of menstrual blood loss are used to define the menstrual cycle in general. In the middle of the reproductive years (i.e. 15 – 49 years), the average menstrual cycle lasts between 28 to 30 days with an average menstrual duration of 4-5 days. Maximum bleeding occurs during the first 2 days of the cycle and the amount of blood lost during a period is between 25 and 35 ml.
What could go wrong ?
What can affect these cycles ? Possible causes of menstrual dysfunction ? What makes your periods delayed or absent?
Well there’s lot of factors that could affect your hormones. From the food you eat to the stress and lifestyle habits.
Menstrual dysfunction mostly encompases :
- menorrhagia (excessive menstrual blood loss)
- dysmenorrhea (painful periods);
- irregular, frequent, and prolonged periods;
- oligomenorrhea (infrequent or scanty periods);
- amenorrhea (absent menstrual periods)
These menstrual dysfunction by themselves can be a disorder or can be a symptom for other underlying disorders.
The most worrisome condition is PCOS – PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome, where the real cause hasn’t been identified and its symptoms have a huge effect on the overall health of the women.
The hormonal imbalance can cause menstrual dysfunction by not sending apt signals for the hormone production and activation which causes delay or absence of periods.
Why should PCOS be addressed ?
The importance for PCOS attention
The most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age is probably polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), with 1 in 5 women in India having PCOS symptoms. Primary care providers frequently are not aware of the severe morbidity associated with the syndrome, both in terms of reproductive and non-reproductive events.
A woman’s quality of life during her reproductive years may be greatly impacted by the condition, which also raises her risk of morbidity and mortality by the menopause.
Hyperandrogenism and anovulation
PCOS is extremely prevalent and is estimated to be present in 5–7% of reproductive-age women if we consider the diagnosis to be based on hyperandrogenism and anovulation.
What could happen if PCOS left unattended
Infertility and pregnancy loss
The majority of women with PCOS have anovulation. With this comes infertility as well as problems of dysfunctional bleeding. Perhaps the most frustrating reproductive concern for women with PCOS is pregnancy loss.
A third or so of all pregnancies in PCOS result in spontaneous abortions. This is at least twice as common as recognised early abortion rates (12–15%) among healthy women. Uncertain causes have been proposed, but they include abnormal embryos from atretic oocytes, high LH levels, insufficient progesterone secretion, and an aberrant endometrium.
Obesity
Overall obesity is present in approximately 44% of women with PCOS. Because of hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance, the obesity of PCOS is of the android (central) type, which results in an increased waist-to-hip ratio and which is highly associated with diabetes mellitus and increased cardiovascular risk.
Insulin sensitivity
Insulin resistance occurs in the majority of women with PCOS. All women with PCOS are therefore at risk to develop impaired glucose tolerance and overt type 2 diabetes.In a recent study, impaired glucose tolerance was found in 31% of women of reproductive age, with PCOS and diabetes in 7.5%. In nonobese PCOS these figures were 10.3% and 1.5%, a rate almost 3-fold that of the normal population
Diabetes’s morbidity is well established. Therefore, diabetes screenings and regular monitoring are necessary for even young women with PCOS. This assumes an even higher significance in women who want to become pregnant and ought to be a key component of preconceptional counselling.
Cancer
Women with PCOS are at increased risk of endometrial cancer. Chronic unopposed oestrogen exposure is probably the proximate risk factor. This may be confounded by obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which are known correlates of endometrial cancer risk.
What can we do ?
To combat PCOS is quite tough because it’s a lifestyle disorder but that doesn’t make it impossible to combat it. What we can do is manage the symptoms of PCOS – along with menstrual dysfunction PCOS has a series of other symptoms like facial hairs, hairloss, acne. Addressing the symptoms and understanding the root cause helps to combat the disorder in a better way.
But How ?
That’s where CysterCare steps in, the hormonal imbalance can occur because of various factors starting from nutrition to stress.
To address every symptom and its triggering factors is important in the management of PCOS. CysterCare helps you understand the process, encounter possible causes for the hormonal imbalance and provide beneficial ways to effectively manage PCOS in a long shot.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
A normal menstrual cycle typically lasts between 28 to 30 days with an average menstrual duration of 4-5 days. However, the duration and regularity can vary from woman to woman.
Common menstrual dysfunctions include menorrhagia (excessive bleeding), dysmenorrhea (painful periods), irregular or prolonged periods, oligomenorrhea (scanty periods), and amenorrhea (absent periods).
PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal disorder that can cause menstrual irregularities, anovulation (lack of ovulation), and other symptoms like facial hair growth, hair loss, and acne.
PCOS can lead to anovulation, resulting in infertility for many women. Additionally, women with PCOS may experience a higher risk of pregnancy loss or miscarriages.
Untreated PCOS can lead to complications such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, endometrial cancer, and cardiovascular issues. Early intervention and management are crucial to address these risks.
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