Monthly occupy a significant part of the lives of women of childbearing age. They start at 11-12 and continue until 48-50 years or more. If they cause considerable discomfort, then a woman's life can turn into a nightmare. But most women have monthly painless.

Why menstruation begins

Menstrual cycle consists of two phases. During the first phase under the influence of estrogen and pituitary hormones is an increase in the volume of the mucous layer of the uterus - it prepares to receive a fertilized egg. In the second phase under the influence of progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology   and other pituitary hormones lining of the uterus starts to produce the secret required for the development of the fertilized egg, while reducing the muscles of the uterus are suppressed.

If pregnancy has not occurred, there is a sharp decrease in the secretion of sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone), which is reflected in the change in blood flow in the vessels of the mucous membrane of the uterus (the endometrium). Initially, these blood vessels dilate, and then sharply narrowed, increasing the permeability of their walls. Blood stasis in vessels and slowing of blood flow leads to increased pressure within the vessels, rupture of the walls and bleeding. The narrowing of the small blood vessels lasts about two days after the onset of menstruation, and at the same time there are changes in the endometrium: it is a zone of necrosis (dying off) and focal hematoma (bleeding), increased content of blood enzymes that contribute to a reduction of blood clotting. All this contributes to the separation of the mucous membrane of the uterine wall, which is accompanied by bleeding - menstruation or monthly.

And is subject to cyclical fluctuations in the blood. The content of hemoglobin and red blood cell count is highest in the first day of menstruation. The number of platelets Platelets - what they are for the body?   (depends on them blood clotting) is reduced, which prevents the formation of blood clots during the normal menstrual flows.

What determines the duration of the month

Menstruation duration depends on many factors. First of all, from the hereditary characteristics. Normal flowing woman's menstrual cycle (including menstruation) depends largely on how long it lasted mother and other close relatives, that is, the genetic features of the structure of the uterus, secretion of hormones, enzymes, clotting ability of the blood, the functioning of the central nervous system and so on.

In a normal month last from three to seven days with moderate bleeding and cramps in small muscles of the uterus that are felt in the early days. Normally occurring monthly not cause significant discomfort to the woman, especially pain. As a rule, they do not interfere with a woman lead a normal life.

If menstruation lasted less than three or more than seven days, accompanied by severe pain, nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant symptoms, we speak of violation of the menstrual cycle.

Why am I having menstrual irregularities

Causes of menstrual disorders may be different. This severe disease, including among adolescents during the formation of fertility (eg, severe diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys), malnutrition and lack of vitamins (especially the observance of extreme diets that at any age can cause menstrual irregularities cycle) intoxication (alcohol, nicotine, drugs, etc.), various industrial hazards, heavy exercise and so on.

Menstrual disorders of central origin may arise on the grounds of mental trauma, nervous strain, bruises and concussion of the brain, with changes most often occur at the level of the hypothalamus - part of the brain that controls the entire endocrine system man.

Menstrual disorders may be a consequence of such endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease , Thyroid dysfunction The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   or adrenal glands, pituitary tumors and diseases. Finally, the cause of menstrual disorders may be diseases and tumors of the uterus and its appendages, as well as damage to the uterus associated with intrauterine manipulations.

What if disrupted menstrual cycle

If any violations of the menstrual cycle, which often appear as changes in the duration and regularity of the month, you need to identify their causes and appropriate treatment. The sooner this is done, the more quickly possible to restore the health and fertility of women.

Galina Romanenko

Many women are premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual tension. This condition is a cause for jokes on those women who do not behave quite adequately. But sometimes premenstrual syndrome is a huge problem for a woman, disrupting her emotional and physical condition. Scientists still have not reached a consensus, why it develops. Many attribute this state of connection with ovulation, which proves that a reduction of premenstrual syndrome symptoms after removal of the ovaries or the suppression of ovulation.

Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome - a complex set of negative symptoms occurring in the days before menstruation and exhibiting neuropsychiatric, vegetative-vascular and metabolic and endocrine disorders. Usually the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome occur for 2-10 days prior to menstruation and disappear after the onset of menstruation or in the first days of her. Most premenstrual syndrome seen in women of intellectual labor. According to statistics, it affects 50 to 80% of women around the world. Age range of PMS ranges between 20-40 years.

Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation

In order to determine the relationship between ovulation and premenstrual syndrome, it is necessary to recall the phases of the menstrual cycle.

• Starting time of the menstrual cycle (days 1-5)

The level of progesterone in the body decreases, menstruation occurs, and at this time begins oocyte maturation, which contribute to increasing estrogen.

• The end of the beginning of menstruation and ovulation (days 5-14)

Menstruation stops the body's estrogen level reaches a maximum, the egg matures and leaves the ruptured follicle.

• End of ovulation and the start of the luteal phase (days 15-23)

After ovulation, if fertilization has not occurred, forming the corpus luteum of menstruation, which begins to synthesize progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . At the same time the level of estrogen begins to decline gradually.

• The end of the luteal phase and the beginning of menstruation (24-28 days)

There is a regression of the corpus luteum, the progesterone level drops, these days the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Starting menstruation.

Causes of PMS

Theories explaining the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, a set. Currently, the most complete and accurate theory explains the appearance of premenstrual syndrome, considered a hormone. Based on this theory, premenstrual syndrome develops as a result of violations of the imbalance of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health   and progesterone in a woman's body. As a component of the hormonal theory, the main point in the development of PMS is hyperestrogenia (excess of estrogen). Estrogens cause fluid retention, which leads to edema formation, bloating and breast pain, headache, exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. Also, an excessive amount of estrogen affects the neuro-psychological condition of the woman.

Predisposing factors of premenstrual syndrome:

• childbirth, especially pathological;
• abortion;
• various infectious diseases, including neuroinfection;
• stressful situations.

The clinical picture of PMS

There are three main forms of premenstrual syndrome:

• Edematous form

The main symptoms of edema form of premenstrual syndrome are bloating, swelling and breast tenderness. Also, there is swelling of the face, legs, arms, appears bloating, irritability, fatigue, itching, sweating, increased sensitivity to odors.

• Cephalgic or neurodevelopmental form

The clinical picture cephalgic form of premenstrual syndrome is characterized by a predominance of symptoms such as irritability, weakness, depression, tearfulness, aggression. Also, there is a heightened sensitivity to smells and sounds, hand numbness Numbness of hands - not such a harmless symptom , Bloating and breast tenderness. Among the symptoms cephalgic form prevails pulsating headache or twitch nature, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

• Krizovoe form

When krizovoe form the clinical picture is dominated by sympathetic-adrenal crises. They start with high blood pressure, feeling of pressure in the chest, the emergence of the fear of death, followed by cooling and numbness, palpitations. Crises can be triggered by an infectious disease, fatigue, stress. In mezhkrizovy period often suffer from headaches, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper , Rise in blood pressure.

Anna Sozinova