Menstrual Changes – Causes and Symptoms
Although being a woman has its good points, it has certain drawbacks as well. Most women consider their monthly period to be one of those drawbacks. If you're lucky enough to escape the pain, bloating, and irritability that many women experience, your menstrual period can still be messy, inconvenient, and annoying.
However, it is a natural occurrence, and if something about your menstrual period changes, you need to take note. If you are of child-bearing age, and the normal time for your period comes and goes without a spot, you're probably pregnant. If you are older, you may be entering menopause.
On the other hand, if you bleed between periods, you may be reacting to a prescription drug such as birth control pills, or you could have something more serious, like cancer of the reproductive system.
It's time to see the doctor if you have:
- Tenderness or swelling in your lower abdomen, possibly accompanied by a hard mass that can be felt through your skin
- Upset stomach
- Symptoms of anemia (fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Deepening of your voice and excessive growth of body hair
- Painful intercourse
This combination of symptoms could indicate ovarian cancer.
- Spotting between periods or after sex
You may have cervical polyps, which usually cause no pain, but may need to be removed surgically.
- Sweating, hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Irregular periods
- Breast pain
- Depression, insomnia, nervousness
If you're the right age, these symptoms could mean you are entering menopause