Currently, the most common reason for a woman to visit a gynecologist is menstrual irregularities. This condition can be dangerous, as it indicates a violation of the normal functioning of the female reproductive system. What is the decoding of the NMC and the possible reasons leading to this state, we will consider in the article.
What is NMC
NMC are menstrual irregularities that every woman can experience. Both pathological causes (inflammation, hormonal disruptions) and physiological (pregnancy or the body's response to climate change) can contribute to this.
Menstruation is an integral part of a woman's life. The norm is the menstrual cycle, the duration of which is 21-35 days. It all depends on the physiological characteristics of the female body. Single deviations from the norm for up to five days are not considered pathological, but with systematic delays in menstruation of 5 days or more, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of NMC, which, without timely treatment, provokes serious complications.
Types of pathology and their symptoms
Symptomaticsdeviations can manifest themselves in different ways, depending on what type they belong to. Currently, experts identify the following menstrual irregularities:
- Algodysmenorrhea. Painful menstruation, which is accompanied by a headache, general malaise. There may be disturbances in the work of the intestines, nausea, mood swings. In adolescent girls during the formation of the cycle, this condition can be considered the norm. This type of violation is the most common.
- Amenorrhoea. It is characterized by the absence of menstruation for six months or more. It can be primary - when menstruation does not begin before the age of 16. In this case, the NMC in the ICD code is 91.0. Secondary amenorrhea occurs in women of reproductive age who have an established cycle. Amenorrhea-type NMC is a pathological condition that requires immediate treatment.
- Oligomenorrhea. It is characterized by short periods - no more than two days. In the ICD, 10 NMCs of this type have the code 91.3–91.5.
- Hypomenorrhea. Scanty periods, in which the amount of blood released is very small.
- Hypermenorrhea. Very heavy periods.
- Menorrhagia. These are periods that occur without delay, but are plentiful and last a very long time (over 7 days). This condition is not an independent disease, but a sign of other serious disorders in a woman's body.
- Polymenorrhea. This is what is called frequent menstruation. In this case, the woman has a short menstrual cycle.
Common signs of disorders include nagging pain in the lower abdomen andlumbar region, dizziness, weakness, vomiting and stool disorders. Also, in some cases, obesity and infertility are observed.
Reasons
The causes of menstrual irregularities may be the following factors:
- Pregnancy.
- Abortion.
- Stress, depression and any psycho-emotional stress.
- Climate change.
- Wrong diet.
- Obesity.
- Lack of sleep.
- Avitaminosis.
- Incorrect organization of work and leisure.
- Excessive exercise.
- Taking certain medications.
- Exposure to harmful substances or radiation.
- Using an intrauterine device, which can cause an increase in blood output.
Also, NMC is a kind of response of the body to pathological processes occurring in any organs. Failures of the menstrual cycle may be signs of the following pathologies:
- Hormonal disorders.
- Ovarian dysfunction.
- Inflammatory or infectious processes.
- Congenital pathologies of the organs of the female reproductive system.
- Polycystic.
- Endometriosis.
- Uterine fibroids.
- Tumours.
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Disturbances in the work of the adrenal glands, kidneys.
- Hyperplasia.
- Ovarian cysts.
- Injuries and postoperative period.
The occurrence of NMC in gynecology can be caused by other factors that shouldtreated by a doctor on an individual basis.
It is worth considering the age of the patient. For example, during adolescence, within a year and a half after the first menstruation, an irregular cycle may be the norm if diagnostic measures have not revealed other pathologies.
After childbirth and during breastfeeding, menstrual irregularities occur due to hormonal changes.
After the age of 40, NMC may be a sign of the onset of menopause. In this case, there is a gradual decrease in the reproductive function and activity of the ovaries. This condition is a variant of the norm.
If violations occur after 35 years, this may indicate both an early menopause and pathological processes that require immediate treatment.
Diagnosis
NMC is a condition that in most cases indicates the development of pathological processes in a woman's body. At the first signs, you should contact a gynecologist who will prescribe diagnostic measures. Based on their results, the most effective therapy in each case will be selected.
Timeliness and quality of diagnosis will minimize the risk of complications.
- First of all, if there are any violations of the cycle, you need to contact a gynecologist. At the appointment, the doctor collects an anamnesis of the disease, clarifies the presence of provoking factors - the presence of stressful situations, sexual activity, medication, and others.
- Inspection in progress withspeculum.
- Taking smears for laboratory tests.
- Smears for oncocytology and STIs.
- General analysis of urine and blood.
- A blood test for hormones. This is a very important diagnostic point, since many deviations are caused precisely by hormonal imbalances.
- Hysteroscopy.
- Colposcopy.
- Laparoscopic diagnostic method.
- Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and, if necessary, the thyroid gland.
- MRI or CT of the brain (if the doctor sees the need).
May need to see an endocrinologist.
NMC is diagnosed only after receiving the results of all prescribed tests.
Treatment
Since there are a large number of causes of menstrual irregularities, treatment is selected individually in each case. Therapy can be performed medically or surgically. Sometimes the use of traditional medicine is recommended. Let's take a closer look at treatment options.
Conservative method. Includes the following types of drugs:
- Hormonal. They are prescribed if the tests revealed hormonal imbalances. With this treatment option, estrogens, thyroid hormone analogs, gestagens, and others can be used.
- Oral contraceptives that can restore the menstrual cycle. But it is worth remembering that these drugs can cause allergic reactions.
- Hemostatic drugs. Prescribed for heavy menstruation. The use of this category of drugs is possible only after consultation with your doctor, as they can cause such side effects as the formation of thrombosis.
- Iron medicines for the treatment and prevention of anemia.
- Anspasmodics.
- Painkillers.
- Anti-inflammatory therapy.
- Antibiotics.
- Vitamin therapy.
Surgical treatment. It is used if conservative therapy does not bring results, as well as in tumors and in the presence of cysts. During surgery, an abdominal operation or laparoscopy is performed, which is a more gentle method.
Traditional medicine
Folk remedies have proven themselves in the treatment of NMC associated with hormonal imbalances or in the absence of menstruation. It may be recommended to take decoctions and infusions of herbs such as oregano, parsley seeds, St. John's wort and others. Horsetail helps with painful periods.
It is worth remembering that the use of any traditional medicine must be agreed with the attending physician.
Consequences
NMC is a pathological condition that can be a sign of the development of serious diseases.
Irregular cycle often leads to infertility. A hormonal disorder affects the maturation of eggs, the thickness of the endometrium, as a result of which pregnancy either does not occur at all, or a miscarriage occurs.at an early date. If the cause of failures are disorders of the endocrine system, the whole body may suffer. This is due to the fact that all human organs and systems are interconnected. The imbalance of hormones brings discord in the functioning of the whole organism. Inflammatory processes without proper treatment can spread throughout the body, causing serious complications.
Prevention
Preventive measures include the following:
- Proper nutrition.
- He althy lifestyle.
- Weight control.
- Scheduled visit to the gynecologist.
- Moderate exercise.
- Abortion prevention.
Conclusion
Menstrual irregularities can occur in women at any time during their reproductive years. These deviations can both be the norm and speak of serious violations of women's he alth, which, without timely treatment, can lead to irreparable consequences. It is necessary to listen to your body and, at the first sign of NMC, contact a gynecologist.