The menstrual cycle - a hormonal woman

With the help of the menstrual cycle the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. This is a very complex process, which involved all the body's hormonal system.

All changes in the body during the menstrual cycle commanded by the brain, in which the body (hypothalamus and pituitary) that secrete hormones that regulate the cycle.

From the hypothalamus it depends on how much will be allocated to all the concerned hormones hormonal system. The hypothalamus is very sensitive to stress and any other psychological influence, so some women stress cause menstrual irregularities.

The hypothalamus receives information from all of the body about the lack or excess of hormones. After analyzing the information received hypothalamus instructs the gland, also located in the brain - the pituitary gland, which controls the activity of the ovaries, highlighting gonadotropic hormones - follicle (effect on the growth and maturation of the follicle in which the ovum develops) and luteinizing (promoting ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   - The fact that the follicle bursts, and mature egg enters the fallopian tube).

In addition, the pituitary gland sends a command to the ovaries, there begins the formation of the egg and its preparation for fertilization (one cycle - one egg, alternately in each of the ovaries). The ripening follicle produces the female sex hormone estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health .

The follicle grows, reaching approximately 20 mm, breaks and the egg passes into the fallopian tube to connect it with the sperm. The outer shell of the egg gets yellow (yellow body) and starts to produce the female sex hormone progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Estrogen and progesterone, getting into the blood, the body prepares for a possible pregnancy. The corpus luteum develops within two weeks, and then (if the pregnancy has not occurred) - resolves, the level of hormones in the blood decreases, prepared lining of the uterus is torn away, causing menstrual bleeding.

Under the influence of some factors (stress, physical exertion, poisoning), the corpus luteum continues to function sometimes forming cysts that delay menstruation. But when a cyst breaks, menstruation begins, and with it a new menstrual cycle is counted.

What is amenorrhea

Amenorrhea - a lack of menstruation for 6 months or more at the age of 16-45 years. Amenorrhea at this age is a sign of hormonal disorders of women at every level and is accompanied by infertility. Amenorrhea may be primary (menstruation was never) and secondary (monthly were, but stopped). Primary amenorrhea often occurs in the absence of (genetically caused by underdevelopment of the hormonal system) or delayed sexual development in girls (after serious diseases and stress).

Secondary amenorrhea may occur against a background of severe diseases (such as tuberculosis or heart disease), poisoning, alcohol abuse, malnutrition, stress, various lesions of endocrine glands.

How is amenorrhea

Treatment of amenorrhea The absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) - ambiguous symptom   It is to carry out cyclic hormone therapy. Therefore, before treatment, it is necessary to determine at what level the hormonal system failed and why it occurred. For this determined amount of hormones in the blood and carried out a complete examination to exclude primarily tumors and cysts, which are subject to surgical therapy. Only then can begin to hormone treatment.

Is it possible to cause preterm monthly "on request"?

If you carefully read all of the menstrual cycle and amenorrhea on, already know that at the present level of development of pharmacology is quite accessible. That's just whether to shoot down the menstrual cycle is simply out of a desire to go to sea? After all, no one will be able to guarantee that he would return later. The human body, especially a woman's body - it is a precision device and knock him just normal activity, but restored - is very difficult. If you see an annotation to the use of hormonal contraceptives, it can be seen that the oldest pharmaceutical companies give there instructions for the use of drugs for all occasions. Why is that? Yes, because all of these cases have already tested in clinical trials. And if you begin to act on their own, no one does not guarantee you anything.

Do not try to change your menstrual cycle under the influence of short-term interests - in this case can be greatly affected.

When to see a doctor

During menstruation, many women experience cramping in the lower abdomen, sometimes so strong that required analgesics. It happens that because of these pains women can not do their job properly, take classes.

The pain may begin several days before menstruation; it often weakens when the bleeding starts. Although all the pain during menstruation is normal, severe pain - this deviation. To identify a very painful menstruation there is a special medical term - dysmenorrhea.

It is menstrual pain that occurs in healthy women - it does not indicate any violations related to the reproductive organs. The main cause of dysmenorrhea is considered to be the increased activity of the hormone prostaglandin, which is produced by the uterus.

Secondary dysmenorrhea - pain that occurs after a month, it may be associated with disorders such as:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Ovarian cyst
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Diseases, sexually transmitted
• Stress
• Moreover, the cause of secondary dysmenorrhea can be IUD made of copper.
• When dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea - the basis of infertility   You can do without the intervention of a doctor, if you follow these tips:
• Apply a heating pad to the lower abdomen (just do not go to sleep with it!)
• Do yourself a massage of the abdomen Massage the stomach: a slim body without drugs   soft circular motions
• Drink hot tea (the best - from the grass)
• Eat a light meal, and often in small portions
• Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (they are in whole grains, fruits and vegetables); avoid large amounts of salt, sugar, alcohol and caffeine
• When a stomach ache, lie on your back, legs lifted high, or to the side, bending your knees
• Use relaxation techniques such Relaxation and stress - calm, not panic! Like yoga and meditation Meditation - treats the body and the spirit
• Take nonprescription pain relievers with anti-inflammatory effects, such as ibuprofen
• Take supplements of vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium
• Take a warm shower or bath
• Regularly walk or exercise
• If you are overweight - lose weight

If all this does not help, consult a doctor. Perhaps he will write you something of the following:

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Hormonal birth control
• Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs
• Prescription painkillers

When you need to see a doctor

• You have heavy vaginal discharge, possibly with an unpleasant odor
• Do you have a fever
• You have severe pain, monthly delayed more than a week and you are sexually active
• You put the IUD for more than three months ago
• You experience a sudden severe pain
• During the month are blood clots
• Lower abdominal pain occurs more than five days before or after menstruation