If you're a person who experiences menstruation, you can become accustomed to a myriad of quirky occurrences associated with your cycle.
For instance, when you ominously skipped a cycle, sparking fear of a possible unplirth. Or when you experienced such severe menstrual pains that you opted to stay in on a Friday evening instead of joining your friends at a newly opened eating joint.
Or perhaps there was a time when your period was so intense that you stained your pants, and you were compelled to cover up with a coat tied around your midriff. Maybe, this happened only to me?
Throughout the years, one learns over time to anticipate the unanticipated. Having said that, despite the inconvenience and poorly-timed occurrences during your menstruation cycle, it need not be a painful ordeal.
Symptoms such as excessive bleeding, prolonged cramps or discomfort during intimate activities are not ordinary conditions - you rightfully deserve to be heeded, given necessary attention and your symptoms examined meticulously to find out if there is an underlying issue.
Here's what symptoms gynecologists keep an ear out for and suggestions on when you should seek professional aid.
1. Cramping and Discomfort during Menstruation
Experiencing cramps throughout your menstrual cycle is a normal phenomenon. In fact, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), over half of individuals experience some level of pain for one to two days during their menstruating phase.
This is due to biological processes within your body - prostaglandins, hormones released by your uterine lining, lead to uterine contractions (or cramps) which aid in the process of bleeding. Prostaglandin levels peak typically on the first day of your menstruation cycle leading to heightened discomfort at that time.
However, persistent or excruciating pain through your entire period isn't an expectation but rather a potential indicator for medical conditions like endometriosis," notes Dr. Jaime Seeman, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue akin to your uterine lining grows outside your uterus. This condition affects over 11 percent of people who menstruate between ages 15 and 44 with particular prominence in their mid-life years as per statistics from the Office on Women's Health.
Other possible causes behind painful periods could include fibroids (growth formations on the uterus), adenomyosis (which happens when uterine lining expands into muscular parts of the uterus) or gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease categorised under Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD)-ACOG mentions this conclusion.
Moreover, if severe cramping continues all through your menstrual cycle leading towards disruption in daily life activities then Dr. Seeman recommends taking it seriously.
"I inquire from my patients whether their menstrual discomfort prevents them from attending school, work or participating in normally enjoyable activities. Reaching a point where leaving home doesn't seem feasible due to intense pain warrants special attention," she further emphasizes.
2. Profuse Menstrual Flow
According to Dr. Seeman, defining excessive menstrual bleeding can be subjective.
Generally, if one soaks through a tampon or sanitary pad every hour or two, it could indicate abnormal heavy flow. These products are usually designed to serve for at least four hours, states Dr. Seeman.
Furthermore, specific products have the capability to absorb up to twelve hours' worth of menstrual blood.
Suppose you find yourself having a fully soaked tampon within an hour or a filled menstrual cup just after few hours; it's crucial that you consult your doctor about this alarming issue without delay.
Also according to ACOG, if your menstruation lasts over seven days continuously and requires changing pads during sleep time due to heavy flow or finding blood clots larger than the average quarter size in frequency should trigger medical attention immediately.
Excessive irregular bleeding might portray symptoms various health conditions such as fibroids and polyps, endometriosis or rarely even endometrial cancer as per ACOG.
Endometrial cancer is predominantly diagnosed amongst individuals having uteruses nearing 65 years of age. However,in contrast with previous statistics showing elevated detection rates amongst younger populations had been displayed in a March 2020 publication by International Journal Of Gyncological Cancer. Alterations indicated that fifteen percent results pitched for people under fifty whilst five percent stood for those aged below forty.
Conducive factors resulting towards potential implications of endometrial cancer encompass obesity , being nulliparous(never conceived children) , experiencing inconsistent periods and diabetes . Dominant symptom exhibited includes aberrant vaginal bleeding referencing from The American Cancer Society.
If you are bewildered about the normalcy of your menstrual bleeding, it's absolutely advisable to speak with your doctor timely. They can conduct comprehensive checks such as ultrasounds for understanding better.
Tip
Remember, certain birth control solutions like the implant or Depo-Provera shot, may provoke minor spotting and bleeding between cycles. They might also lead to more abundant menstrual bleeding(if you opt for a method where you still menstruate), according to the University of Colorado. Consult with your healthcare provider about what symptoms are typical while utilizing these strategies and communicate any experiences that deviate from your "normal".
3. Anomaly in Menstrual Bleeding
When it comes to inconsistencies in your menstrual cycle, there's a range of causes if you usually experience regular periods but have suddenly experienced a delay or completely missed for a month.
