Menstrual disorder

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

A menstrual disorder is an irregular condition in a woman's menstrual cycle.

Oligoovulation

Infrequent or irregular ovulation (usually defined as cycles of >/=36 days or <8 cycles a year) is called oligoovulation.

Anovulation

Main article: Anovulation

Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox Anovulation is absence of ovulation when it would be normally expected (in a post-menarchal, premenopausal woman). Anovulation usually manifests itself as irregularity of menstrual periods, that is, unpredictable variability of intervals, duration, or bleeding. Anovulation can also cause cessation of periods (secondary amenorrhea) or excessive bleeding (dysfunctional uterine bleeding).

Polymenorrhea

Polymenorrhea is the medical term for abnormally frequent menstruation that consists of a normal quantity and duration with cycle interval of less than 21 days.

Differential Diagnosis

Causes

• Anovulatory cycle
• Bi-phasic cycle
• Hyperthyroidism

Drug Causes

• Misoprostol
• Valdecoxib,

Oligomenorrhea

Oligomenorrhea is the medical term for infrequent or light menstrual periods (frequency exceeding 35 days).

Dysmenorrhea

Main article: Dysmenorrhea

Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox Dysmenorrhea (or dysmenorrhoea), cramps or painful menstruation, involves menstrual periods that are accompanied by either sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain, usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen.

Amenorrhea

Main article: Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. Physiologic states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding). Outside of the reproductive years there is absence of menses during childhood and after menopause.

Menorrhagia

Main article: Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period. Causes may be due to abnormal blood clotting, disruption of normal hormonal regulation of periods or disorders of the endometrial lining of the uterus. Depending upon the cause, it may be associated with abnormally painful periods (dysmenorrhoea).

Related Problems

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Stress and anxiety
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Adenomyosis
• History of sexual or physical abuse
• Fibroids
• Ovarian cysts
• Endometriosis

External links

• Oligomenorrhea at Penn State
• NIH