IRREGULAR MENSES HOLISTIC WAY TO REGULARISE MENSTRUATION

 

Every woman is different including her periods. Some happen like clockwork. Others are hit or miss and unpredictable. A normal menstrual cycle is characterized by an approximate flow of 30 mL per period, which lasts for 2 to 8 days and occurs with a mean interval of 21 to 35 days.

Menstrual problems include:

·        Periods that occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart

·        Missing three or more periods in a row

·        Menstrual flow that is much heavier or lighter than usual

·        Periods that last longer than seven days

·        Periods that are accompanied by pain, cramping, nausea, or vomiting

·        Bleeding or spotting that happens between periods, after menopause, or following sex

Abnormal menstruation include

·        Amenorrhea is a condition in which a woman’s periods have stopped completely. The absence of a period for 90 days or more is considered abnormal unless a woman is pregnant, breastfeeding, or going through menopause (which generally occurs for women between ages 45 and 55). Young women who haven't started menstruating by age 15 or 16 or within three years after their breasts begin to develop are also considered to have amenorrhea.

·        Oligo menorrhea refers to periods that occur infrequently.

·        Dysmenorrhea refers to painful periods and severe menstrual cramps. Some discomfort during the cycle is normal for most women.

·        Abnormal uterine bleeding may apply to a variety of menstrual irregularities, including: a heavier menstrual flow; a period that lasts longer than seven days; or bleeding or spotting between periods, after sex, or after menopause.

Aetiology

There are many causes of abnormal periods, ranging from stress to more serious underlying medical conditions:

Stress and lifestyle factors - Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight, dieting, Changes in exercise routines, travel, illness, or other disruptions in a woman's daily routine can have an impact on her menstrual cycle. Body fat affects the amount of oestrogen your body produces. Women with more fat will produce more oestrogen than women with less fat. This increase in oestrogen can cause irregular, missed, or heavy periods.

Birth control pills - Most birth control pills contain a combination of the hormones oestrogen and progestin (some contain progestin alone). The pills prevent pregnancy by keeping the ovaries from releasing eggs. Going on or off birth control pills can affect menstruation. Some women have irregular or missed periods for up to six months after discontinuing birth control pills. This is an important consideration when you are planning on conception and becoming pregnant. Women who take birth control pills that contain progestin only may have bleeding between periods.

Uterine polyps or fibroids - Uterine polyps are small benign (noncancerous) growths in the lining of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are tumors that attach to the wall of the uterus. There may be one or several fibroids that range from as small as an apple seed to the size of a grapefruit. These tumors are usually benign, but they may cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods. If the fibroids are large, they might put pressure on the bladder or rectum, causing discomfort.

Endometriosis. - The endometrial tissue that lines the uterus breaks down every month and is discharged with the menstrual flow. Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue starts to grow outside the uterus. Often, the endometrial tissue attaches itself to the ovaries or fallopian tubes; it sometimes grows on the intestines or other organs in the lower digestive tract and in the area between your rectum and uterus. Endometriosis may cause abnormal bleeding, cramps or pain before and during periods, and painful intercourse.

Pelvic inflammatory disease - Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection that affects the female reproductive system. Bacteria may enter the vagina via sexual contact and then spread to the uterus and upper genital tract. Bacteria might also enter the reproductive tract via gynaecologic procedures or through childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. Symptoms of PID include a heavy vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour, irregular periods, pain in the pelvic and lower abdominal areas, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Polycystic ovary syndrome -  In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the ovaries make large amounts of androgens, which are male hormones. Small fluid-filled sacs (cysts) may form in the ovaries. These can often been seen on ultrasound. The hormonal changes can prevent eggs from maturing, and so ovulation may not take place consistently. Sometimes a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome will have irregular periods or stop menstruating completely. In addition, the condition is associated with obesity, infertility, and hirsutism (excessive hair growth and acne). This condition may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, although the exact cause is unknown.

Premature ovarian insufficiency - This condition occurs in women under age 40 whose ovaries do not function normally. The menstrual cycle stops, similar to menopause. This can occur in patients who are being treated for cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, or if you have a family history of premature ovarian insufficiency or certain chromosomal abnormalities.

