Menopause: Cessation of Menstrual Cycle

The anatomy as well as physiology of the female reproductive system is quite complex when compared with the male reproductive system. Menopause is a very prominent stage in the life cycle of all females. It can be simply defined as the absence of the menstrual cycle for at least 12 months. The transition of the menopause starts with varying menstrual cycle length and finally terminates into menstrual period. The menopausal transitional period is often referred to as perimenopause phase although it is not a medical term but is often used while dealing a layman. Postmenopuase period is known to commence after the last menstrual period. Menopause can also be described as a phase of the female’s life when the function of ovaries terminates. Ovaries are the female reproductive organs, located in the pelvis, one of each side of the uterus. Each ovary resembles an almond in its shape and size. They are known to produce ova as well as the female hormone estrogen.

A single egg or ovum is produced from either the right or the left ovary during each menstrual cycle. The egg then enters the Fallopian tube and finally reaches the uterus. The female hormones secreted by the ovaries participate in the development of secondary sexual characters in the female like development of breasts, body shape and body hair. These hormones also participate in the regulation of menstruation and pregnancy. Estrogens are also known to provide protection to the bones and osteoporosis develops in a female if ovaries fail to produce adequate amount of estrogen. Perimenopause is different for each woman and researchers are still under dilemma about the factors governing this phase, so study is under execution.

Commencement of menopause

In general menopause is known to enter a female’s life at the age of 51 but no one can predict that when a female is going to enter menopause. The age at which menstrual cycle starts in the life of a female is also not correlated with the onset of menopause. Majority of the females are known to enter menopause between the ages of 45-55 but menopause can also occur at the age of 30, 40 or 60 years. Perimenopause is characterized by irregularities in the menstrual cycle followed by typical symptoms of early menopause and can commence 10 years prior to last menstrual period.

Conditions affecting menopause

Certain surgical as well as medical conditions are known to cast their spell on the timing of menopause. These conditions will be dealt one by one.

1. Surgical removal of ovaries

Surgical removal of ovaries from an ovulating female is known as oophorectomy and it results in immediate menopause and the condition is sometimes also designated as surgical or induced menopause. In this condition there is no perimenopause and the female automatically experiences the signs and symptoms of menopause. The ovaries can often be removed along with the uterus and this procedure is known as hysterectomy. If uterus is removed without removal of ovaries then they function normally and produce female hormones but such a female is not able to menstruate. In this situation symptoms of menopause occur naturally. The woman can experience other symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and mood swings. These symptoms cannot be correlated with the cessation of menstruation. Such a female is liable to get affected with premature ovarian failure before commencement of menopause within 1-2 years after hysterectomy. If this condition arises then the female will not experience the symptoms of menopause.

2. Cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Cancer is also known to affect ovarian function. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given to a female depending upon the type and location of cancer. If these treatments are given to an ovulating woman then they result in cessation of menstruation and symptoms of menopause come into play. The symptoms may arise during or after treatment.

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3. Premature ovarian failure

This condition can be defined by the appearance of menopause before the age of 40. This condition is common among 1% woman population. The exact reason behind premature ovarian failure is although unknown but it is believed that autoimmune diseases and genetic factors are associated with it.

Symptoms associated with menopause

Each woman experiences a different set of symptoms. Some women experience few or no symptoms of menopause while some experience a wide variety of physical as well as physiological symptoms. The major symptoms are:

1. Irregular vaginal bleeding

Vaginal bleeding may become irregular at the onset of menopause. Some females have little problems with abnormal bleeding during perimenopause while others have excessive bleeding. Menstrual periods may occur very frequently within short intervals or may get farther and farther apart before terminating completely. There is no usual pattern of bleeding during perimenopause but it may vary from individual to individual. If a female is experiencing irregular menses then she must consult the doctor as whether the problem is due to perimenopause or some other clinical condition is associated. The abnormalities associated with the menstrual cycle during the perimenopause are also responsible for the declination of the female fertility as egg production in the ovaries also becomes irregular. However, a female under the perimenopausal state can become pregnant and should take contraceptives if she is not interested to become pregnant.

2. Hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes are very frequent in the females undergoing menopause. A hot flash may be defined as a feeling of warmth spreading throughout the body but is more intense on the head and chest region of the body. It is sometimes associated with flushing as well as perspiration. They may last from 30 seconds to few minutes. The exact cause of hot flash is although not known but it is believed that is the result of a combined action of hormonal and biochemical fluctuations brought about by the declining estrogen levels. One cannot predict when hot flashes will arise and for how long they will appear. Hot flashes are known to occur in 40% of females under the age group of 40 having normal menstrual cycles. So hot flashes can appear even before menopause. Hot flashes end up within 5 years in 80% of the females entering menopause and sometimes they can run for about 10 years. Sometimes hot flashes are coupled with night sweats resulting in awakening, difficulty in falling asleep again resulting in daytime tiredness.

3. Urinary symptoms

Urethral lining also undergoes changes just like the tissues of the vagina and becomes drier, thinner, loses elasticity due to declination of the estrogen levels. These changes increase the risk of urinary tract infections as well as urinary leakage. Urination may also occur suddenly with coughing, laughing and lifting of heavy objects.

4. Vaginal symptoms

The vaginal tissues also become thinner, drier and lose elasticity as the estrogen levels fall. The symptoms include vaginal dryness, itching or pain during intercourse. The vaginal changes also increase the risk of vaginal infections.

5. Emotional and cognitive symptoms

Women entering perimenopause experience a variety of emotional symptoms like fatigue, irritability, memory problems and rapid mood changes. It is difficult to explain which behavioral symptom is directly associated with the hormonal changes. Emotional and cognitive symptoms are very common among women so sometimes it becomes difficult to determine whether these changes are due to menopause or not. Night sweats during menopause can also result in fatigue and irritation.

6. Other physical changes

Weight gain is very common among women during menopause. The distribution of fat may also undergo change and may get deposited more in the waist and abdominal areas rather than the hips and thighs. Wrinkles may also appear on the skin. As the body continues to produce small levels of male hormone, testosterone, some females may develop some hairs on the chin, upper lip, chest or abdomen.

Complications associated with menopause

1. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is very common among the females undergoing menopause. Osteoporosis is the deterioration of quality and quantity of bone resulting in increased risk of fracture. However, the density of bone tends to decline normally in the females during the fourth decade of life but it declines rapidly during the menopause. Age and hormonal changes during menopause act together resulting in osteoporosis. The process can occur slowly for many years. Women may remain unaware of these changes unless and until she encounters a painful fracture. The treatment of osteoporosis includes slowing down the rate of bone loss as well increasing bone density and strength. The treatment includes lifestyle changes like cessation of smoking and drinking alcohol, regular exercise with adequate intake of balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. calcium and vitamin D supplements are prescribed for those females who do not take a diet rich in these nutrients. Medications responsible for preventing bone loss include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and teriparatide.

2. Cardiovascular disease

Females before menopause are at decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases when compared with men but the frequency generally increases as they approach menopause. The incidence of heart diseases is very high both among men and women in the United States. Coronary heart diseases are two-three times higher in the women reaching menopause. This may be due to the declining levels of estrogen and the women in post menopausal stage are advised not to undergo hormone therapy in order to avoid the risk of heart attacks.

Treatments available for menopause

Menopause is a normal part of life that cannot be combined with a disease. However, the treatment of related symptoms is possible so can be taken into consideration.

1. Hormone therapy (Estrogen and progesterone therapy)

Hormone Therapy (HT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HPT) or Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (PHT) is a treatment that administers doses of both estrogens and progesterone. It is administered in order to prevent the symptoms associated with declination of estrogen levels like hot flashes and vaginal dryness and is still the most effective treatment available but studies have indicated that the women receiving HT have increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks. Women receiving only estrogen therapy also have higher risk of endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy is available in the form of oral pills and transdermal forms. Transdermal hormone products are already in the active form so they don’t have to get converted into activated form in the liver. As these products have no effect on the liver they are prescribed for majority of the females. There has been an emerging interest among the researchers for the use of a bio-identical hormone for the perimenopausal women. These hormones have same chemical compositions like those produced naturally inside the body. These products are prepared in the laboratory from the naturally derived plant products and are approved by the U.S.FDA so are in market. They are also used transdermal in the form of creams or gels. The use of hormone therapy is based on the decision of both the patient and the doctor.

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2. Oral contraceptive pills

Oral contraceptive pills are other form of hormone therapy that is prescribed to the females undergoing perimenopause in order to treat irregular vaginal bleeding. Before prescribing these pills the doctor must check that whether the irregular vaginal bleeding is due to perimenopause or some other factors are associated with it. These do not provide relief from hot flashes but prevent a female from becoming pregnant.

