WHAT IS IRREGULAR MENSTRUATION
Irregular periods or menstruation is a situation where a woman experiences either an abnormally scanty or excessive monthly flow or bleeding, long cycle or a very short cycle i.e. having a menstrual cycle shorter than 21 days or longer than 36 days, skipped menstruation or frequent spotting; any light vaginal bleeding that occurs at any time other than when a period is due which may indicate an underlining condition.
Most of the women at some point in their lives have experienced irregular periods. They could have been due to temporary conditions, like high amounts of stress, nutritional deficiency etc. Irregularity can be allowed for everyone, but only for once a while. If this irregularity continues then it is a cause for concern.
UNDERSTANDING THE NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE
You may be surprised to know that this cycle starts, not in the uterus (the womb) or the ovary where eggs are produced.
It starts in the brain. Wonder why? It is ultimately the brain that controls various body systems including the female genital organs.
At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the brain releases some chemicals known as hormones. One of them is known as ‘follicle stimulating hormone’. This hormone stimulates the ovary which prepares one egg for release.
After a few days, the brain releases another hormone called ‘luteinising hormone’ which releases the egg from the ovary. The egg is then captured by a tube called fallopian tube and taken to the uterus or womb, where it is fertilized by the sperm if it is there. The fertilized egg becomes the embryo out of which a new baby is produced. If there is no fertilization, the egg is thrown away and a new cycle starts.
In this process, the inner lining of the womb prepares itself to receive the embryo if it is formed and houses it for the whole length of pregnancy. If there is no embryo, the inner lining of the womb is shed or thrown away in the form of menstruation.
Painful menstruation or menstrual cramps occur when the uterus (womb) contracts too strongly. It can occur in normal cycles in young women with a tendency to go into spasms. It can also occur if the hormones don’t work properly together and as a result, the uterus goes into spasms.
Irregular periods can be a sign of hormonal imbalance. And you may need to give your body some extra support to return to its normal rhythm.
CAUSES OF IRREGULAR MENSTRUATION
Hormonal disturbances: Imbalance or fluctuations in thyroid hormones, adrenal hormones or sex hormones can be a cause of irregular periods
PCOS: If you are suffering from PCOS, you may have irregular periods. Women who suffer from PCOS have imbalance in their hormonal levels, insulin resistance and increased in male hormones (androgens).
Stress and too much exercise: Chronic stress and too much exercise can increase the levels of stress hormone (cortisol). This interferes with the progesterone and estrogen (steroid hormones), thus interfering with the menstrual cycle.
Overweight or underweight: Being overweight can lead to irregular periods. Simultaneously, if you are underweight, lack of nutrition will exert more stress on the body. Increased amounts of stress will further increase cortisol levels leading to irregular periods.
Thyroid gland: If your thyroid gland is not functioning well as in hypothyroidism, you may experience irregular periods. Thyroid is the master gland which regulates various functions in the body. Women suffering from hypothyroidism may have irregular periods, weight gain, acne and excess amounts of facial hair (hirsutism)
Uterine Fibroids: Uterine fibroids are benign lumps that grow on the uterus. Symptoms may include heavy periods, cramping, painful sex, and an urge to urinate. Treatment options include hysterectomy, embolization, and hormone therapy.
Use of Intrauterine device (IUD) and birth control pills or medications: intrauterine device, also known as intrauterine contraceptive device or coil, is a small, often T-shaped birth control device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. One of the side effects of these devices and other birth control pills among others is irregular menstrual periods, changes in bleeding patterns or flow; breakthrough bleeding, or heavier menstrual bleeding especially during the first few weeks of usage.
Perimenopause: There can be an irregularity in periods if you are nearing menopause.
HOW TO TACKLE IRREGULAR MENSTRUATION
You can certainly regularize your periods by following certain natural ways.
- Diet: Eat healthily, processed unhealthy foods and sweets disrupt blood sugar control and result in excess fat accumulation to affect healthy ovulation. Balanced diet rich in whole grains, cereal, fruits, vegetables and nuts help to meet body’s nutritional requirement to sustain menstruation.