"Dietary changes, prescribed medications, emotional stress or even neglecting to take your hormonal birth control pill can cause bleeding that isn't related to your period," Dr. Seeman explains. If you're aware of the possible trigger- say you're sure you omitted taking a pill - then maybe there is no need to worry.
Nevertheless, if identifying the root cause of your disrupted menstrual cycle proves challenging and you are experiencing other symptoms linked with reproductive health (like those discussed here), another issue may be underway. Such symptoms could hint towards conditions like endometriosis or fibroids, therefore it's recommended that you seek medical attention.
Your doctor might administer tests like Pap smear test, pelvic inspection or even an ultrasound scan to determine what exactly is causing this change.
4. Pelvic Discomfort
A particular symptom that may raise alarms is discomfort in the pelvic region which occurs outside of your standard menstruation timeframe. While you can certainly experience pain on occasion due to a variety of reasons linked with reproductive health.
Dr. Seeman states that slight pelvic discomfort is not unusual during ovulation – when an egg is discharged, there could be traces of blood and some mild discomfort lasting for one or two hours.
However, if your pelvic uneasiness isn't connected with ovulation, isn't light or short-term then it might warrant investigations by your doctor who would look out for potential gynecological issues such as endometriosis, fibroids, or polyps.
Moreover, if you are experiencing gastrointestinal signs like constipation or diarrhea along with this pain, a referral to a gastroenterologist to rule out disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (or IBD) could be needed since the unease may well stem from bowel spasms according to Dr.Seeman .
Apart from these conditions urinary tract infections could also lead to serious pelvic pain and though less common ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer should not be dismissed as potential causes adds Dr.Seeman.
5. Discomfort During Sexual Intercourse
Dr. Seeman notes, "Sex should not cause pain."
Uncomfort might be experienced in certain sexual positions that could warrant a change to something more suitable and continue with the intercourse. However, regularly experiencing pain is another matter altogether.
Such experiences can provoke feelings of frustration and avoidance towards this type of sex or even refrain from all sexual activities.
"There are various possibilities I consider when patients complain about experiencing pain during sexual intercourse," mentions Dr. Seeman. Conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, infections or problems in the pelvic floor region could potentially result in such discomfort.
Apart from physical factors, it's crucial to contemplate the psychological aspect related to any kind of sexual activity too. It's probable for people who have vaginas to suffer from conditions like vaginismus (muscle spasms occurring within the vagina) or vulvodynia (an unidentified reason leading to vulvar discomfort); as pointed out by ACOG.
Talking things over with an authorized therapist or a sex therapist might prove useful for resolving these sorts of issues or if there are unwelcome sentiments needing sorting through.
Suggestion
Please discuss any discomfort you feel during intimacy with your healthcare professional, regardless of whether it is from a physical or emotional concern. Your genital organs might need examination to determine if there are no anatomical hindrances. If everything seems alright structurally, they can explore other potential culprits causing the issue.
6. Post-Coital Bleeding
It should not be an expectation to experience bleeding after sexual intercourse, with the exception being an individual's first sexual encounter involving penetration. It is fairly normal during this instance for light post-coital bleeding to occur as noted by Planned Parenthood.
If you maintain a consistency of bleeding subsequent to sex and it isn't your initial encounter, medical professionals like Dr. Seeman can grow concerned that such a problem may derive from endometrial or cervical polyps.
These types of growths are often benign in nature and frequently appear either on the uterus or cervix, harbouring blood vessels which might trigger light post-intercourse bleeding. In addition to setting off irregular menstrual cycles between periods, they could also cause heavier than usual periods according to Mount Sinai.
Gynaecologists have the ability to extract these polyps conveniently at their office.This is usually done by means of a gentle pulling process during pelvic examination.The detached polyp can then be analysed extensively at a lab facility.Verify if its identified as anomalous(although this occurs rarely), consulting Mount Sinai.
When You Should Consult With Your Doctor
Ignoring the temptation to self-diagnose your reproductive health issues through online sources, it is crucial that you consult with a gynecologist whenever unusual symptoms become evident.
Dr. Seeman cautions, "Social platforms cannot take the place of face-to-face consultation with your healthcare provider."
Presenting these tough and sometimes discomfiting topics should not deter you since physicians handle such cases regularly; they will not be shocked.
The scenarios described earlier are indicative of potential red flags concerning reproductive health problems. If any have been observed, book an appointment for a check-up. It signals the beginning of identifying what could potentially be causing discomfort, finding appropriate treatments, and ultimately achieving better health in future times.