3. Local hormone and non-hormone treatments

Vaginal estrogen deficiency is also treated with the local hormonal treatments. These include vaginal estrogen ring, vaginal estrogen cream or vaginal estrogen tablets. Local and oral estrogen treatments are sometimes combined. Vaginal moisturizing creams or gels or use of lubricating agents during intercourse are non-hormonal agents used to prevent vaginal dryness. Application of Betadine topically on the outer vaginal area or soaking in a bathtub or warm water may also relive the symptoms of vaginal pain or burning sensation after sexual intercourse.

4. Antidepressant medications

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs most frequently used to control the symptoms of hot flashes and have given positive results in 60% of the women. The common examples of these drugs include venlafaxine, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline. However, antidepressants are associated with some side effects like sexual dysfunction.

5. Plant estrogens or phytoestrogens or isoflavones

Isoflavones are chemical compounds present in soy and are plant derived estrogens. The structure of these plant estrogens is exactly similar to those produced in the body but their effectiveness is somewhat lower in comparison to the body estrogens. Their estrogen potency is estimated to be about 1/1,000 to 1/100,000 of that of natural estrogen. Two types of isoflavones namely, genistein and daidzein have been derived from soybeans, chickpeas and lentils that are considered to be the most potent phytoestrogens. Some studies have shown that these compounds help in relieving hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Women suffering from breast cancer are also prescribed these phytoestrogens if they do not want to undergo hormone therapy (HT) during menopause transition. Some researchers have however shown that excessive intake of these plant derived estrogens result in over-growth of the tissues lining the uterus which can result in the development of cancer.

6. Vitamin E

Some women have reported that intake of vitamin E supplements can also help in relieving hot flashes but this fact lacks scientific support. Taking a dosage of greater than 400 IU of vitamin E is not safe as it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

7. Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herbal preparation popular in Europe often prescribed against hot flashes. The North American Menopause Society does not support the short term usage of this herbal preparation

8. Non-pharmaceutical therapies

Survivors of breast cancer or females not interested to take oral or vaginal estrogens are prescribed vaginal lubricants however, they are not very effective.

So it can be concluded that menopause is a natural state of body and the symptoms can be controlled by the medications mentioned above.

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Cortisol and Amenorrhea - Why Stress Causes You to Stop Having a Monthly Menstrual Cycle

Throughout a female’s life, she will experience many hormonal changes. The earliest transition comes between childhood and adolescence. On average, a girl begins menstruating around the age of 12. In some cases the menstrual cycle can begin as early as 8 or as late as 16. If a female has not started her menstrual cycle by the age of 16 she is often diagnosed with primary amenorrhea. Amenorrhea occurs when the levels of female reproductive hormones are not sufficient to stimulate menstruation. The most common causes of secondary amenorrhea include malnutrition, over-exercising, stress and breast feeding.

Malnutrition can come in varying degrees. When a girl is anorexic (refuses to eat for fear of gaining weight or losing her figure) or bulimic (eats and then induces vomiting for fear of gaining weight or losing her figure) she will often delay the onset of her menstrual cycle, or lose it once it has started. Girls that have a diet lacking the essential amino acids and fats can also be more likely to develop secondary amenorrhea. This is often the case with vegetarian female athletes. A well rounded diet, with plenty of whole food sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats will often return the amenorrheic woman to where she needs to be.

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Mild to moderate exercise is a great way to maintain optimal health and wellness. Exercise increases the metabolism, assists in weight management, improves mental clarity, as well as many other great things. Intensive or excessive exercise can lead to hormonal imbalance in both men and women. Exercise creates stress on our organs, muscles, and joints because it involves work. This “good” stress can be beneficial but in excess, it creates a rise in the stress regulating hormone called cortisol. As the hormone cortisol increases in our body continually, sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decrease. When these hormones are out of balance, many of the symptoms associated with women’s health present. These include PMS, weight gain, acne, abnormal menstrual cycles, hot flashes, mood swings, bone loss, osteoporosis, infertility and more.

Increasing cortisol is the body’s response to any stressful situation. As noted above, intensive or excessive exercise can induce chronic stress in a woman’s body, leading to imbalances between cortisol and other health sustaining hormones. Chronic stress in any form will act similarly in a woman’s body. Stress comes in all shapes and sizes through physical, chemical, and emotional means.

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Some examples in everyday life include: financial pressure, work assignments, death in the family, children leaving home for school, marriage, poor diet, auto accidents, chemical irritants, etc. The stress regulators in our body respond similarly to all of the stressors listed above. No matter the source of stress, the human body’s response to stress is to release cortisol, and chronic release of cortisol in the body leads to imbalance of hormones, which lead to symptoms. These symptoms are good for us, and should not be covered up because they warn us that we are no longer in balance.

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Amenorrhea III - How to Treat and Prevent Amenorrhea With Foods

Amenorrhea is defined as delay of menstruation. There are 2 types of amenrrhea:

a) Primary amenorrhea is defined as no period by age 16 and

b) Secondary amenrrhea is defined as period begins at the appropriate age, but later stops for more than 3 cycles or 6 months. Women who had a delay of period used to think that may be pregnant. In fact, there are many causes of amenorrhea. In this article, we will discuss how to treat amenorrhea with foods.

1. Whole grain

Whole grain contains high amounts of fiber that help to remove toxins from our body and indirectly strengthens liver function, which helps to maintain the levels of estrogened resulting in lowered xenoestrogen in our body.

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2. Celery seed

Celery seed contains high amounts of butylidene-phthalide which helps to balance woman’s natural hormones and reduce emotional stress causing irregular hormone production by cleansing toxins from the liver as well as improving reproduction of red blood cells caused by liver malfunction.

3. Soy

Soy contains high amounts of isoflavones which helps to balance your body’s estrogen levels as well as binding the xenoestrogen causing breast cancer and tumors. Soy raises the levels of estrogen if it is too low and lowers levels of estrogen if it is too high.

4. Yogurt

Yogurt contains lactobacillus bacteria that helps to lower incidence of breast cancer as well as preventing the re-absorption of xenoestrogen and enhancing immune effects.

5. Legumes

Legumes and other protein rich food contains high amounts of coumestans that helps to improve metabolism of estrogen in the liver. It also helps to maintain levels of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids as well as cleansing the bad cholesterol in our body, improving blood flow.

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6. Sesame seed

Besides containing proteins that are necessary for improving metabolism of estrogen levels in the liver, sesame seed contains lignans that helps to increase levels of phyto-estrogen and reducing the production of estrogen converting into xenoestrogen wich causes breast cancer and amenorrhea.

7. Potato

Potato contains high amounts of steroidial saponins that helps to block the over-production of estrogen by increasing levels of phyto-estrogen, the element which is necessary for normalizing menstrual cycle.

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Why Does Your Hot Shower Turn Cold?

At times, you may encounter taking a hot shower but after a short while the water turns cold. This may be caused by the water heater. The use of water when you do the laundry or washing utensils and plates in the sink will cause the water heater to take a longer time to reheat. On the other hand, if the hot shower turned cold when you were almost done, the water heater or plumbing might need to be fixed. Before hiring a plumber you have to do these first:

Check the entire hot water device in the house. Go around your home and check every fixture if the affected area of water heating malfunction is just one place of the house or it occurred everywhere. When you find out that there’s no hot water then there must be some damage with your water heater.

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The temperature setting of the water heater should be examined first. If there’s no problem found, second thing to do is to check your fuse for anything wrong especially when you depend on electricity for water-heating. You need to replace your fuse if it has blown or got busted. You can easily change the fuse. Check whether the pilot light went off if you have gas. You just need to relight it if this went off. You may refer to the manufacturer’s manual for this.

When you have tried fixing the fuse, pilot light, temperature setting and still the water heater didn’t work, there may be other problems causing the malfunction. There may be sediments building up on the heating device, flue obstructions, the thermocouple might be defective, or the temperature control is not working.

If the water heaters in some areas of the house are working, your shower has the need to be fixed. There are many causes why the shower doesn’t pour hot water too long. The galvanized steel pipes that are already filled with rust should be replaced. Check also the shut-off valve. When the valve from the hot water to your shower is closed, you open it and test whether the water is hot. There is a shower valve problem when the water is just warm or getting cold after a few seconds.

The shower valve gets worn if it has been used for a long time. The rubber parts could have loosened up, crumble or are bulging. Hence, when this happens, the parts of the rubber will cause a blockage to the path of the flowing water. The rubber parts also disintegrate and travel to the valve for the hot water to your shower, and another blockage happens. You can clean and get rid of the broken pieces in the valve, and then change the rubber that has worn off. Most shower valves are hidden in the wall and you can only get through it by the closet panel in the adjacent room, or in the bathroom cabinet.

