Division of Reproductive Health MENSTRUAL DISORDERS MELY K.

Division of Reproductive Health

MENSTRUAL DISORDERS

MELY K.


Specific Objectives• By the end of this session the Learner will be

able to:– Define Normal menstruation– Classify Menstrual Disorders– Explain characteristics of the different menstrual

disorders– Demonstrate ability to diagnose menstrual

disorders– Apply Knowledge and skills acquired to manage

menstrual disorders.


Definition of normal menstruation

• It is the cyclical shading of a functional endometrium; and has the following characteristics:

• Amount of flow: 25-80 ml average 30 mls

• Cycle length: 21-35 days

• Duration of flow: 2-7 days

• Healthy menstrual blood does NOT coagulate

• It occurs in a cyclic manner and regularly


Classification of menstrual disorders

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)• Mastodynia• Abnormal bleeding due to gynecologic and non

gynecologic disorders:– Amenorrhea, oligomenorhea, hypomenorrhea,

menorrhagia, polymenorrhea, metrorrhagia, etc

• Dysmenorrhoea• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)• Post menopausal bleeding


Characteristics of Menstrual disorders


Premenstrual syndrome:• occurs in at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles

• Symptoms must occur in the 2nd half of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase)

• There must be a symptom free period of at least 7 days in the 1st half of the cycle

• Symptoms must be severe enough to require medical advise or treatment e.g. oedema, weight gain, restlessness, irritability and increased tension.


Premenstrual syndrome cont’d:

Symptoms include:

• Mood symptoms ( irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety)

• Physical symptoms ( bloating, breast tenderness, insomnia, fatigue, hot flushes, appetite change, e.t.c)

• Cognitive changes (confusion and poor concentration)


PMS -Diagnosis

• Mainly based on patient’s history

• Patient charts symptoms for at least 3 symptomatic cycles

• Rule out medical conditions that mimic PMS e.g. thyroid disease and anemia.


PMS- Management( Conservative)

• Diet: (limit caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and chocolate intake; eat small frequent meals

• Decrease sodium intake

• Stress management;

• Aerobic exercises

• Cognitive behavioral therapy


PMS management(Drug therapy)

• Calcium carbonate (for bloating, pain and food cravings)

• Magnesium ( for water retention)

• Vitamin B6 and vitamin E

• NSAIDs

• Bromocryptine for mastalgia


Mastodynia

• Also termed mastalgia

• Defined as: intolerable breast pain during the second half of the menstrual cycle.

• caused by edema and engorgement of the vascular and ductal systems

• Occurs cyclically in the luteal phase


Mastodynia -diagnosis

• History and examination

• Can be confirmed by aspiration

• Ultrasound

• Serial mammography

• Excisional biopsy sometimes is necessary

• Rule out: Mastitis, neoplasm


Mastodynia- treatment

• Breast support• Avoid- coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks• Avoid nicotine• May occasionally use a mild diuretic• Drug therapy: topical NSAIDS, Gosarelin

(Zoladex), • Limited success with: tamoxifen, danazol,

bromocryptine, oral contraceptives, vitamins


Menorrhagia (Hypermenorrhea)

• Defined as excessive, heavy or prolonged menstrual flow

• Possible causes include: submucous myomas, adenomyosis, IUDs, endometrial hyperplasia, malignant tumors e.t.c


Hypomenorrhea (cryptomenorrhea)

• Defined as unusually light menstrual flow sometimes only spotting

• Possible causes include: hymenal or cervical stenosis, uterine synechiae (Asherman’s syndrome), occasionally oral contraceptives


Metrorrhagia (intermenstrual bleeding)

• Defined as bleeding occurring any time between the menstrual periods

• Possible causes include: endometrial polyps, CA cervix, CA endometrium, exogenous estrogen administration


Polymenorrhea

• Describes periods that occur too frequently

• Usually associated with anovulation and rarely with a shortened luteal phase in the menstrual cycle


Menometrorhagia

• This is bleeding that occurs at irregular intervals and varies in amount and duration of bleeding

