Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

An Exclusive Review on Menstrual Problems


Affiliations
1 Research Scholar, Food and Nutrition, PSG CAS, Coimbatore – 641014, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Assistant Professor, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, PSG CAS, Coimbatore – 641014, Tamil Nadu, India
 

Menstrual cycle is a multifarious process controlled by numerous glands and the hormones produced in our body. The hypothalamus in brain makes the pituitary gland to produce certain chemicals to prompt the ovaries to produce the oestrogen and progesterone sex hormones. The menstrual cycle is a technique of bio feedback mechanism, which means the activity of each structure and gland is affected by other gland’s functions. The average span of the menstrual cycle is 28–29 days, which can differ between women themselves from one cycle to the next cycle. Adolescent girls get their menarche between 11 to 14 years of age. The main objective of this review is to assess the literature concerning the various perimenstrual and menstrual problems and its prevalence. Most common symptoms associated with menstruation in adolescents and women are dysmenorrhoea, irregular periods like primary ovarian insufficiency, pelvic inflammatory disorder, heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB), amenorrhea, oligomenorrhoea, polymenorrhoea, hypomenorrhoea, and menstrual migraine. The predicted causes for menstrual problems in both adolescent girls and women are modified lifestyle, improper dietary intake, lack of physical exercise or activity in daily life which may lead to many hormonal imbalances in body. Conclusion of this review revealed that changes in dietary patterns, improved lifestyle with beneficial exercises, maintaining hygiene during menstruation and imparting health and education can help reduce the menstrual problems and improve the quality of life.


Keywords

Menstruation, Nutrition Education, Perimenstrual Symptoms
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Allen B, MD, FAAP, Helen Waterman DO. American Academy of Paediatrics. Healthychildren.org
  • https://(myhealth.alberta.ca)/health.
  • https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/periodproblems# references.
  • Rothenberg SS, Beverley R, Barnard E, BaradaranShoraka M, Sanfilippo JS. Polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2018; 48:103-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2017.08.008. PMid:28919160.
  • Zaka M et al. Pre-menstrual syndrome - A review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2012; 4(1):1684-1691.
  • The American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) article, 2001.
  • Wittchen HU. Prevalence, incidence and stability of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in the community.
  • Psychological Medicine. 2002; 32(1). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291701004925. PMid:11883723.
  • Karger AG. Menstrual disorders in adolescents: review of current practice. Hormone Research in Paediatrics. 2012; 78:135-143. https://doi.org/10.1159/000342822. PMid:23051587.
  • Latthe P, Latthe M, Say L et al. WHO systematic review of prevalence of chronic pelvic pain: A neglected reproductive health morbidity. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6:177. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-6-177. PMid:16824213 PMCid:PMC1550236.
  • Nag RM. Adolescent in India. Calcutta: Medical Allied Agency; 1982. p. 18-26.
  • Bhadurai A, George A. Dysmenorrhea among adolescent girls- symptoms experienced during menstruation. Health Promotion Educ. 2002; 17:4.
  • Vasiliki Christodoulopoulou, Eftihios Trakakis, Vasilios Pergialiotis, Melpomeni Peppa, Charalampos Chrelias, Dimitrios Kassanos, Nikolaos Papantoniou. Clinical and biochemical characteristics in PCOS women with menstrual abnormalities. Journal of Family and Reproductive Health. 2016; 10(4):184-190.
  • Xu X, Shi Y, Cui Y, Ma J, Che L, Chen ZJ. Endocrine and metabolic characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women with different phenotypes. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012; 76:425-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04194.x. PMid:21815904.
  • Nelson LM. Clinical practice, primary ovarian insufficiency. N. Engl, J. Med. 2009; 360:606-14. [PubMed] [Full Text]. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp0808697. PMid:19196677 PMCid:PMC2762081.
  • Woodhall SC, Gorwitz RJ, Migchelsen SJ, Gottlieb SL, Horner PJ, Geisler WM, Winstanley C, Hufnagel K, Waterboer T, Martin DL, Huston WM, Gaydos CA, Deal C, Unemo M, Dunbar JK, Bernstein K. Advancing the public health applications of Chlamydia trachomatis serology. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 Dec; 18(12):e399-e407. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Reference list]. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30159-2.
  • Molenaar MC, Singer M, Ouburg S. The two-sided role of the vaginal microbiome in Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium pathogenesis. J Reprod Immunol. 2018 Nov; 130:11-17. [PubMed] [Reference list]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2018.08.006. PMid:30149363.
  • Boneva RS, Lin JM, Unger ER. Early menopause and other gynaecologic risk indicators for chronic fatigue syndrome in women. Menopause. 2015; 22:826-834. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000411. PMid:25647777 PMCid:PMC5745581.
  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. National menstrual heavy bleeding audit. Second Annual Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, UK; 2012. www.rcog.org.uk [Google Scholar].
  • Ryan GL, Syrop CH, Van Voorhis BJ. Role, epidemiology, and natural history of benign uterine mass lesions. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2005; 48:312-324. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.grf.0000159538.27221.8c. PMid:15805789.
  • Zimmermann A, David Bernuit, Christoph Gerlinger, Matthias Schaefers, Katharina Geppert. Prevalence, symptoms and management of uterine fibroids: An international internet-based survey of 21,746 women. BMC Women’s Health. 2012; 12:6. Published online 2012 Mar 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-12-6. PMid:22448610 PMCid:PMC3342149; PMID: 2244861.
  • Reslová T, Tosner J, Resl M, Kugler R, Vávrová I. Endometrial polyps. A clinical study of 245 cases. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 1999; 262(3-4):133-139. [PubMed] [Ref list]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004040050241. PMid:10326632.
  • Tjarks M, Van Voorhis. Treatment of endometrial polyps. BJ Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Dec; 96(6):886-889.
  • [PubMed] [Ref list]. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006250200012000-00004. PMid:11084172.
  • Check JH, Bostick-Smith CA, Choe JK, Amui J, Brasile D. Brasile D. Matched controlled study to evaluate the effect of endometrial polyps on pregnancy and implantation rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2011; 38(3):206-208. [PubMed] [Ref list].
  • Deligeoroglou E. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding including coagulopathies and other menstrual disorders. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2018; 48:51-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2017.08.016. PMid:29078976.
  • Stöppler MC. Amennorrhea. 2020. www.medicinenet.com/amenorrhea/article.htm.
  • The practice committee of the American society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM Practice Committee). Current Evaluation of Amenorrhea. Nov 2008; 90(3).
  • Kulshrestha S, Ansia M. Durrani. Prevalence of menstrual disorders and their association with physical ativity in adolescent girls of aligarh city. International Journal of health Science and Research. 2019; 9(8):384-393.
  • Hennegan J, Brooks DJ, Schwab KJ, Melendez-Torres GJ. Measurement in the study of menstrual health and hygiene: A systematic review and audit. PLoS One. 2020; 15(6):e0232935. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Reference 20list] https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232935. PMid:32497117 PMCid:PMC7272008.
  • Ernst A, Lauridsen LLB, Ramlau-Hansen CH. Maternal age at menarche and pubertal development in sons and daughters: A nationwide cohort study. Human Reproduction. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey287. PMid:30312405.
  • Carlson KJ, Eisenstat S, Ziporyn T. The New Harvard Guide to Women’s Health. Harvard University Press; p. 384. ISBN 0-674-01282-8. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1b9f66x.
  • Gregor MEA. Menstrual migraine: Therapeutic disorders. Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders. 2009; 2(5):327-336. https://doi.org/10.1177/1756285609335537. PMid:21180623 PMCid:PMC3002599.
  • Sacco S, Ricci S, Degan D, Carolei A. Migraine in women: the role of hormones and their impact on vascular diseases. J Headache Pain. 2012; 13(3):177-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-012-0424-y. PMid:22367631 PMCid:PMC3311830.
  • Bajalana Z, Zainab Alimoradia, Farnoosh Moafib. Nutrition as a potential factor of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review of observational studies. Gynaecologic and Obstetric Investigation.
  • ; 84:209-224. https://doi.org/10.1159/000495408. PMid:30630172.

