Irregular Periods - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

What is Endometrium?

The uterus is where the fetus grows and develops. It has three linings- the outermost lining, the middle layer and the innermost lining. The innermost layer is called Endometrium. The endometrium is made of mucosal tissues.

How the endometrium changes and what is its function?

Before ovulation, when an egg is released, the functional layer of the endometrium undergoes a change. Vascularization takes place i.e. a buildup of blood vessels and tissues that thickens the endometrium in anticipation of implantation of a fertilized egg. If conception does not take place, the tissues and cells are shed from the endometrium lining. This is when a woman gets her period.

When conception does take place, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the endometrium. The endometrium also supports the placenta, which provides the fetus with oxygen and nutrition.

What is the ideal thickness of the endometrium?

In pre-menopausal women, the thickness of the endometrium should be-

• Between 2-4 millimetres during menstruation,
• 5-7 millimetres at the onset of the early proliferative phase
• Around 11 millimetres during the late proliferative phase
• 16 millimetres during the secretory phase

What is a poor/thin endometrium?

If the endometrium lining does not meet standard thickness and is not conducive to implantation, it is called a poor endometrium.

Causes behind thin endometrium

There could be many reasons that can lead to a poor endometrial layer-

• Inadequate secretion of estrogen
• Insufficient blood flow
• Prolonged use of birth control pills
• Substandard quality of endometrial tissues
• Presence of fibroids (small uterine tumours)
• Amenorrhea (unnatural periods/ excess bleeding or too little bleeding)
• Intrauterine adhesions (scar tissues form between the layers of the uterus and glue them together)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Use of clomiphene

What are the symptoms of poor endometrium?

• Infertility (inability to conceive)
• miscarriage
• Irregular menstruation
• Painful periods
• Inadequate bleeding during menstruation

Treatment for poor endometrium

• Since the most common cause of poor endometrium is insufficient estrogen, doctors prescribe estrogen pills that can raise estrogen levels.
• If poor endometrium is the result of poor blood flow, an Ultrasonography Test will reveal that. Then doctors prescribe Vitamin E pills and L-arginine amino acid pills to thicken the endometrium layer.
• Regular exercising increases blood flow to the uterus
• Acupuncture is a very effective stress buster. Chronic stress could lead to a shrunk uterine wall. Acupuncture can allay the stress and promote the health of the uterus.
• Intrauterine adhesions can be extracted through surgery.
• Natural remedy (through natural therapy) includes asparagus, royal jelly, cover and they help in thickening the endometrium layer.
• Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor if injected into the body raises endometrial thickness and combats infertility.

Only an endometrium of normal thickness can support a pregnancy. If the lining is not thick enough medical intervention may be necessary.

With the advent of the 21st century and the accompanying sedentary lifestyle, women’s period cycles have increasingly started becoming irregular. If you think you are included in the list, this is the place to get a few facts cleared up.

Periods are deemed ‘irregular’ when the cycle stretches to more than 35 days instead of the normal 28, or bleeding occurs before 28 days. The scientific name of irregular periods is ‘Oligomenorrhea’. Read on to find out causes, symptoms and cures.

Causes:
Periods become irregular due to a lot of factors, like:

1. Changes in contraceptive methods: A switch in contraception, like say using a combination of progestin and estrogen pills in place of progestin pills alone.
2. Hormonal imbalances: During or slightly after/before menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decline in the female body leading to irregular periods.
3. Endurance exercises aka aerobics: These exercises, built to increase your heart rate, can put pressure on lower-body parts like the stomach and uterus and lead to irregular periods.

Symptoms:
Following are the symptoms which will help you detect if you have irregular periods:

1. Appearance of clots more than 2.5 cm in diameter.
2. Change in rates of blood flow, with flow being heavy or fast some days and slow and light other days of the cycle.
3. Less than 11 or more than 13 periods per year.

Treatment:
Irregular periods are treated in any of the many ways listed below:

1. Weight loss: Weight loss, either by gymming or surgically, cures irregular periods by reducing the amount of testosterone the body needs to produce, facilitating ovulation.
2. Thyroid treatment: Radioactive iodine therapy, surgery and/or medication are used to treat thyroid disorders that sometimes are underlying causes of irregular periods.
3. Psychological counseling: Periods often become irregular due to stress, emotional trauma and depression. Counseling treats these, and helps treat irregular periods in the process.

Periods become irregular due to whole gamut of both lifestyle as well as physical and emotional reasons, and help is always at hand. Check out the symptoms you have and their meaning, and quickly book an appointment with your doctor. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Orthopaedic stem cell treatment is an advanced branch of medicine, which can only be performed by a handful of physicians across the planet. If you are considering the surgery and the treatment, you should first know the important factors that can have an impact on the same. 

Outlined below are 5 things you should know about the treatment before you schedule the surgery. 

