Menstrual Symptoms and Disorders
A number of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle are described below.
- Amenorrhoea - Periods stop completely (“Secondary Amenorrhoea”) or never started at puberty (“Primary Amenorrhoea”)
- Oligomenorrhoea - Infrequent or irregular periods
- Dysmenorrhoea – excessively painful periods
- Menorrhagia – heavy periods (may be associated with ‘flooding’, blood clots, anaemia)
- Post-menopausal bleeding – this should not normally occur and requires further investigation
Menstrual Disorders (“Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding”)
The causes for menstrual disorders can be many and varied. They include the following conditions:
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Pelvic Infection
- Pelvic Venous Congestion
- Gynaecological Cancers eg cervical, endometrial, uterine
- Hormonal disorders
Investigations for menstrual symptoms may include some or all of the following:
- Clinical Examination/Speculum
- High Vaginal Swab
- Urine Microscopy & Culture
- Cervical Smear
- Blood Hormonal Tests
- Pelvic Ultrasound/Biopsy
- MRI/CT Scanning
- Colposcopy/Biopsy/Laser therapy
- Hysteroscopy/Biopsy/Therapy
- Dilatation & Curettage
- Laparoscopy
