Period Problems: When It’s Not Just PMS

While not the most pleasant time of the month, having regular periods is a sign that your body is working ‘normally’. It’s also normal for women to experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 5 to 11 days before menstruation. 

The list of potential PMS symptoms is long and includes anxiety, depressed mood, crying spells, mood swings, bloating, cramps, and food cravings. 

Most women, however, only experience a few of these symptoms, and they’re typically not debilitating.

So, what is considered an abnormal period? 

A woman’s menstrual cycle tends to occur every 21 to 35 days and last 2 to 7 days. 

Signs that your menstrual cycle may be abnormal 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 severe pain or cramping, nausea, or vomiting 

• Bleeding or spotting which happens between periods. 

What causes abnormal periods? 

If you have any of the above signs, you should schedule a doctor’s visit to discuss further and see if you have an underlying medical condition. 

While there are several potential causes of abnormal periods, these are the four most common: 

1. Endometriosis 

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue grows outside your uterus. 

This tissue acts as endometrial tissue would—it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this tissue has no way to exit your body, however, it becomes trapped. With this condition, people can experience painful periods, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements, heavy menstrual bleeding and infertility.  

2.  Uterine fibroids  

Uterine fibroids are tumours that attach to the wall of the uterus. 

They are usually benign and range in size from as small as an apple seed to a grapefruit. However, these tumours may cause heavy bleeding and pain during periods.

3. Pelvic inflammatory disease 

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection that affects the female reproductive system. 

Symptoms of PID include a heavy vaginal discharge, irregular periods, pain in the pelvic and lower abdominal areas, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

4. Polycystic ovarian syndrome  

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. 

Women with PCOS produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones (testosterone). The elevated level of male hormones leads to symptoms including irregular periods, hair growth on the face and body, baldness and difficulty becoming pregnant. 

5. Premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) occurs in women under age 40 whose ovaries stop functioning normally. 

Women with this condition may start getting irregular periods and reduced fertility. Unfortunately, in about 90%of cases, the cause of POI is unknown. The other 10% of patients may be caused by genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, a low number of follicles, chemotherapy, metabolic disorders or toxins. 

6.  Premenstrual dysphoric disorder 

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is like PMS on steroids!

It causes severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in a week or two before your period starts. PMDD causes more severe symptoms than PMS and may need to be treated with medication. 

No clear cause? Stress could be to blame.  

If your doctor has thoroughly examined you and no apparent cause of your period problems has been identified, stress could be to blame. Stress can include psychological stressors, gaining or losing a significant amount of weight, dieting, changes in exercise routines, travel, or illness. 

Always see your doctor about your symtoms

As you can see, the above symptoms are similar to PMS symptoms, although more severe. 

It may seem easy to write your symptoms off as “just PMS,” but if you’re experiencing PMS or period symptoms that disrupt your everyday life, visiting your doctor is a must. 

A doctor can perform a thorough medical evaluation to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and offer the best treatment for you to return to a healthy period cycle.

If you’re experiencing severe PMS symptoms or would like any more information on this topic, please book an appointment with one of our practitioners by calling 02 9399 9399.

Image source: Pexels - Karolina Grabowska