• Caused by any condition that can lead to intermenstrual bleeding


Oligomenorrhea

• Describes menstrual periods that occur more than 35 days apart

• Possible causes: anovulation which may be from endocrine causes (pregnancy, menopause, pituitary and hypothalamic disorders); or systemic causes (excessive weight loss); estrogen secreting tumors etc


AMENORRHEA• No menstrual period for more than 6 months

• Possible causes:

- Congenital uterine absence

- Hormonal disturbances from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland

- Failure of the ovary to receive or maintain egg cells

- Genetic diseases e.g. causes of intersex i.e. 5-alpha-reductase deficiency


Diagnosis in abnormal uterine bleeding

• History and physical examination• Cytological examination –include biopsy and

histology• Pelvic ultrasound scan• Endometrial biopsy• Hysteroscopy• Dilatation and curettage• Hormonal profile• Blood tests- Haemogram, thyroid function tests e.t.c.


Management of abnormal uterine bleeding- principles

• Treat cause appropriately

May include

• Hormonal preparations

• Surgery

• Endometrial ablation and endometrial resection, Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors,

• Levonogestrel releasing IUDs


Dysmenorrhea

• Definition: Pain associated with menstruation• Risk factors:

– Menstrual factors (early menarche, menorrhagia)

– Parity (lower in multipara)

– Diet (reduced intake of fish, eggs and fruits)

– Exercise (reduces dysmenorrhoea)

– Cigarette smoking (increases)

– Psychological (emotionally dependent and overprotected girls, family history,)


Dysmenorrhea- classification• Primary or spasmodic dysmenorrhea:

– Essential/ intrinsic / functional. Defined as painful menstruation in absence of pelvic pathology

– Usually starts at puberty

– Follows onset of ovulation and presents throughout period of bleeding.

• Congestive or secondary dysmenorrhea:– Underlying pelvic disease e.g. uterine abnormalities,

infections, endometriosis, foreign bodies, iatrogenic

• Membranous dysmenorrhea: – associated with passage of endometrial cast through an

undilated cervix.


Dysmenorhea- clinical features• Primary Dysmenorhea:

– Age: Usually seen among younger women– Time of onset: 2-3 yrs after menarche– Duration of pain: starts just prior to menses, lasts

about 2 days– Type of pain: cramping pain

• Membranous Dysmenorhea:– Intense cramping pain associated with passage of

an endometrial cast through an undilated cervix.


Dysmenorhea- clinical features (ctd)

• Secondary Dysmenorhea:- Associated with specific diseases and disorders e.g.

PID, Uterine fibroids, endometriosis etc– Usually among older women (3rd to 4th decade)– Time of onset: follows initial years of normal

painless cycles– Duration of pain: Onset is few days prior to

menses and continues throughout cycle even after cessation of menses

– Type of pain: continuous dull aching or dragging pain


Dysmenorhea -managementDysmenorhea

Assurance

Laxatives

Analgesics and Antispasmodics

Fails

Contraception not required or OC pills contraindicated

Contraception required or NSAIDS contra indicated

Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors OC pills Fails

Laparoscopy to look for causes of secondary Dysmenorhea

No cause found but persistent and severe pain

Cause found

Surgery Treat as appropriate


Dysfunctional Uterine bleeding (DUB)

• Defined as a symptom complex that includes any condition of abnormal uterine bleeding in the absence of pathologic cause

• Commonly caused by anovulation as seen in polycystic ovarian disease and obesity

• May occur in all age groups from prepubertal girls to menopausal women


DUB management

• Medical management:– NSAIDS– Antifibrinolytic agents– Hormones

• Surgical– Endometrial resection– Endometrial ablation– hysterectomy


Postmenopausal bleeding

• Any vaginal bleeding in a postmenopausal women should be considered abnormal

• Frequently associated with malignancies of the reproductive tract

• Benign causes include: endometrial /cervical polyps, trauma, senile vaginitis, vulval dystrophies

• Management depends on the cause.


Thank You

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Division of Reproductive Health MENSTRUAL DISORDERS MELY K.

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