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You can consult an expert in plumbing to handle all these jobs if you are not confident to diagnose and try fixing those that needed little work. A plumbing expert won’t surely waste your money. So seek the help or hire an expert rather than ordinary plumbers to get the broken things done.

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Women and Menstrual Cycle - How to Take Care of Yourself and Relieve the Pain

When children grow up and become teenagers at the age of 12 to 18 years old. Many things in the body are changed such as the boys will have bigger voices or the girls will have menstruation (or period) and breasts.

Menstruation is blood vessels in the endometrium that peel and come out. Estrogen and Luteinizing hormone (LH) are sex hormones that cause ovulation and menstruation in ladies. One cycle of menstruation is 28 days and the menstrual period take about 3-7 days. The color of the period may red or dark red. Many bodies have misunderstanding about the color of the blood that comes out during menstruation. Dark color of it is not inoperative or bad blood. But truly, it causes from the blood that stuck in ovary for long time reacts with oxygen in the air and make the color darker.

Pre-Menstrual Syndromes or PMS are the symptoms before have menstruation period. The presentations of PMS are hot temperature, stomach-ache, stress, depression, weak muscle or head-ache.

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How to decrease the Pre-Menstrual Syndromes?

1. Avoid coffee or caffeine drinks because they cause insomnia (difficult to sleep) and stress in the next morning.

2. Reduce salt in foods.

3. Take low fat foods, decrease meat and increase vegetables, reduce sweet foods and increase carbohydrate foods such as breads or rice.

4. Exercise about 10-15 minutes a day can decrease PMS.

5. Vitamin B complex can decrease the PMS but you have to concern about the milligrams of vitamin B6 inside, if too much of it may cause beriberi.

6. Calcium is helpful for calm down the stress and work as painkiller.

7. Vitamin E decreases the symptoms of pain around breasts.

8. Taking magnesium for decreasing blood sugar need and reduce pain around breasts.

9. Avoid taking aspirin as painkiller for a long time but you have to consult the pharmacists before. Generally, Mefenamic acid is helpful in this case, if you do not have any medical problems.

10. Some herbal medicines such as ginseng or glycyrrhiza will balance the hormones and make you feel better.

What are the symptoms during menstruation period?

During menstruation period estrogen will decrease to low level and prostaglandins secretion causes many symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, influence, headache, stomach pain, diarrhea or hot flush. The symptoms may high peak at the day of 1 to 3 of period after that everything will be better. About 10% of women have severe pain and cause inability to go to school or working.

How to relief the pains?

First way: Take the medicines for inhibit prostaglandins. This group of medicine is NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug).

Second way: Take contraceptive pills especially, combine pills that contain estrogen with progesterone inside. This way have disadvantage points such as you have to take the pills for everyday and can not have any child during taking the pill.

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Third way: Massage gently around stomach, paste hot pack on it and exercise.

How to take care yourself during menstruation?

1. Accept the changing of body and try to understand it. Relaxing and do not worry about the period.

2. Take more time for relaxation, go to bed early do not work hard.

3. Supplements may necessary such as Calcium, Vitamin B Complex, Magnesium and folic acid. Moreover, consume more vegetables that contain the vitamins above.

4. Exercise bout 10-15 minutes for clearance the stress but avoid swimming because it is easy to have bacterial infection from swimming pool during menstruation period.

5. Concern about hygiene by change the sanitary pad at least 3-4 times a day. And select pH balance products for the sex organ.

6. Should be use non alcohol, color or perfume sanitary pads. Avoid using tampons in young girls because sometime it is difficult to use.

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Autoimmune Progesterone Eczema Related To Menstrual Cycles

Because some types of eczema are triggered by a woman’s menstrual cycle, progesterone is sometimes part of the treatment plan. Many women complain of worsening acne and water retention during the menstrual cycle, but a few actually have autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) a condition in which the menstrual cycle is associated with an number of skin conditions such as urticaria, eczema and others.

In affected women, the flare-ups typically occur three to ten days prior to the menstrual flow and they generally resolve two days after menstruation begins. Women with irregular menses may not have a correlation that is this clear and that can make autoimmune progesterone eczema more difficult to diagnose.

Because of the association between the menstrual cycle and eczema, progesterone creams and supplements are often used to treat the condition. Most women prefer to use supplements and creams that contain natural forms of progesterone. The amount and type of progesterone may vary from woman to woman. The regimen is closely associated with a woman’s monthly hormonal changes.

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In addition to hormonal changes, food allergies can play a big role in eczema. Women who suffer from autoimmune progesterone eczema should be very aware of foods that aggravate their condition and avoid those foods altogether two weeks before menstrual flow begins.

Women who suffer from this skin condition should be extremely diligent about keeping the skin moisturized, especially in the week preceding their period. Frequent moisturizing locks in the skin’s own moisture to prevent dryness and cracking. One of the best ways to lock in moisture is to apply moisturizers immediately after bathing. It is also important to avoid irritating the skin by using harsh soaps or body sponges.

Irritants that can aggravate eczema include soaps, bubble baths, perfumes, cosmetic, laundry detergents, household cleaners and certain types of jewelry. Avoid personal care products that contain alcohol. Wash clothes only in hypoallergenic detergents and send them through the rinse cycle twice. Women with autoimmune progesterone eczema should wear clothes made from 100 percent cotton with no synthetic fibers. Bed linens should also be made from 100 percent cotton.

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Women who are taking estrogen supplements for menopause symptoms should talk with their physicians before using natural or synthetic progesterone. Progesterone creams may increase the sensitivity of your skin to estrogen receptors. If you are taking progestin, such as Provera, you should stop using it immediately when you begin using progesterone cream. Many types of hormone replacement therapy, especially prescription strength medications, may interact adversely with progesterone.

A qualified holistic practitioner can help you decide if progesterone is the best method for treating your eczema. Autoimmune progesterone eczema has been treated successfully with natural products for many years.

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No Menstrual Periods or Amenorrhea Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Amenorrhea is described as the absence of menstrual periods in a woman. This can be of two types namely Primary Amenorrhea and Secondary Amenorrhea. In the Primary type, there is an absence of menstrual periods in a girl by the age of 14 to 16. In Secondary, there is an absence of menstrual periods in a woman who has been menstruating earlier. This is considered in absence of a pregnancy, menopause, hormonal contraceptive or lactation.

This condition is not a disease but often a sign of some other condition which may not be serious. The main symptom of amenorrhea is the absence of periods. In Primary condition, one may not have menses by age 16 and in secondary; the woman may miss her periods for 3 months or more. The other symptoms depend on the cause of this condition. One may experience headaches, hirsutism, vision changes or nipple discharge also.

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Amenorrhea may be caused by several factors related to menstruation. The changes in organs, hormones and glands which are involved in the process of menstruation can cause this condition. Some of the causes are as below:

1. Problem with the pituitary gland which produces the hormones involved in menstruation may lead to this.

2. Poorly developed reproductive organs can also be responsible for the above.

3. Problems with the ovaries which is the organ that holds the eggs.

4. Pregnancy causes secondary amenorrhea in women.

5. Certain birth control pills can cause this condition too.

6. Lactation or breast feeding is another cause.

7. Menopause is the stopping of the menstrual cycle in a woman.

8. Stress, anxiety and depression can also result in absence of periods.

9. Thyroid gland disorders, sudden weight gain or obesity.

10. Certain medications may cause this condition in women.

11. PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome causes hormonal imbalances which may result in absence of menstrual periods.

12. Poor nutrition may be one of the causes of Amenorrhea.

13. A woman who has had total Hysterectomy surgery will also stop menstruating.

14. Women who practice excessive exercising and rigorous training sessions may find their menstrual cycle interrupted.

15. Structural abnormality of the vagina can obstruct the bleeding.

Certain tests and examinations like blood tests, pregnancy test, physical examination, pelvic examination, imaging tests and laparoscopy can detect the cause of amenorrhea. The treatment depends on the cause of the condition. Treatment can be done to achieve relief from the symptoms. In cases of abnormalities and genetic disorders, surgery may have to be performed to correct the condition. Hormone therapy like oral contraceptive pills may be advised for women with premature ovarian failure and those who do not desire to get pregnant.

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In the case of PCOS being the cause of amenorrhea, the treatment may be to reduce the levels of the male hormone androgen. If elevated prolactin levels are the reason, medications may be given to reduce the levels. Women who are suffering from this condition and wish to get pregnant may receive treatment of assisted reproductive technologies and administration of gonadotropin medications. Many herbal therapies are also available for the treatment of amenorrhea. These should be taken under supervision.

