Synonyms
menstrual cramps, cycle disorder, bleeding abnormality, menstrual pain
Definition
Menstrual disorders are understood to be a disorder in the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is repeated approximately every 28 days between two menstrual periods, beginning with the first menstrual period and ending with the next menstrual period. In this phase the woman is sexually mature and this sexual maturity is in the period between the menarche (first menstruation; menstrual period; period) at the age of 10 to 16 years and the menopause (phase after the last menstruation) from the age of 40 to 55 years.
Reasons for menstrual disorders can be the duration, intensity and frequency of bleeding. The causes of menstrual disorders can be hormonal or genetic. Defects of the sexual organs (e.g. insufficiency of the ovaries, polyps/myomas), defects of the internal organs (liver, kidney, thyroid gland) or diabetes can also lead to menstrual disorders.
During the menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus is prepared and modified for the implantation of a fertilized egg. This change is hormonally controlled by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus releases the hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the production of the hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the pituitary gland.
LH and FSH then stimulate the production of the sex hormones androgen and estrogen in the ovaries. These sex hormones in turn regulate menstrual bleeding and menstrual cycles. If this hormonal control is disrupted, the result would be a menstrual disorder.
Psychological causes, such as stress or problems in the partnership/family life can also lead to hormonal disorders and thus to menstrual disorders. In addition to thyroid diseases, obesity (overweight), anorexia nervosa (anorexia) and contraceptives, which can lead to menstrual disorders, polyps (tumours) and tumours in the area of the reproductive organs can also be causes. Causes of primary amenorrhoea can be hormonal disorders, disorders of ovary function, chromosomal disorders or atresia (congenital closure of a body orifice) of the uterus or vagina.
In secondary amenorrhea, pregnancy and lactation can be a physiological cause. Pathological causes that can lead to menstrual disorders are ovarian tumors, psychological problems, anorexia and hormonal disorders. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cycle-dependent symptom.
Days to weeks before menstrual bleeding, women suffer from depressive moods, migraines, feelings of tension in the breasts and irritability. These symptoms usually subside again when menstruation begins. But not all women suffer from PMS. Other complaints can be painful menstrual bleeding (dysmenorrhea), fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea (diarrhea) and constipation (constipation).
