Oligomenorrhea in Indian Women: Causes and Treatment Of Abnormal Periods

During menstruation, your body undergoes a lot of hormonal changes. Internally, these hormones are also influenced by a number of factors. So occasionally having a delayed or abnormal period is not an indication of a serious disorder. Most women experience small variations in their period cycles throughout their lives. However, if the problem persists, you should meet a gynaecologist and get your condition diagnosed.

The common Oligomenorrhea symptoms in Indian women include:

• Infrequent periods that don’t occur for more than 35 days
• Having less than 9 periods a year
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Light bleeding

You may experience PMS symptoms including mood swings, tiredness, bloating and abdominal cramps. You may notice that the blood is a darker brown shade or is very faint. You’ll probably also notice small clots in your pad or underwear. If you notice these common Oligomenorrhea symptoms, consult a gynecologist.

Irregular menstruation is a fairly common problem in India that occurs due to several reasons. Certain events in your life such as pregnancy, breastfeeding or giving birth are also causes of irregular menstruation.

Here are some common causes of irregular menstruation:

Hormonal changes:
Hormonal changes are a common cause of oligomenorrhea. Our body produces chemicals called hormones that act as a messenger system for various processes in the body. Imbalances occur when too much or too little of a hormone is produced. Hormonal imbalances are known to affect the menstrual If you notice that your cycle keeps getting longer, it may be due to hormonal imbalance and you should see a gynecologist to get treated for abnormal menstruation.

Menarche and Perimenopause
Menarche or the onset of periods in teengers is often accompanied by several unpredictable patterns and hormonal changes. It takes a few years for the body to enter into a regular pattern. Sometimes as a young teenager, you may have experienced erratic bursts of light, heavy periods or even no periods. However, in most cases, things eventually settle down and go back to normal. Irregular periods in teenage years is very common.

Perimenopause is also a common cause of Oligomenorrhea. Perimenopause is the period that precedes menopause, which is the final period you will experience in your lifetime. During perimenopause, several hormonal changes occur in the body and sometimes these menopause related issues can lead to Oligomenorrhea.

Lifestyle changes
Other factors such as feeling very stressful, going on vacation, travelling frequently or suddenly losing lots of weight also lead to Oligomenorrhea. A healthy diet plays a very important role in regulating a healthy cycle, therefore, people with anorexia or other eating disorders often suffer from irregular menstrual bleeding. Sometimes, malnourishment also leads to Amenorrhea , which is your period completely stopping.

Excessive physical activity
Exercise is undoubtedly a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle, but working out too much or training hard for a professional sport often causes irregular menstrual bleeding. Many professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts suffer from this problem.

Being overweigt or obese
Being obese and overweight lead to an increase in the estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen plays an important role in regulating the menstrual cycle. Following a healthy diet, exercising and following weight management tips as recommended by a dietitian often solves the problem of irregular menses.

Medications
Hormonal medications such as birth control pills have a significant impact on the menstrual cycle. Contraceptive devices such as IUDs can also lead to irregular periods. While some women experience heavier periods due to medications, many also experience Oligomenorrhea. Anticoagulants, epilepsy treatments, anti depression medications also affect the period cycle and can lead to abnormal menstruation.

Underlying health conditions
Sudden irregular periods are sometimes indicative of an underlying health condition, which can be serious and requires medical attention. Some common underlying causes of irregular menses include:

• PCOS
• Primary ovarian insufficiency
• Thyroid disorders
• Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes
• Graves disease
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Anatomical defects in uterus, vagina, cervix
• Steroid usage

To diagnose Oligomenorrhea, your doctor will ask you questions about your menstrual cycle and about your general health as well. Since many menstrual conditions are genetic, your doctor will ask about your family history and if your mother, sister or aunts also suffer from irregular periods.

Other questions as part of the diagnosis revolves around general reproductive health, sexual activity, history of pregnancies, surgeries, other medical conditions such as diabetes or thyroid as well as any surgery you have undergone in the past.

Here are some tests you may be recommended to take:

• Blood tests to check for bleeding disorders, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, thyroid and other underlying disorders
• Urine samples to detect pregnancy, STDs or other infections
• Pap smear test
• Tissue biopsies to check for any kind of cancer

You may also need to undergo imaging tests such as transvaginal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

Oligomenorrhea treatment options in India vary depending on the cause. After your doctor does a thorough examination of your condition, you will be recommended an appropriate course of treatment.

Here are some irregular menstruation treatment options

Making lifestyle changes
Managing your weight, taking the right medication, incorporating an exercise program and eating healthy foods are some lifestyle changes to make to address irregular menstrual cycles. It is an effective Oligomenorrhea tteatment especially for obese women, and women with diabetes.

Birth control and hormonal therapy
Your doctor will recommend a suitable birth control method based on your reception to hormones. Several women take different types of hormonal birth control therapies to address their abnormal menstruation problems. Some of these irregular menstruation treatment options include pills, IUDs, patches, rings and more.

Addressing underlying causes
Often, the reason for your abnormal period problem is a hidden underlying problem you may not be aware of. For example, if you have a thyroid problem, you should meet an endocrinologist and get treated for your thyroid issues. Or if you have diabetes, you will have to talk to a diabetologist and start off on the right treatment to control your sugars. So if you’re suffering from Oligomenorrhea or any other menstrual disorder, always meet a gynecologist and get yourself checked for other conditions.

Oligomenorrhea is a fairly common problem across the world and in India. If you notice that your menstrual cycle lasts for more than 35 days on a regular basis, consult a gynecologist and find out why it’s happening. Based on the diagnosis, you will receive the right Oligomenorrhea treatment and can live your life stress-free.

1. Can Oligomenorrhea cause harm to the body?
Oligomenorrhea’s extent of harm can be determined only by your gynecologist. If it’s hereditary, it’s often harmless but if not, it may be indicative of other underlying disorders such as thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism, diabetes etc, that require medical attention.

2. What causes Oligomenorrhea?
Some of the common Oligomenorrhea causes include hormonal imbalances in the body, being overweight or obsese, taking birth control medications, underlying metabolic disorders such as Thyroid, diabetes etc and extreme physical activity such as intense sports.

3. Can you treat Oligomenorrhea?
Oligomenorrhea treatment is based on the cause. If the underlying cause such as stress, diabetes is curable or manageable, then it can be treated. If not, then your doctor will guide you on how to manage and mitigate it through lifestyle changes and medications. Your gynecologist will recommend the best course of treatment for irregular menstruation based on your diagnosis.

4. Can you prevent Oligomenorrhea?
A healthy diet rich in nutrients and low in fat helps decrease the risk of Oligomenorrhea or irregular menses. Contraceptives also help for some women, but talk to your gynecologist before you opt for this option.

5. How do I book an appointment with a gynecologist?
You just have to download the MFine app, search for a gynecologist near you and book an appointment by filling out your details. You can teleconsult with your gynecologist online and discuss your issues comfortably with him/her.

6. Is my information secure on the MFine app?
MFine takes your privacy very seriously. At MFine, we provide the utmost confidentiality to all our patients. No information is exchanged between your doctor and anyone else.

At MFine, you can consult a gynaecologist near you from the comfort of your homes. Book an appointment and get started!