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Your Questions On Menstruation After Pregnancy Answered

Post pregnancy life or life after pregnancy brings so many questions; one of them is about menstruation care after pregnancy. You are constantly wondering as to when you will get your first period after pregnancy.

Many women mistake the bloody discharge after delivery for period. That discharge, however, is not your period, but all the additional fluid coming out of your uterus. This discharge can last from one to two months and women do need to wear pads to avoid staining their clothes.

The start of your menstrual cycle after pregnancy depends upon different factors, like your hormonal composition and breast-feeding. Women who do not breast-feed may get their first period after pregnancy as soon as one month.

On the other hand, women who breast-feed get their menstruation after pregnancy late, the reason being that, the prolactin present in your breast milk tends to suppress the menstruation after pregnancy.

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Many women assume that they will not ovulate until the time they do not get their first period after pregnancy. You will be surprised to know that you might start ovulation within a few weeks of your delivery. Therefore, contraception plays an important role in life after pregnancy.

Facts About Menstruation After Pregnancy

Your period after pregnancy will be heavier and painful as compared to your experience before pregnancy.
You might still get PMS, when you resume menstruation after pregnancy.
While you are breast-feeding, be very careful of the birth control methods that you use. Consult your doctor before choosing any. Most doctors suggest barrier methods such as condoms, diaphragm etc.
Moms who are not breast-feeding can choose from a variety of options, like natural menstrual cycle, IUD insertion, contraceptive pills, or barrier methods.

Remember that menstruation after pregnancy is unpredictable. It will differ from woman to woman, and it changes monthly for a woman. It is all a game of hormones and how well your body copes with the changes. There might be women who might not experience any difference in menstruation before and after pregnancy. A cycle that appears normal to you might not be normal for another woman. Every woman has a different menstruation cycle. You need to understand your body very well, in order to understand your menstruation cycle. Do not be anxious about your first period after pregnancy, you will get them when your body is healed and uterus returns to its normal size and starts functioning normally.

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Pregnancy brings many changes in you and your menstrual cycle is no exception. There are many changes that you would need to deal with apart from sitting and worrying about your menstruation after pregnancy. You just need to ensure that once you get your periods, then the menstruation care should be proper. Adjusting with the changes and enjoying life after pregnancy should be your motto. As everything else, your menstruation after pregnancy will also start falling in place with time.

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How to Prevent Premature Ejaculation During Sex - Tips on How to Not Ejaculate Early During Sex

Do you want to learn how not to ejaculate early during sex? Curing premature ejaculation so that you can last longer in bed is a very reasonable goal with some very simple solutions. While most guys try to stop premature ejaculation through ridiculous methods like thinking about golf, you can have sex longer and enjoy it more by following a few simple steps. Here are two tips for learning how to not ejaculate early during sex.

Delay your orgasm

Postpone intercourse and focus on foreplay. As men, our orgasms don’t start building up until the penis is stimulated, but for women it’s different. The friction from making out stimulates her and starts building her orgasm right away. It also increases her arousal making her orgasm come faster. By increasing the amount of time you spend making out before sex, you decrease the amount of time it takes for her to orgasm from sex while turning her on. If you’re having trouble lasting long enough for her to be fully satisfied with sex, you can decrease the time she need to be satisfied by postponing sex.

Train your Pelvic Muscles

Making her orgasm faster is only half of the story. You want to last longer in bed for your own enjoyment. By learning ejaculatory control, you increase the amount of sexual stimulation you can receive before orgasm, which makes the orgasms you experience much stronger. There are two things you can do for this, the first is to exercise the pelvic muscles through kegel exercises to strengthen them. Tense the muscles tight for 10 second increments. Over time you will gain greater muscle control and have more control over your own orgasm. The second thing is learning to enjoy delaying your own gratification. As the orgasm starts to build, the natural reaction is to try and get to that point of pleasure as quickly as possible. Learn to enjoy the build up more by slowing down and focusing on experiencing pleasure, don’t treat climax as a goal.

As you learn to last longer in bed you will become more confident. That confidence will make you more attractive to the women in your life.

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Endometriosis and Silybum Marianum - Milk Thistle

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know, herbs play a very important role in some cultures in treating all kinds of diseases. In this article, we will discuss how silybum marianum helps to treat endometriosis.

I. Definition

Silybum mariaum is also known as milk thistle and it belongs to the Asteraceae family. It has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Milk Thistle is native in Southern Europe and through to Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine in treating liver diseases.

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II. How silybum mariaum effects endometriosis

1. Liver support

Milk thistle is said to help strengthen the liver’s function in fat and protein metabolism that helps to inhibit the over-production of bad estrogen during menstrual cycle by producing bile. With a strong liver, it also helps to increase the circulation of blood through cholesterol conversion leading to balance the prostaglandins hormones resulting in lessening the uterine cramps.

2. Immune system

It contains silymarin, a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight against the bacteria, virus, and the forming of free radicals and inflammation caused by endometriosis implants and adhesion.

3. Disgestive system

Flavones are always found conjunction with vitamin C, that help the digestive system in vitamins and mineral absorption. This function is essential for women with endometriosis, because most of them are found to have some kinds of vitamins and minerals deficiency during menstrual cycle.

4. Menstrual problems

Silymarin in milk thistle is said to help in smoothing the uterine muscle by increasing the blood flow to the region as well as making the small veins in the abdomen become more elastic that prevents heavy flow which is vital for women with heavy bleeding during menstruation.

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5. Control food and sugar craving

Silymarin is said to help balance the blood sugar in the bloodstream, by acting as an agent for the pancreas moderator, if the insulin is too low silymarin will stimulate the production for more insulin. On the other hand, if the levels of insulin is too high, silymarin will send signals for stopping the production from the pancreas.

Since endometriosis is treatable and manageable by natural remedies and a self help course, if you have endometroisis, please look on the bright side.

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5 Tips For Sex On Your Period

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The Period of Childhood

Childhood is a period of life when one is a child. It passes so quickly but brings so many memories until one dies. That is, it is such a period of life when one passes their life from two to twelve years of their beginning age. The period between 2-6 years is called early childhood and from 6-12 is called childhood.

During childhood, a child is much more creative and inquisitive. They have a power of mixing in a group and making friends. The child wants to experience everything by doing it. Children always like to follow the truth. They tell everything what they see or listen or do. Looking at the activities of a child, one can easily guess what the child will become in the future.

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A child shows its characteristic features in childhood. Therefore childhood is the foundation of manhood that is a child is the father of man. Children have a good appetite of love, sympathy and response to their queries. We must not oversee their activities or questions. They should be treated as a good companion so that they never hesitate to ask anything to elders. We shouldn’t forget that they are very imitative, creative, quarrelsome, sloppy and stubborn.

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In conclusion, childhood is a honey period of life. To pass our old age, our childhood memories and experiences help us in a great deal. Therefore, we have to treat our children remembering and recalling our own childhood and should guide them in a right direction for their better future.

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How to Stop Hormonal Headaches Or Menstrual Migraines

Many women are told that their hormonal symptoms are all in their head. And when it comes to migraine headaches I guess they’re right. As estrogen and progesterone levels increase and decrease during a woman’s cycle, they can experience many symptoms, one of which is migraine headache pain. Many doctors simply ignore hormones as a migraine trigger and offer very little hope for long-term relief. They may simply prescribe a medication for temporary pain relief or refer the women to their gynecologist.

However, there are natural treatment methods that will often give long-term relief or prevent migraine headaches altogether. Taking pain medications may give faster relief, but if you want long-term help, natural treatment is the only way to go.

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Immediately before the onset of menses the level of progesterone will drop. This is when many women will develop migraine symptoms. When estrogen levels, along with other hormones, increase during ovulation, it can also cause a woman to experience a migraine attack. Another time that migraines are experienced is during the menses when estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels. Migraine headaches are a frequent consequence when hormone levels rise and drop.

One of the first things that should be started is a migraine headache diary. Keeping track of your cycle and when migraines occur can help you figure out how hormones are playing a part in your headaches. Once you have determined when your symptoms appear during the course of your cycle you will have a better grip on the effect of your hormones in relation to the migraine attacks.

Most hormone headaches happen when estrogen levels are not at a normal ratio when compared to progesterone levels. It doesn’t mean that estrogen levels are abnormal, it’s just that the ratio has changed. The imbalance of these two hormones can cause migraine headache pain and is usually a temporary problem during a normal cycle. However, on occasion this imbalance can be chronic.

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The best way to conquer hormone headaches is through dietary changes. There are too many factors involved in diet to be discussed here, but a proper diet involves eliminating certain trigger foods such as refined sugars and overly processed foods. It also requires a short detoxification period that can cleanse your system of toxins that can cause unnatural hormone imbalances. And lastly, taking specific nutritional supplements can also improve the balance of natural hormone levels. Once these factors have all been put into play migraine headaches can be relieved or eliminated.

