A menstrual cycle, most often called a period, is a monthly occurrence in a female's life. Menstruation is the process of shedding blood and tissue from the uterus. It usually lasts from 4 to 8days. Periods typically begin between the ages of 12 to 14, but for certain females, they can occur when the women are a lot younger or older. Typical menstrual cycles are 28 days long and show up nearly the same time each month (within 24 to 38 days of each other). However, some people experience abnormal periods. This guide goes over a list of abnormal periods and the symptoms of each one.
Metrorrhagia
Metrorrhagia is a condition that causes bleeding between periods. It can be heavy or light bleeding. In order to get an official diagnosis for metrorrhagia, your gynecologist will determine if there is a pattern to the bleeding, rule out ovulation bleeding, and run a pregnancy test. Once that has been checked, the doctor will test to find the cause of the metrorrhagia. There are many things that cause this condition, such as the following:
A thorough examination will be done until the gynecologist has found the underlying cause of metrorrhagia. Once it has been determined, a treatment plan will be set up.
Oligomenorrhea
Oligomenorrhea is the opposite of metrorrhagia. It is a condition where women have infrequent periods and usually occurs in females of childbearing age. Oligomenorrhea is the absence of a period for longer than 35 days on a regular basis. Some of the causes of this condition include the following:
A pregnancy test will be administered since it is also a cause of infrequent periods. After the gynecologist has found out the reason for the condition, you can be treated for it. The treatment varies depending on the cause of the condition.
Conclusion
The best way to know if your period is on time is to track it each month. You can mark it down on a calendar to have a visual history. There are also several apps that track your period. They also give the estimate of your next menstrual cycle so you know if you are early, on time, or late. If your cycle starts to show significant changes, you should consult your doctor.
For more information on issues within gynecology, contact a gynecologist.