
Services
GYNAECOLOGY
MENSTRUAL ABNORMALITIES
What are menstrual abnormalities?
The normal length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, but this may differ from person to person. Irregular menstruation occurs when the duration of the cycle is more than 35 days, or if the duration varies from month to month. Periods may be irregular if the duration between each period changes, you lose more or less blood during a period than usual.
Menstrual abnormalities may be caused by:
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Stress
- Uterine fibroids
- Too much exercise
- Hormonal imbalances
- Thyroid problems
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Infections
- Precancerous conditions of the uterine lining cells
What are the related symptoms of menstrual abnormalities?
Menstrual abnormalities may cause symptoms such as:
- - Abnormal menstrual bleeding
- - Pain or cramping
- - Stress
- - Bloating or fullness
- - Headaches
- - Depression
- - Diarrhoea
- - Insomnia
Symptoms may differ each month. If your period frequently arrives too early, not often enough or lasts longer than ten days, seek medical attention as it may be a sign of a menstrual abnormality.
There are different types of menstrual abnormalities, namely:
- - Abnormal uterine bleeding, which is characterised by prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding
- - Absent periods, called amenorrhea
- - Light or infrequent menstruation called oligomenorrhea.
- - Uterine fibroids
- - Premenstrual syndrome
- - Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
How are menstrual abnormalities treated?
Irregular menstruation doesn’t require any treatment unless there is an underlying condition that is affecting your menstrual cycle. Dr Vatharajh may recommend the following, depending on your condition:

Changing birth control:
If you experience irregular periods after three months of using hormonal birth control, the gynaecologist may suggest that you change the type of birth control.

Lifestyle changes:
In some cases, some women have irregular periods due to too much exercise. Dr Vatharajh may recommend that you make your workouts less intense, or exercise less often. If stress is the cause of your irregular periods, you will be advised to either talk to a counsellor or learn to manage your stress.

Hormone therapy:
Irregular menstruation may be caused by an imbalance of certain hormones in the body. The gynaecologist may prescribe oral contraceptives that contain oestrogen and progesterone hormones, to help control irregular periods.

Surgery:
In some cases, scarring or structural problems of the uterus or fallopian tubes, may cause irregular periods. Surgery is used to correct any structural problems or birth defects, especially if you want to have children.