1. Source of the stem cell: The source from which the stem cells have been extracted play a huge part in determining how successful the surgery would be. In case of orthopaedic stem cell treatment, the best place to extract the cells from is the bone marrow. However, in some cases, these cells may be taken from fatty regions of the body and not the bone marrow. This will eventually have an impact on the outcome of the surgery. Bone marrow cells are much more proficient at repairing damages of the bones than stem cells from any other source. 
2. The technique for extracting stem cells: A procedure called the bone marrow aspiration or BMA is used to harvest the stem cells from the bone marrow. However, there is a correct way of doing it and a not so correct way of doing it. For instance, the stem cells need to be harvested using special needles and from several high density spots inside the bone. 
3. Placing the stem cells in the right spot: Just extracting the stem cell properly is not enough. It also needs to be injected at the right place through the correct procedure. The surgeon will use advanced machineries to conduct the surgery, which are essential for the success of the treatment. These could include the use of c-arm fluoroscope, other one is called the ultrasound or may be even an arthroscope. 
4. The correct dosage: This is a gray area, as knowledge needs to be further refined about the precise dosage required for the treatment. Specialised instruments and digital centrifugation systems help in  acquiring and concentrating the necessary amounts of stem cells for the procedure. 
5. Understanding that the treatment works: Since stem cell treatment of any kind is a fairly new concept, most people feel that it may not work as advertised. However, if you go to a reliable facility where such surgeries are performed, you will get to know that not only does the treatment work but there have been several patients whose quality of life has improved greatly. Joint preservation surgery is the field which specialises in management of various conditions by these procedures.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Missing out on your periods or irregular periods once in a while is common. However, the problem arises when irregular periods become every month’s story. The irregularity can be an amalgamation of a host of factors. Ignoring the same for long will only complicate things further. For women of reproductive age, the problem can give rise to deleterious consequences, including difficulties in conceiving. In this article, we will discuss some of the common triggers that result in irregular periods and when to seek medical help.

What causes Irregular Periods?
The hormonal balance plays a significant role in the proper functioning of the vital organs of the body. More than often, irregular periods are found to be a manifestation of hormonal imbalance. Some of the conditions that trigger the hormonal imbalance include

• PCO is a common medical condition that affects women of reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by the formation of cysts in the ovary (one or both) that affects the ovulation process. In PCOS, there is an increased production of Androgen, especially Testosterone that can cause irregular periods, hair fall, facial hair, weight gain etc.

• Time and again doctors and health professionals emphasize the importance of leading a stress-free life. Research suggests stress and anxiety often interfere with the functioning of the Hypothalamus. As a result, the pituitary glands that control and regulate the activities of the ovaries, adrenal glands, and thyroid glands may be affected. These can also trigger a hormonal imbalance giving rise to menstrual problems such as Irregular periods. In case of extreme stress, there may be a short-term cessation of periods (Secondary Amenorrhea).

• The hormonal imbalance and irregular periods can also be an outcome of other medical conditions such as endometriosis, a cancer affecting the reproductive organs, fibroids, obesity, diabetes, hyperprolactinemia (characterized by elevated level of prolactin) or even thyroid disorders.

• Women who indulge in strict dieting can also suffer from irregular periods. Strict dieting (especially the ones that are without a proper nutritional guidance) can rob the body of the essential nutrients disrupting the hormonal balance.

• Irregular periods are normal in women who are nearing their menopause.

When to seek medical assistance?
Irregular periods can be indicative of a severe health problem. Consult a gynecologist

• If your regular cycles get delayed by more than 7 days.

• There is spotting or bleeding in between the periods.

• Your periods last for more than ten days or less than two days.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

• There is excruciating pain during periods.

• The gap between two successive menstrual cycles is more than 35 days or less than 21 days.

• Your periods are heavy and unmanageable, affecting your daily routine.

Vaginal bleeding is a common phenomenon in women. Sometimes it is due to cyclical changes in the cycle, while other times, it may be indicative of something unnatural and perhaps severe. Abnormal vaginal bleeding includes:

1. Heavy periods: This is a very common phenomenon. Bleeding during periods cannot be measured with optimum accuracy but periods can be considered heavy if it lasts over 7 days, if you need double protection, or if you seem to pass too much clots. It is recommended to consult your doctor if it starts to affect your lifestyle and causes hindrance in your day to day activities. The cause of heavy bleeding during menses is often unclear, but it may be indicative of uterine fibroids or cysts.
2. Post coital bleeding: Post coital bleeding happens when you bleed after sex. The most likely reason for this to happen is if there is inflammation in the neck of the cervical opening or it is sore. The common cause of this can probably be sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia.
3. Inter menstraul bleeding: Bleeding between your periods is also a possibility. There can be several causes for this. It can be broadly indicative of uterine polyps or infections. Polyps are fleshy masses of cells which are basically an abnormal growth in the uterus or cervix.
4. Break through bleed: These bleeds happen very suddenly and spontaneously in the middle of the cycles or close to the menstrual cycles. These can happen when you start contraceptive pills and usually settle down in a matter of few months.
5. Post menopausal bleeding: Bleeding or spotting post menopause can be indicative of something more serious. The common causes can be uterine or cervical cancer. Often, it may also happen that the uterus starts to degrade, and small fibrous bleeding or spotting may be visible. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!