Menstrual disorder could be defined as any disease or dysfunction that hampers the normal menstrual cycle of the patient. A normal woman of childbearing age menstruates every 28 days unless she is pregnant or she is on the verge of menopause. However, due to numerous physical and psychological reasons normal menstrual cycle gets disrupted leading to a number of menstrual irregularities. These mainly include amenorrhea, dysmenorrheal, and premenstrual syndrome.

Amenorrhea

It is defined by the absence of normal menstrual periods. This menstrual disorder is mainly of two types: primary and secondary.

Primary Amenorrhea

It refers to the failure to begin normal menstruation by the age of 16. The causes of primary amenorrhea mainly include

• Gonadal failure (hypogonadism) or a nonfunctioning ovary
• Uterovaginal agenesis or the absence of vagina and/or uterus
• Too much physical activity
• Abrupt weight loss due to anorexia, bulimia, or malnutrition
• Excessive obesity
• Use of antidepressant drugs or tranquilizers
• Turner’s syndrome
• Obstruction due to imperforate hymen
• Ovarian, pituitary, or adrenal tumors

Secondary Amenorrhea

This frequent disorder is manifested by the absence of menstruation for more than 3 months in a woman who had normal menstruation in the past. The causes of secondary amenorrhea include

• Pregnancy
• Excessive obesity
• Temporary cessation of menstruation when someone stops taking contraceptive pill
• Hormonal disorders related to stress, depression, anorexia nervosa, or drugs
• Polycystic ovary syndrome or tumors in ovary
• Hysterectomy or menopause would stop menstruation permanently

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation is characterized by menstrual cramps or painful periods. Almost every woman faces this problem at least once in her life. This menstrual disorder is generally of two types: Primary and Secondary.

Primary Dysmenorrhea

This menstrual pain does not have any specific abnormality. Mainly teens and women of early twenties are the sufferers of this disorder. Painful symptoms start to arise a day or two before menstrual flow and would continue through the first two days of menstruation. The general causes of primary dysmenorrhea are

• The glandular mucus membrane of the lining of uterus produces the hormone prostaglandin in excess which stimulates strong uterine contractions resulting in dysmenorrhea
• Excessive anxiety and mental stress
• Dislocated uterus

Secondary Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is “secondary” when it is caused due to some underlying gynecological problem. The causal factors behind secondary dysmenorrhea include

• PID or pelvic inflammatory disease or infection in the female reproductive tract
• Uterine fibroids or myomas which are the benign growths of muscle inside the uterus
• Abnormal pregnancy such as miscarriage
• Pelvic region involving infection, tumors, or polyps

Premenstrual Syndrome

It is a common menstrual disorder often manifested by a combination of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to menstrual process. In most of the cases these symptoms appear during the two weeks prior menses and vanish after bleeding starts.

The cause of premenstrual syndrome is still not clear. However it is believed that imbalanced hormonal level is one of the main reasons behind this menstrual disorder. As per Ayurveda the imbalance of “vata” associated with inequities of “pitta” and “kapha” is the causal factor. Improper daily life and wrong diet trigger this imbalance causing premenstrual syndrome.

The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Distension and pain in abdominal area
• Tenderness and swelling of breasts
• Headache, fatigue, and pain in joints and muscle
• Acne, aggravating existing skin disorders and respiratory and eye problems like allergies, infections, visual disturbances, conjunctivitis, etc.
• Depression, mental stress, mood swings, insomnia, enhanced cravings for a particular taste, and difficulty in concentrating

Prevention of Premenstrual Syndrome

This gynecological disorder is found to appear as less severe for those patients who always follow a healthy life style and proper food habit. A light, less fat containing, nutritious, and easily digestible diet is always advisable for a patient of premenstrual syndrome. Small and frequent diet would be extremely beneficial. One needs to stay away from fried and junk food, caffeine and alcohol, sugar and heavy salty diet.

Exercise on a regular basis helps in augmenting blood circulation, mitigating disorders related to endocrine system, and reducing obesity which in turn would give you relief from premenstrual syndrome. However avoid excessive physical activities. Meditation, prayanam, and yoga would be immensely helpful in controlling psychological symptoms like irritability, anger, and depression.

Herbal help to control menstrual disorder  

Herbal Supplements for Menstrual Disorder

Regunova Plus is one of the best recommended herbal medicines for menstrual disorder. These herbal capsules are formulated with the pure extracts of a number of herbs which are the most excellent natural menstrual regulator. This amazing natural supplement is totally nonhormonal and effectively restores female reproductive organs and maintains regular menstruation. It also rejuvenates the pH level of female genital environment which helps in thwarting further infection.