Other causes of abnormal menstruation include:

·        Uterine cancer or cervical cancer

·        Medications, such as steroids or anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners)

·        Medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, an under- or overactive thyroid gland, or pituitary disorders that affect hormonal balance

·        Complications associated with pregnancy, including miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus; for example, within the fallopian tube)

Diagnosis

·        If any aspect of menstrual cycle has changed, should keep an accurate record of when period begins and ends, including the amount of flow and whether pass large blood clots. Keep track of any other symptoms, such as bleeding between periods and menstrual cramps or pain.

·        Proper details about menstrual cycle and medical history. Physician will perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam and sometimes a Pap test. Certain tests like Blood tests to rule out anemia or other medical disorders, Vaginal cultures, to look for infections,A pelvic ultrasound exam to check for uterine fibroids, polyps, or an ovarian cyst, An endometrial biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is removed from the lining of the uterus, to diagnose endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, or cancerous cells. Endometriosis or other conditions may also be diagnosed using a procedure called a laparoscopy, in which the doctor makes a tiny incision in the abdomen and then inserts a thin tube with a light attached to view the uterus and ovaries

General Management

·        Practicing yoga - Yoga has also been shown to reduce menstrual pain and emotional symptoms associated with menstruation, such as depression and anxiety, and improve quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Women with primary dysmenorrhea experience extreme pain before and during their menstrual periods

·        Maintain a healthy weight - Changes in weight can affect periods. If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight could help regulate your periods. Alternatively, extreme weight loss or being underweight can cause irregular menstruation. That’s why it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight are also more likely to have irregular periods, and experience heavier bleeding and pain than women who are at a healthy weight. This is due to the impact that fat cells have on hormones and insulin

·        Exercise regularly - Exercise has many health benefits that can help your periods. It can help you reach or maintain a healthy weight and is commonly recommended as part of a treatment plan for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS can cause menstrual irregularity.

·        Spice things up with ginger - Ginger is used as a home remedy for treating irregular periods, but there isn’t any scientific evidence to show that it works. Ginger does seem to have other benefits related to menstruation.

·        Cinnamon may help regulate menstrual cycles and reduce menstrual bleeding and pain. It may also help treat PCOS.

·        Vitamin D also has other health benefits, including lowering the risk of certain diseases, aiding weight loss, and reducing depression

·        B vitamins are often prescribed to women trying to conceive, and they may help regulate your period, but more research is needed to confirm these claims, B vitamins may also lower the risk of premenstrual symptoms. 

·        Drinking 1/8 cup (15 grams) of apple cider vinegar a day may help regulate menstruation in women with PCOS.

·        Pineapple is believed to help regulate periods, though there’s little scientific evidence to support this claim. An enzyme in pineapple may help relieve some premenstrual symptoms, such as cramps and headaches.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

Homoeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homoeopathy is not only to treat irregular menses but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. Homoeopathic treatment for Irregular Menstruation is very competent, non-invasive, safe and inexpensive. Homoeopathy treats the patient as a whole and looks deeper into the problem, promotes the immune function and maintains uterine health by eliminating the causative factor. Homoeopathic Constitutional treatment based on the holistic approach stimulates the natural hormonal balance without administering any harmful hormone preparations. The goal of this Homoeopathic approach is to enliven the body's natural healing and self-repair ability to treat the underlying condition, to prevent it and to create the highest state of health and well-being.

Constitutional Homoeopathic treatment with the management of an experienced and professional Homoeopath is an excellent choice for Irregular Menstruation. Some Homoeopathic remedies that are commonly used to treat Menstrual Irregularities are given below. These are just a few of the commonly used Homoeopathic remedies and are mentioned only to create awareness about the effectiveness of Homoeopathic medicines in Menstrual Irregularity. It is not advisable to resort to self-medication for any disease.

