Common Menstrual Problems

All women of childbearing age experience a menstrual period about once a month – but for some women, this normal occurrence causes considerable discomfort. Here are some of the most common menstrual problems:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Almost every woman is familiar with at least some of the symptoms of PMS. Here are some of the most common:

• Irritability
• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Bloating or fluid retention
• Feelings of sadness or depression – “the blues”

You can almost always get some relief from PMS symptoms by making healthy changes in your lifestyle, including:

• Exercise more – no one is sure why this helps, but it does.
• Stress control – this can help you cope with PMS symptoms more effectively.
• Diet – limiting sugar and caffeine helps.

A small minority of women suffer from debilitating PMS. If your PMS symptoms are so severe that they’re disrupting your life, see your doctor – there are hormonal treatments available that may help.

Cramps
More than half of all women suffer from abdominal cramps during the first few days of their menstrual periods. During your menstrual cycle, the uterine lining is built up in preparation for a pregnancy. When no pregnancy occurs, the lining is sloughed off, and your menstrual period occurs. The pain of cramps is caused when the uterus contracts slightly to help slough off the uterine lining. Most menstrual cramps are completely normal and don’t signify that something’s wrong. However, you should tell your doctor about your menstrual cramps, especially if they’re intense or become worse – this can be a symptom of an underlying disorder. Generally, a secondary cause for cramping pain is suspected when the pain lasts beyond the first three days of your period or occurs between periods. Secondary causes for cramping pain include:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroid (benign) tumors
• An ovarian cyst or tumor
• A sexually transmitted disease

For most women, over-the-counter ibuprofen tablets relieve most or all of the pain caused by cramps. If not, see your doctor for a prescription for a stronger analgesic drug.

Midcycle bleeding
If you experience bleeding in the middle of your menstrual cycle, you should call your doctor. Here are some common causes of midcycle bleeding or spotting:

• Early menopause
• Birth control pills
• Uterine or ovarian cancer
• Fibroid (benign) tumors
• Hormone imbalances – a result of pituitary gland problems or other causes
• Endometriosis