Women with irregular menstruation may experience heavy bleeding during their periods, infrequent or frequent menstrual periods, or spotting between periods. These characteristics can be attributed to several different underlying problems including Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Oligomenorrhea, Premature Ovarian Failure, and Uterine Fibroids.
Amenorrhea refers to the loss or absence of a woman's menstrual cycle that is not due to pregnancy. Dysmenorrhea occurs when a woman experiences irregularly painful menstruation, characterized by extreme lower abdominal and back pain. Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus, most commonly in the pelvic area. When menstruation occurs, these tissue growths respond the same as those inside the uterus--breaking down into blood and tissue and exiting the body. However the endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus has no place to go. This can cause heavy menstruation, severe menstrual cramping, intestinal pain, spotting or bleeding between periods, fatigue, painful urination and/or bowel movements during menstruation, and infertility.
Women with Oligomenorrhea have infrequent or occasional menstrual periods. Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is a halt in the normal functioning of the ovaries in women under age 40. Fibroids are benign masses of muscle cells and tissue that grow in and on the uterus. These growths can cause heavy or painful menstrual periods, lower back pain, excessive urination, pain during sex, pelvic pressure or reproductive issues such as miscarriages or infertility.
Below you will find alternative and natural treatment options including those from a Chinese Medicine perspective for irregular menstruation.