Menstrual disorders due to alcohol
Excessive consumption of alcohol has many harmful effects on the organism. Especially the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system and the liver can suffer permanent damage. However, alcohol also affects the body’s hormone balance.
Women who are not yet in the menopause notice this, among other things, in menstrual disorders (oligomenorrhoea) or the absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhoea). This is due to the fact that the production of the female sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone) can be reduced with regular alcohol consumption. The ovaries, which are responsible for the production of these hormones, stop part of their function under the influence of excessive alcohol, so that the hormone levels are lowered.
Since the female sex hormones control the menstrual cycle, this is also disturbed secondarily. Likewise, continuous alcohol consumption can lead to anovulatory menstrual bleeding, which means that menstrual bleeding occurs but without ovulation having occurred beforehand. Women who drink a lot of alcohol are therefore often less fertile than women who abstain from alcohol.
In addition, if pregnant, alcohol increases the risk of malformations or developmental disorders of the child, as well as of a miscarriage or premature birth. In case of menstrual disorders, it is advisable to abstain from alcohol and nicotine, so that the body’s hormone balance can regulate itself again. Alcohol and nicotine should be avoided at all costs, especially if you are planning to have a child or are pregnant.
Menstrual disorders during puberty
With the beginning of puberty the first menstruation begins. The hormone balance changes and the ovaries become active.The first menstrual period is usually very weak and the intervals between bleedings are still very irregular. Usually the next bleeding starts after 21-45 days.
This is due to the fact that the body has yet to adjust the balance in hormone production until the menstrual cycle can be regulated. This takes longer for some girls and less for others. After about three years most women have reached a regular cycle, but it can take up to six years before the cycle follows a really stable rhythm.
However, the duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle also depends heavily on external factors. Girls who are severely underweight (anorexia) or overweight (obesity) during puberty get their first menstrual period much later and much more irregularly than girls of normal weight. Girls who take hormonal contraceptives may also suffer from menstrual disorders.
This occurs particularly in the first few months of taking them, until the body has become accustomed to the new hormonal situation. However, even after a longer period of use without complications, bleeding may occur for the first time. The same applies after discontinuing the hormone preparations.
Psychological stress also has a major influence on the hormone balance. Last but not least, the female menstrual cycle is also influenced by intense physical activity. Due to all these factors, the onset of menstruation can be irregular. However, it is extremely rare that bleeding does not occur for more than 90 days and usually has other causes. In this case, for example, a malfunction of the ovaries, other hormonal diseases and pregnancy must be ruled out.