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Am I Pregnant Quiz - 100% Confirm Pregnancy Signs Before Missed Periods

Have you been sexually active? If yes then you have a 20% chance of getting pregnant in this cycle. You can feel safe if you are using some reliable birth control method. One must always keep in mind that any birth control method is not 100 % reliable. Am I pregnant quiz enables any sexually active woman to detect her pregnancy signs even before missing periods.

Am I Pregnant Quiz

Answer these questions either “yes” or “no”. If the answer of below mentioned 5 questions is yes, then there are bright chances that you are pregnant.

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Are You Experiencing Nausea? You must have heard something about morning sickness. This pregnancy sign begins to occur even before the missed period. Sometimes a woman can experience this sign at any time of the day.

A woman can be pregnant and might not experience nausea. On the other hand a woman can be nauseated because of food poisoning, virus or stress. 

Is there a Change in Appetite? If you notice the cravings of certain foods then this is also a sign of pregnancy before missed period. The cravings for odd combination of foods or non-food items is a confirm pregnancy sign.

 Are the Energy Levels Or Moods Different?  In the period of pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes that may cause a person to feel unusually tired. Women also experience mood swings like being stressed, depressed or more emotional.

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Having More Aches and Pains?  Earliest pregnancy symptoms also include headache, backache and tender breasts. These signs of pregnancy may continue for the whole duration of pregnancy or may fade away in the coming months.

Are You Making Frequent Trips To The Rest Room?  If you are always going to the rest room or waking up in the night to urinate then this may be the sign that you are pregnant.

 Results

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The Menstrual Cycle - Get Pregnant, Counting the Days

You have probably heard before that you can count the days of your menstrual cycle, get pregnant more quickly, and learn how to do the whole process with just a quick tutorial. This is pretty much true, but there are a few things that you should know about using this method to get pregnant. For instance, some people may tell you that you’ll probably ovulate on day fourteen of your menstrual cycle, but this doesn’t actually hold true for many women. It’s simply an average, in the same way that 98.7 is simply an average resting body temperature.

Luckily, figuring out how your cycle works isn’t too difficult, and if you menstruate in a regular, predictable pattern, chances are likely that you also ovulate in a predictable pattern. Once you have this information about your body, you can use it to make the process of getting pregnant much, much simpler and quicker. Here is the step by step way to figure out how to count your menstrual cycle to get pregnant more quickly.

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Step One: Know Your Signs of Your Menstruation Cycle

Knowing the signs of where you are in your menstrual cycle is imperative to success. The signs of the first part of your cycle – menses – are obvious. You’ll be bleeding and probably have other secondary signs – cramps, headaches, etc. – that you recognize right away. After this, though, many women don’t know they’re cycle’s signs. The main sign that is easy to read is your basal body temperature. By taking your temperature every morning before drinking, eating, getting up, or using the restroom, you can determine what your hormones are doing. Essentially, you should know that your temperature will rise on the day that you ovulate, as your body produces progesterone, a hormone that causes the temperature increase, and that prepares your body for pregnancy.

There are, though, other signs that you’re nearing ovulation. For one thing, you might notice vaginal mucous throughout your cycle. When this mucous gets white and thick – like an egg white – you’re probably going to ovulate soon. Different women also have other secondary signs, such as slight cramping, bloating, or increased sex drive, and if you recognize these signs, you can use them to predict your ovulation days.

Step Two: Track Your Signs to Detect Ovulation

Keeping track of your signs is just as important as recognizing them. You can track your signs on a traditional ovulation chart, or you can devise your own way to track them. Essentially, you want to write down your basal body temperature each day, and you also want to take note of other secondary fertility signs. When your mucous begins to turn egg-white-like, then you’ll be getting closer to ovulation, and when your temperature spikes, you’ll have actually ovulated.

Step Three: Use This Information to Get Pregnant

As you track a few cycles, you’ll probably notice that your body has a pattern. Once you know this pattern, you can count the days of your cycle to predict when you’re most likely to become pregnant. To up your chances of pregnancy, you should have intercourse on two or three days just before ovulation, as well as the day of ovulation. This will give you the maximum chance of connecting the sperm and the egg and of becoming pregnant more quickly. Be aware that even though your body most likely follows a pattern each month, it doesn’t necessarily hold true every single month. For the maximum chance of pregnancy success, you should chart each individual cycle instead of relying on a simple counting method to determine when you’re most likely to become pregnant. Once you’re more familiar with your body’s secondary signs of fertility, though, you might be able to accurately predict when you should have intercourse even if you’ve forgotten to complete your chart for a few days.

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Before a Missed Period - Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

When most women think about very early symptoms of pregnancy, they automatically assume that a missed period is the top symptom. Would you be surprised that a missed period isn’t even in the top 5 very early symptoms of pregnancy?

By the time a woman has noticed a missed period due to a pregnancy, at least 5 other symptoms may have made themselves known, possibly weeks before the scheduled period.

Here are five very early signs of pregnancy that can be noticed by a sensitive mother-to-be. And, all five can happen long before a period has been missed.

Elevated Basal Body Temperature

The body’s basal temperature (the lowest body temperature that happens during rest) begins to elevate after ovulation, and stays elevated beyond your next expected period. Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary and pushed down the fallopian tube and is ready to be fertilized by a sperm. The implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6 to 12 days after ovulation – that’s about two to three weeks before the next period is missed.

This one-half to one degree Fahrenheit increase in basal body temperature is a subtle early warning sign of pregnancy. This change in basal body temperature, which is measured by a special, more accurate thermometer, can happen as early as two days after ovulation. And, that can be two weeks before you notice a missed period.

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Breast Tenderness, Nipple Enlargement And Increased Breast Size

Changes and increased swelling and tenderness in the breast and nipples are one of the classic very early signs of pregnancy. Many times, a woman may notice these changes and blame them on a particularly ill-fitting or uncomfortable bra or other article of clothing. But, the sensitive woman will notice these changes for what they are – a new life is beginning to grow inside her with the new pregnancy.

Nipples, particularly the dark area around the nipple called the areola, enlarge and darken in anticipation of breastfeeding the new infant. These changes are due almost entirely to hormone releases in the body, all in anticipation of sustaining the new life within. Some experts say the darkening of the areolas serves a purpose – helping the newly born child find the nipple easier for feeding. These changes to the breast and nipple areas should return to normal after birth.

Nausea And Vomiting-

Also known as “morning sickness,” this early and uncomfortable sign of pregnancy usually targets women and begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, but often occurs earlier. About half of all expecting mothers have morning sickness – which may or may not include vomiting. But, it usually always features nausea. Often attributed to increased hormone levels in the body, some doctors feel that morning sickness is a good sign that the baby is healthy and is developing normally, and the pregnancy is progressing well. If your morning sickness is accompanied with vomiting, be sure to stay hydrated, keep your electrolyte levels within range. and get plenty of rest and nap throughout the day.

Constipation

Another subtle and often overlooked pregnancy clue is constipation – defined as less that three bowel movements per week. Who doesn’t get constipated at one time or another – without being pregnant?

The constantly changing level of the hormone progesterone, which slows down the movement of food through your digestive system, can wreak havoc with the frequency and timing of bowel movements. Many women who are pregnant but don’t realize it may just write constipation off as an unrelated, and irritating issue. Like changes in the breasts, paying close attention here really can make tell a story.

Fatigue And Exhaustion

There is a big difference between fatigue and tiredness. Feeling tired and sleepy after a long day’s work is completely normal and expected. Sleep, which usually happens after tiredness, is the remedy for a body needing rest, as sleep allows the body to repair itself and ready itself for another hard day.

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Fatigue, on the other hand, is not a normal bodily function and is usually a sign of some other condition. Technically speaking, fatigue really has nothing to do with a tired body, as sleep will not normally resolve fatigue. Fatigue can be a sign of disease such as certain cancers, auto-immune disorders and a host of other conditions – including pregnancy.

Fatigue can also be a sure sign of an early pregnancy, usually occurring during the first trimester and often partially blamed on a dramatic rise in the level of the hormone progesterone. Pregnancy also can put a huge strain on every bodily function – it’s no wonder that you may feel totally exhausted before the day is through.

Are you experiencing one or more of these very early symptoms of pregnancy? If you have even the slightest idea that you may be pregnant, get a home pregnancy test from your local drug store and test yourself. Then, you’ll know for sure and if positive, you can then notify your doctor and start taking care of your new baby.