Abstract Views: 370

PDF Views: 159




  • An Exclusive Review on Menstrual Problems

Abstract Views: 370  |  PDF Views: 159

Authors

Indirani K
Research Scholar, Food and Nutrition, PSG CAS, Coimbatore – 641014, Tamil Nadu, India
Premagowri Balakrishnan
Assistant Professor, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, PSG CAS, Coimbatore – 641014, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Menstrual cycle is a multifarious process controlled by numerous glands and the hormones produced in our body. The hypothalamus in brain makes the pituitary gland to produce certain chemicals to prompt the ovaries to produce the oestrogen and progesterone sex hormones. The menstrual cycle is a technique of bio feedback mechanism, which means the activity of each structure and gland is affected by other gland’s functions. The average span of the menstrual cycle is 28–29 days, which can differ between women themselves from one cycle to the next cycle. Adolescent girls get their menarche between 11 to 14 years of age. The main objective of this review is to assess the literature concerning the various perimenstrual and menstrual problems and its prevalence. Most common symptoms associated with menstruation in adolescents and women are dysmenorrhoea, irregular periods like primary ovarian insufficiency, pelvic inflammatory disorder, heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB), amenorrhea, oligomenorrhoea, polymenorrhoea, hypomenorrhoea, and menstrual migraine. The predicted causes for menstrual problems in both adolescent girls and women are modified lifestyle, improper dietary intake, lack of physical exercise or activity in daily life which may lead to many hormonal imbalances in body. Conclusion of this review revealed that changes in dietary patterns, improved lifestyle with beneficial exercises, maintaining hygiene during menstruation and imparting health and education can help reduce the menstrual problems and improve the quality of life.


Keywords


Menstruation, Nutrition Education, Perimenstrual Symptoms

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.15613/fijrfn%2F2022%2Fv9i1%2F212404