* Give emphasize to foods rich in omega-3, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B complex antioxidants, fiber and protein in your diet to improve hormonal balance and menstrual health.
* Anaemia may be the underlying cause of menstrual irregularity, replenish your iron and folic acid requirement through iron rich foods like spinach, beetroot, raisins, oysters, red meat, beans, lentils, chickpeas and soybeans.
* Drink water and stay hydrated
- Lifestyle modifications: Modern erratic lifestyle and stress have disturbing effect on hypothalamus, resulting in imbalance in HPO axis. Poor eating habits, junk food, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, stress, sleep deprivation are the presentations of unhealthy life style that induces gynaecologic disorders.
Life style modification is a preventing factor to help improve menstrual health.
* Limit tea, coffee or other caffeinated sodas and beverages. High caffeine consumption restricts blood flow and reduces uterine blood flow to interrupt menstrual cycle.
* Sleep deprivations disrupts biological functions including menstrual cycle, so get enough sleep and avoid working in shift.
* Limit alcohol intake as it disrupts ovulation by causing temporary increase in estrogen and testosterone.
* Quit smoking to harmonize your hormonal imbalance caused by puffing.
- Sleep well and Balance out stress: Everyday stress and anxiety may cause fluctuation in menstrual cycle, result in heavy, scanty bleeding or cease menstruation altogether. Lowering stress levels with effective coping mechanism helps restore menstrual irregularities.
* Start physical activities like brisk walking, stretching or an exercise regime to overcome stress.
- Maintain healthy weight: Your weight has a direct impact on menstrual cycle. Being overweight or underweight impairs estrogen levels in the body to interrupt menstruation. Too much of estrogen produced by excess of fat in overweight women, while too little of estrogen due to lack of inadequate fat levels in underweight may interfere in healthy menstrual cycle.
* Shed or gain those extra kilos to maintain healthy weight.
* Avoid rapid weight gain or loss, which might cause hormonal imbalance.
* Avoid excessive and extreme workout as you need certain amount of body fat to ovulate.
- Treat underlying condition: Irregular menses may be a sign of underlying disease condition.
* See a doctor to diagnose the condition. It may be PCOS, IBS, TB (Tuberculosis), diabetes or a miscarriage responsible of irregular periods.
* Test for thyroid function to diagnose a thyroid disorder causing menstrual irregularities.
* Get an ultrasound to evaluate uterus, ovaries and the fallopian tubes for polyp, fibroid or an infection.
Irregular periods can be a sign of hormonal imbalance. And you may need to give your body some extra support to return to its normal rhythm.
In order to treat menstrual disorders or problems, one must treat the hormonal imbalances first.
OPT FOR NATURAL MEDICINE FOR IRREGULAR PERIODS AND BALANCE HORMONAL FLUNCTUATIONS- M2-TONE TABLETS
M2-TONE is a comprehensive formulation for menstrual disorders. It normalizes heavy/scanty bleeding and reduces the painful bleeding.
M2 TONE is a best medicine for irregular periods. It is tailor-made to take care of the above type of menstrual irregularities. It in fact modulates the hormones back to normalcy.
M2 TONE useful in irregular menstrual cycle treatment can restore normalcy whatever be the type of menstrual irregularity.
M2TONE has the advantage that it does not contain synthetic hormones. So there is no worry about side effects caused by them
- Restore the emotional balance
- Relieve emotional stress
- Improve the endocrinal function
- Restore hormonal balance
- Relieve pain
- Relieve anxiety
M2 TONE is a best medicine for irregular periods. It is tailor-made to take care of the above type of menstrual irregularities. It in fact modulates the hormones back to normalcy.
M2 TONE useful in irregular menstrual cycle treatment can restore normalcy whatever be the type of menstrual irregularity.
M2TONE has the advantage that it does not contain synthetic hormones. So there is no worry about side effects caused by them.
M2 TONE is composed of the best herbs that have stood the test of time over centuries and millennia for female infertility treatment, irregular menstrual cycle treatment. They are carefully chosen and blended into our formulation in the most scientific manner possible