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How to Stop Fibroid Bleeding

If you would like to know how to stop fibroid bleeding, there are a number of steps you can take which can help. Fibroids can either cause breakthrough bleeding, between the menstrual periods or can cause heavy bleeding, often lasting for several days at the time of the period.

There can be various reasons why heavy bleeding might occur. These are as follows:-

* A blockage caused by the fibroid which causes a backup of blood which seems heavy when released

* Uterine congestion which causes changes in blood flow around the uterus

* An increase in blood vessels to the fibroids which means a greater amount of blood flowing through the uterus

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If left unchecked, heavy fibroid bleeding can cause dangerous anemia together with excruciating pain, both of which can be managed in a number of ways. Knowing how to stop fibroids bleeding is not usually as simple as taking a single step. Very often it is a mulitfaceted approach which works best. You may wish to try the following:-

* Try supplements of Vitamins A C and E. Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 are also known to help

* Some women find that an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen to be helpful

* Rest with your legs elevated

* Avoid tampons

* Lie on your side and pull you legs up to your chest

* Gentle-moderate exercise can improve circulation and blood flow

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Of course, the best outcome would be to shrink your fibroids altogether and if you are prepared to make a number of significant lifestyle and dietary changes, then this is perfectly possible.

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Brown Spotting Between Periods: What Does It Mean?

Menstrual periods are sometimes unpredictable. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone has the “typical” 28-day menstrual cycle. If you were to chart your periods you might discover your periods are longer in length or shorter than average – or vary in length. Sometimes out of the blue you have a period when you weren’t expecting it! Sometimes you have heavy periods, and sometimes very light (Scanty Periods). And from time to time you find that you have brown spotting between your regular menstrual periods. What causes spotting between periods, and should you be concerned if you have it?

It’s not abnormal to have vaginal discharge. Spotting between periods is a symptom most women will experience at some point over the course of their reproductive life. The amount and consistency of that discharge varies depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. In most cases, normal discharge from your vaginal tract is clear or cloudy, not colored. What if you experience brown spotting or discharge between your menstrual periods?

Brown, red, or pink spotting: what does it mean?

Spotting, by definition, means you’re only passing small amounts of blood and tissue from the lining of your reproductive tract. When you’re spotting, you may discover a small amount on the toilet tissue when you wipe or notice pink, red or brown spots of blood in your underwear. You might wonder why, if you’re bleeding or spotting, the blood looks brown in color. Blood becomes dark when it’s old. Spotting may be dark brown because it’s leftover blood from your last menstrual period and contains remnants of the lining of your uterus that wasn’t completely shed.

Seeing blood on toilet tissue when you wipe is alarming, but, there’s good news – most spotting between periods in younger women, is benign.

Spotting towards the end of a normal period is also usually normal and not cause for concern. Some women may also experience brown spotting right before a period starts. This type of spotting is often due to a hormone imbalance, typically low levels of the hormone progesterone.

Is the Brown Spotting Really Coming From Your Vagina?

When you see brown discoloration in your underwear, don’t assume it’s from your vaginal tract. It could be coming from your urinary tract or rectum. When you have a urinary infection, it’s not uncommon to pass small amounts of blood in your urine. Hemorrhoids or other problems in your colon or rectum can also cause bleeding that shows up on toilet paper when you wipe or in your underwear. To see if you’re dealing with vaginal spotting, insert a tampon into your vagina and see if it comes back with bright red blood or dark blood on it. If not, you may not be spotting from your vaginal tract after all and should consult your doctor.

What Causes Spotting Between Periods?

Hormones

Spotting between periods can be a sign that the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle are “out of sync.” Certain medications, particularly birth control pills, can trigger hormonal fluctuations that lead to spotting. It’s not uncommon for women who take birth control pills to experience bleeding between scheduled periods. It takes your body time for your body to adapt to the hormones in birth control pills. Until this adjustment takes place, you may experience red or brown spotting. If it’s a persistent problem, you can ask your doctor to change your birth control prescription. Forgetting to take your birth control pill for a few days can also cause breakthrough bleeding or spotting.

If you’ve taken birth control pills for a while and are still experiencing spotting, your doctor may need to adjust your prescription to bring your hormones back into balance. Sometimes severe stress can trigger hormonal changes that lead to spotting between menstrual periods. Crash dieting, severe calorie restriction or excessive exercise can also disrupt your body’s hormone balance and lead to irregular bleeding or spotting. Less commonly, a medical problem like a hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) is the culprit. Your doctor can check your thyroid function using a blood test.

Any form of hormonal birth control, including intravaginal rings, injectables, implantables and patches can cause spotting, especially when you first begin using them. Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are another form of birth control that causes spotting in some women. One type of IUD called Mirena contains a progesterone-like hormone that can bring on spotting. Some women also experience spotting with copper IUDs during the first few months.

A number of women have a condition called polycystic ovary disease that triggers hormonal imbalances. These imbalances are often linked with irregular menstrual periods and, sometimes, bleeding or spotting between periods. You’re a higher risk for this condition if you’re overweight, have a family history of PCOS or have diabetes or a pre-diabetic condition called insulin resistance.

Ovulation Bleeding

Some women experience a small amount of bleeding mid-cycle, around the time of ovulation. Ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovaries, usually occurs 10 to 16 days after your last period. Light bleeding or spotting during this time is due to the sudden rise in estrogen, a female hormone that helps regulate your menstrual cycle, which happens at the time of ovulation. Ovulatory bleeding is usually light and lasts no more than 2 or 3 days. Around 20% of healthy women experience light bleeding or spotting mid-cycle as ovulation takes place.

Pregnancy

Light bleeding and spotting can also happen during early pregnancy, when the fertilized egg implants itself in the wall of the uterus; it can irritate the lining and cause loss of small amounts of blood. When this takes place, it’s not uncommon to experience spotting for a day or two. This type of brown spotting usually happens a few days to a week after an egg is fertilized, so you can experience it before you even know you’re pregnant.

If there’s any chance you could be pregnant, take a pregnancy test and see your doctor right away if you’re bleeding. Spotting in pregnant women can sometimes be an early sign of miscarriage. Sometimes an egg implants in a part of the reproductive tract where it shouldn’t be. This is called an ectopic pregnancy. Spotting, in combination with abdominal pain, are two common signs you see with ectopic pregnancy. Any time you have abdominal pain or cramping along with spotting, see your doctor immediately.

Other Causes of Spotting Between Menstrual Periods

Most spotting between periods is related to hormonal fluctuations and ovulation bleeding, although there are some more serious causes of between period spotting. Infection or inflammation of the cervix, cervical polyps or even cervical cancer can all cause pink, red or brown spotting. The spotting may be brought on or made worse by sexual intercourse. Sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea can also trigger spotting in some cases. Fibroid tumors of the uterus (almost always non-cancerous) and cancer of the uterus are other possible causes of spotting, although these are more common in women around the age of menopause or older.

Brown Spotting versus Brown Vaginal Discharge

As mentioned, brown “spotting” could really be dark colored vaginal discharge that contains red blood cells. In some cases, brown discharge is caused by an infection in your cervix or a sexually transmitted disease like chlamydia or gonorrhea. If you have other symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, burning when you urinate or foul-smelling vaginal discharge or itching, check with your doctor.

If you recently had an abortion, please see our articles about brown discharge after abortion, blood clots after abortion, and bleeding after abortion.

The Bottom Line

Most “normal” brown spotting that happens just before or after your period is painless, and it is a relatively common problem that happens in normal women, especially young women and women using hormonal methods of birth control. Although between-period spotting usually isn’t serious, it’s important to find out WHY you’re spotting. See your doctor or gynecologist for a full exam. It’s important to be aware of changes in your body, including changes in your menstrual cycle, and report them to your doctor promptly.

If you have other symptoms, like pain or itching or if there’s a chance you could be pregnant, get it checked out as soon as possible. If you have large amounts of persistent brown spotting or discharge that doesn’t clear up in a day or two, let your doctor know. Even if you don’t have these symptoms, a consultation with a doctor will give you added peace of mind.

References

Medscape Family Medicine. “Toward Optimal Health: The Experts Discuss Abnormal Uterine Bleeding”
Up to Date. “Approach to abnormal uterine bleeding in nonpregnant reproductive-age women”
Am Fam Physician. 1999 Oct 1;60(5):1371-1380.
Family Practice Notebook. “Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Causes”

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What Does Brown Discharge Mean?

It’s normal to have vaginal discharge, even though it can be annoying, and confusing, at times. What’s going on? You’ve probably noticed that the characteristics of your discharge vary depending upon where you are in your menstrual cycle. Your cervix naturally produces small amounts of mucous, what you see as discharge, and this mucous can change in character depending on the time of month.