Medicine	Indication
Phosphorus	Hemorrhage from uterus between periods. Menses too early and scanty- not profuse but last too long.Weeps before menses. Frequent and profuse hemorrhages from uterus caused by cancerous affection. Weakness, blue circles around eyes and anxiety after menses.Infertility.
Lachesis	Lachesis has hemorrhagic tendency. Very important during the climacteric. Cannot bear anything tight anywhere. Climacteric troubles, palpitation, flashes of heat, hemorrhages, vertex headache, fainting spells worse pressure of clothes. Menses too short, too feeble; pains all relieved by the flow. Left ovary very painful and swollen, indurated. Great loquacity .Jealous.
Calcarea Carbonica	Menses too early, too profuse, too long with vertigo, toothache and cold,damp feet. Least excitement causes hemorrhage from uterus.Cutting pains in uterus during menstruation. Before menses, headache, colic, chilliness and leucorrhea. Infertility with copious menses. Increased menstruation about external genitals.
Pulsatilla	Menses too late, scanty, thick, dark, clotted, changeable, intermittent. Menses suppressed from wet feet, nervous debility or anemia. Chilliness, nausea, downward pressure, painful with intermittent menstrual flow. Weeps when telling complaints, changeable, contradictory. Patient seeks the open air and always feel better there. Symptoms ever changing. Thirstless, peevish and chilly.
Ammonium Carb	Menses too frequent, profuse, early, copious, clotted, black.Menses preceded by gripping colic, black and acrid blood. Cholera like symptoms at the commencement of menstruation.
Ambra Grisea	Thin, scrawny women. Adapted to hysterical subjects. Anemic and sleepless. Weakness,coldness and numbness,usually of single parts, fingers, arms etc. Music aggravates symptoms. Menses too early. Discharge of blood between periods, bleeding at every little accident. Profuse,bluish leucorrhea. Itching of pudendum with soreness and swelling. Worse at night.
Bovista	Menses too early and profuse; worse at night. Diarrhea before and during menses. Cannot wear tight clothing around the waist. Traces of blood between menses. Soreness of pubis during menses. Metrorrhagia. Leucorrhea acrid, thick, tough, greenish follows menses. Uterine hemorrhage when the uterus is engorged, particularly when there is bleeding between menses from any little over-exertion. Here it is exactly like Ambra Grisea, but menstrual flow of Bovista occurs chiefly or only at night or early in the morning.
Carbo Animalis	Menses too early, frequent, long lasting, followed by great exhaustion, so weak can hardly speak. Menstrual flow only in morning. Burning in vagina and labia. Cancer of uterus.
Erigeron Canadensis	Menses too early, profuse with pain. Leucorrhea bloody. Bleeding is dark and clotted. Hemorrhage is so profuse it produce condition of collapse, cool face, gasping for breath, patient demands to be fanned.
Ferrum Metallicum	Anemic women with fiery red face whose menses remit a day or two and then return. Menses too early, too profuse, last too long; pale, watery. Sensitive vagina. Discharge of long pieces from uterus. Tendency to abortion. Prolapse of vagina. Flow of bright red blood often mixed with coagula, associated with great deal of flushing.
Hamamelis Viriginica	Menses dark, profuse, with soreness in abdomen. Bruised soreness of affected parts.Metrorrhagia occurring midway between menstrual periods. Inter menstrual pain.Vicarious menstruation.Ovarian congestion with neuralgia; feel very sore.Uterine hemorrhage, bearing down pain in back.Vagina very tender. Profuse leucorrhea. Vaginismus, ovaritis, soreness over whole abdomen. The flow is dark and rather passive and there is a feeling of soreness in the affected area.
Nux Vomica	Menses too early, lasts too long; always irregular, blood black with faint spells. Prolpase of uterus. Dysmenorrea with pain in sacrum and constant urging to stool. Metrorrhagia with sensation as if bowels wanted to move.
Sabina	Menses bright red, clotted and worse from any motion. Hemorrhage is attended with pain extending from the pubes through to the sacrum and with pains in the legs. Uterine pains extend to thighs. Discharge of blood between periods with sexual excitement. Retained placenta; intense after pains. Menorrhagia in women who aborted readily. Inflammation of ovaries and uterus after abortion. Pain from sacrum to pubis and from below upwards shooting up in the vagina.
Secale Cornutum	Menses irregular, copious, dark; continuous oozing of watery blood until next period. The flow of blood is passive; it is attended with tingling in the limbs. Hemorrhages; continued oozing; thin, fetid, watery black blood. Whole body is pervaded by a sense of great heat so all the Secale patients are better from cold. Although the surface of the body is cold, the patient persistently expresses her desire to be uncovered.