Most vaginal discharge is clear or white in color, although the consistency changes over the course of your cycle. Around the middle of the month, you may notice your vaginal discharge becomes very clear and a bit stringier than usual. This type of discharge is most noticeable around the time of ovulation and is perfectly normal.

Some women become concerned when they see their vaginal secretions are darker than usual or brown in coloration. What does brown discharge mean, and should you be concerned if you have it?

Brown Discharge May Actually Be Spotting

If you’re like many women, you sometimes experience brown discharge towards the end of your menstrual cycle. Should you be concerned? As long as you’re having no other symptoms, this is typically not something to worry about. The brown “discharge” you see in your underwear and on the toilet tissue when you wipe is likely brown spotting or bleeding. The brown material you see is remnants of dried blood and tissue left over from your menstrual period. Think of it as your body’s final attempt at “cleaning house.”

Some women also experience brown spotting, or bleeding, just before their period begins. This is called pre-menstrual spotting and is usually related to changes in hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. When you look in your underwear, you might mistake brown spotting for brown vaginal discharge.

Brown spotting can also show up mid-cycle, around the time you normally ovulate. This type of “ovulation bleeding” typically lasts for only a few hours and is caused by changes in hormones. Up to 30% of otherwise healthy women experience some degree of mid-cycle spotting at the time they ovulate. Another time some women experience brown spotting is during the early stage of pregnancy when a fertilized egg burrows into the wall of the uterus. This is referred to as “implantation bleeding.”

If you’re taking birth control pills and experience brown spotting, it probably means that your hormones are not balanced properly and your doctor may need to adjust your prescription. Women who have an intrauterine device inserted into their reproductive tract for birth control may also experience brown discharge or spotting during the first six months of wearing it.

Other Causes of Brown Discharge

Brown discharge isn’t always spotting or bleeding. Colored or brown discharge can sometimes be a sign of a vaginal infection. A variety of bacteria and parasites can infect the tissues of your vagina or cervix and cause a yellow, gray or light-brown discharge. In some cases, brown discharge can be a symptom of a sexually-transmitted infection, like gonorrhea or syphilis, or an infection in reproductive tract called pelvic inflammatory disease. Less commonly, a persistent brown discharge can be a sign of cervical cancer.

When Should You Be Concerned about Brown Discharge?

Brown discharge due to spotting between periods usually doesn’t last long, at most a day or two before it disappears and your discharge again becomes clear or white. In most cases, you won’t experience other symptoms when you have brown spotting between periods, although some women experience mild abdominal discomfort that only lasts several hours when they have mid-cycle, ovulatory bleeding. If you have a persistent brown discharge or brown discharge with other symptoms, see your doctor to make sure you don’t have a vaginal or cervical infection.

Some symptoms you might experience if you have a vaginal or cervical infection include vaginal itching, burning, itching or irritation, discharge that smells bad, abdominal discomfort, fever having to urinate frequently, pain with intercourse or burning when you urinate. If you have any of these symptoms, see your health care provider right away.

Most vaginal infections can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but it’s important to get tested to find out what type of infection you have and make sure that it’s properly treated. Infections in the cervix that aren’t promptly treated can lead to scarring of your reproductive organs and make it harder to get pregnant. When in doubt, see your doctor.

The Bottom Line

Brown discharge has a variety of causes, as discussed, and what you believe to be “discharge,” may actually be brown spotting between periods. When in doubt, it’s best to get checked out by your doctor, especially if you have a persistent, brown discharge or a dark discharge along with other symptoms. If you just have a small amount of brown spotting mid-cycle, just before a period or at the tail end of a period that goes away quickly, it’s probably nothing to worry about.

References

Up to Date. “Vaginal Discharge in Adult Women”
Medscape.com. “Vaginitis”
WebMD. “Vaginal Discharge: What’s Abnormal?”

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Everything You Need to Know About Spotting Between Periods

Though it may cause apprehension, spotting between periods is not really an unusual occurrence. Typically, the menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, with an average of 28 days. Spotting between periods takes place when there is vaginal blood flow in between the period after your last day of menstruation and the beginning of your next menstrual cycle. Women may commonly experience bleeding in between periods at some particular time in their reproductive lives. Vaginal spotting between periods does not generally pose a major cause for concern but still warrants attention from the gynecologist. However, there are some cases of bleeding in between periods that signal a more serious underlying medical condition that would need prompt intervention.

These blood discharges differ in color. Brown spotting in between periods means that blood has dried at a certain degree and has been confined to the cervix for a longer period of time. Bleeding in between periods that produces bright red blood indicates that it is new and fresh. On the other hand, a pink blood discharge that accompanies spotting in between periods denotes dilution. A very dark brown or blackish discharge during spotting in between periods signifies extremely old blood. At times, the color of discharge at the time of spotting in between periods may convey the length of time and pace blood has passed through the cervix. The color of blood does not necessarily pinpoint the exact causes of spotting. To arrive at an accurate diagnosis, further assessment and diagnostic procedures are needed to determine the cause of bleeding in between periods.

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Another factor to be considered in the diagnosis of these vaginal discharges is the extent and duration of irregular blood flow. When vaginal blood flow associated with spotting in between periods is light in volume, such as in droplets or minute amounts, there is less cause for worry. In situations when there occurs heavy bleeding in between periods, such as when the sanitary pads get very saturated in a short period of time, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Depending upon the rate of blood flow, a prolonged duration of spotting between periods likewise needs critical intervention.

Vaginal Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding between periods may not pose as a major health threat if one of the causes of spotting is related to ovulation. Spotting between periods is brought about by the abrupt and transient rise of the estrogen hormone connected with the release of the egg from the ovary during ovulation. This sudden increase of estrogen may contribute to light bleeding in between periods, especially if it occurs during the 13th to 16th day of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation spotting is characterized by a light blood flow and is either pinkish or brownish in color. Sometimes, the vaginal blood discharges of ovulation related to spotting in between periods are accompanied by a white-colored cervical mucus and mild lower abdominal cramping.

Severe physical, emotional and mental stress may also trigger spotting between periods. This type of light bleeding in between periods usually happens two to five days before or after the period starts. Stressors may elicit the brain to alter the menstrual process which leads to brown-colored discharge during the beginning half of the cycle. In cases when the ovulation does not occur or partially takes place, light spotting in between periods emerges at the last half of the menstrual cycle.

Other causes of spotting are incidences of implantation and bleeding or light spotting between periods associated with pregnancy. This mild spotting generally happens a week after ovulation or a week before the menstrual cycle is expected to start. Brown spotting between periods is evident because of the extended length of time for the blood to be expelled from the woman’s body.

Perimenopausal spotting may most likely be expected among women nearing the age of late forties until the early fifties when menopause sets in. The primary causes of spotting during the menopause period are related to hormones in the woman’s body that are undergoing extreme changes. Failure or inability to ovulate as menopause progresses contribute to spotting between periods as well as other symptoms, such as dryness of the external parts of the reproductive organ and lowered sexual desires. Commonly experienced among women in the perimenopausal stages are irregular and shortened length of menstruation, in which spotting between periods just happens a few days before the menstrual cycle starts. However, if perimenopausal spotting between periods is accompanied by any varying degree of abdominal or vaginal pain, immediate medical attention is needed.

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Certain types of birth control methods may also cause spotting in between periods. Intrauterine device, or IUD, and birth control injections among the birth control methods are most likely to bring about spotting between periods. Vaginal spotting between periods is also manifested in medical conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine polyps, malignancies in the reproductive organs, vaginal infections, thyroid disorders and diabetes.

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Spotting Before Your Period: What Does It Mean?

Spotting essentially means light bleeding and refers to bleeding that occurs between menstrual periods. When you spot, you may see small amounts of red or dark brown blood in your underwear or notice a tiny amount of blood on toilet tissue when you wipe. Seeing blood when you aren’t expecting it can be frightening. Not surprisingly, many girls and women with this problem quickly assume something must be wrong. The good news? Spotting between menstrual periods is fairly common and something most girls and women experience at some point in their lives.

Is the Blood Coming From Your Vagina?

If you notice blood on the toilet tissue or in your underwear, the first order of business is to make sure it’s coming from your vagina and not your urinary tract or rectum. The best way to confirm vaginal spotting is to insert a tampon into your vagina and see if it comes back with blood on it. If the tampon comes back clean, the bleeding may be coming from your rectum or bladder or kidneys due to urinary tract infection. If you have a urinary tract infection, you may experience other symptoms: having to urinate more often, pain or burning when you urinate and abdominal discomfort. The most common cause of bleeding from the rectum is hemorrhoids, although there are other more serious causes you see more often in women over the age of 40. If the blood isn’t coming from your vagina, it’s important to see your doctor to find out where it IS coming from and the cause.

What if the Blood is Coming from Your Vagina?

If the tampon test is positive, you can be pretty sure the bleeding is from your vaginal tract. Should you be concerned? Spotting before a period can happen for a number of reasons. If you’re still in your teens and haven’t been having your period for more than a year or two, your periods may not have established a set pattern. As a result, the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle may be slightly unbalanced, leading to a small amount of bleeding prior to your period. This type of spotting is often due to “anovulatory bleeding“, related to the fact that you haven’t started ovulating yet. Failure to ovulate is common during the first few months or years after you begin to menstruate. Factors like excessive dieting, stress and excessive amounts of exercise can also create a hormone imbalance that contributes to spotting.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, and are taking oral contraceptives, you may experience spotting for a few months after starting them. This is referred to as “breakthrough bleeding” and is fairly common. You may also have breakthrough bleeding if you forget to take your birth control period for a day or two. If this is a persistent problem, talk to your doctor about adjusting your prescription.

When Should You Be Concerned about Spotting Before a Period?

Assuming you’re premenopausal and still having menstrual periods, a small amount of spotting just before a period is usually not cause for concern unless you have other symptoms like unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge, abdominal cramping, vaginal burning or vaginal itching. These may be signs of a vaginal infection or a sexually transmitted infection. If you have symptoms other than light spotting, it’s important to see your doctor.

The other time spotting before a period is concerning is when you’re pregnant. If you’re sexually active and having persistent spotting or other symptoms like abdominal pain, see your doctor to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one where the egg deposits in an area other than the uterus, where it should be. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition that needs evaluation. In women who are pregnant, spotting prior to a period can be a sign of a very early miscarriage. If there’s any possibility you could be pregnant, see your doctor right away if you experience spotting. Spotting early in pregnancy may be entirely normal.

Women who are pregnant may experience “implantation bleeding“, spotting or bleeding that occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Implantation bleeding often happens right around the time when a period would be expected.

Spotting is more concerning if you’re middle-aged or older. In people in their 30s and over, spotting can be related to a uterine fibroid, a common, non-cancerous growth or enlargement of the uterus, or other problems that don’t typically affect teens and women in their early 20s. Also, spotting can be a sign of endometriosis, a condition that can affect women of all ages. Rarely, it can be also be a tip-off to more serious health problems, including polyps, cancer or an under-active thyroid gland.

Some signs that you need to see your doctor for further evaluation include:

Possible pregnancy

Bleeding more than a small amount

Excessive or malodorous vaginal discharge

Abdominal pain or cramping

You’re past the age of menopause

The Bottom Line

Spotting prior to a period is often not a cause for concern, especially if it’s light and you’re still in your teens or early 20s. For peace of mind, check in with your doctor to be sure.

References

Am Fam Physician. 1999 Oct 1;60(5):1371-1380.
Family Practice Notebook. “Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Causes”

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Having Sex While on Your Period: Is It Safe?

In some parts of the world, having sex during a period is considered to be taboo. The perception by some is that sexual intercourse while actively bleeding is “unclean.” Other misperceptions are that engaging in sex while having a menstrual period is somehow unsafe or likely to cause harm. What is the truth about sex during a period – is it something you should avoid?

Having sex while having a period

The idea that having sex while having a period is unsafe is an old wives’ tale. The reality? There’s nothing hazardous or harmful about sexual intercourse during a menstrual period. Menstrual bleeding is the shedding of tissue from the lining of the uterus along with blood, a completely natural process. It may be messier to have intercourse during this time, especially if you have sex during the first three days of your period when the flow is heaviest, but you’re not putting yourself or your partner at risk when you have intercourse at this time.

In fact, some women find their sexual desire is stronger just before or right after their period starts. Sex can also ease some of the stress and tension that goes along with “that time of the month.” Plus, sex stimulates the release of a hormone called oxytocin, sometimes called the “love” hormone. This release may help ease some of your menstrual symptoms, including menstrual cramps.

Whether to have sex during a period is a choice you and your partner should make based on how each of you feels about the issue. Not all men or women enjoy having sex during this time or have the desire to do so and that’s okay too.

Assumptions You Shouldn’t Make

Some gals believe they’re immune to getting pregnant when they have intercourse during a menstrual cycle. The chance of successfully conceiving while actively bleeding is low since ovulation typically occurs mid-cycle, but it’s still possible to conceive while having a period, especially if you have short or irregular menstrual cycles. Sperm lives inside your reproductive tract for 2 to 5 days. If you have a short or irregular cycle, you could ovulate right after your period stops and still have viable sperm available to fertilize an egg, so pregnancy is still possible.

Some people also mistake mid-cycle spotting around the time of ovulation as a menstrual period. If what you think is a period turns out to be spotting between periods, your risk for pregnancy would be higher. The take-home message is to always use some form of contraceptive protection, regardless of where you are in your cycle, unless you’re trying to get pregnant.

Be aware that it’s just as easy to get a sexually transmitted disease when you’re having your period as any other time. Some research even suggests it’s EASIER to get an STD if you have sex with an infected person during your period. During a period, your cervix is more open and that provides a direct pathway for organisms that cause sexually transmitted infection to reach the deeper parts of your pelvic cavity. Be smart and protect yourself with a condom.

Alternatives to Sex during a Period

Even if the idea of having sex while on your period turns you off, you and your partner can still enjoy intimacy without actually having intercourse. Use that time for a little romance or something relaxing like a massage to bring the two of you closer together.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing harmful, strange or taboo about having sex while on your period – it’s more a matter of personal preference, but, if you do, don’t forget about using protection.

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How to Stop Having Periods

Most women have probably contemplated a world where nature’s monthly visit never comes, and wished that they could live there. While on that thought path, many women have wondered if it’s possible to completely stop having periods outside of menopause. If the monthly hassle of shedding our uterine lining could be totally eliminated, our lives would surely be better, we think. It is possible to stop yourself from having periods or severely reduce the amount of periods you have in a year without waiting for menopause to hit you.

Birth Control

Ordinary oral contraceptives (the Pill) are designed to keep you from being able to have children for as long as you are on the medication. The way most of them work is that they have three weeks that have the active ingredient (hormones) and then one week of pills that are placebo. If you are on monophasic contraception, all you have to do is just skip the placebo week and start on another packet. You can do this for multiple packets at a time, effectively gaining complete control over your period. There are also other types of birth control that intentionally limit your periods to about 4 a year (two commonly known ones are Seasonale and Seasonique).
The risk in using this method to completely stop your period is that, because of the way the birth control works, your uterine lining builds up over time, and can cause complications further down the road, including cancer and infertility. If you want to limit your period to only a couple of times a year, you should talk to your doctor and see if your body would react well to certain kinds of birth control. Talk to your doctor if you want to permanently stop your period, because doctors have access to certain resources that might make it a viable possibility. Just be aware that any methods that will completely stop your period will also stop you from being able to have children in the future.

Lifestyle (Diet, Exercise)

It’s a simple fact of life that eventually you will go through menopause and your periods will stop forever. However, in the meanwhile, you can make some lifestyle choices that have the potential to naturally reduce or even stop your periods. For example, it’s relatively well-documented that consistent, rigorous exercise can seriously reduce your period, even to the point of stopping it. However, unless you’re an athlete, it’s unlikely that you will be able or have enough time to exercise enough to stop it.
You can also add and subtract certain foods from your diet to reduce (and in some cases, stop) your period. Try to avoid spices such as garlic, ginger, or sesame, and foods like peppers and papayas. There are also certain herbs that you can make into tea that ancient Chinese doctors used to prescribe to help with menstruation problems, such as angelica root, raspberry leaves, garden sage (lady mantle) and shepherd’s purse. These herbs are scientifically known to stop heavy menstrual bleeding, and depending on your body, may completely stop your periods. 

Hysterectomy

The only way outside of menopause to completely, utterly stop you from ever having another period again is getting a hysterectomy, or having a surgery that removes some (or all) of your sexual organs (specifically the cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus). There are a couple of different kinds of hysterectomies that remove varying amounts of your organs, but they will all effectively end your period forever, because without them, your body has no need to shed your uterine lining, because it would be impossible for you to have a baby without any of those organs. There are a lot of risks and side effects of having a hysterectomy, which may be why most of the hysterectomies that take place are in women that have gotten cancer on their organs.
Periods are a natural part of being a woman, and as painful and inconvenient as they can be, their presence show that you are basically healthy. The most effective way to control your periods is through birth control, the most effective way to end your periods is through a hysterectomy. The best thing is just to struggle through your periods. If you are looking for some other options or are serious about stopping your periods, you should talk to your doctor or at least get a doctor’s opinion.

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