We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Menstrual Cycle Problems?

By Nat Robinson
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,174
Share

Menstrual cycle problems can be very troubling. During a cycle, it is generally common to experience a wide variety of numerous menstrual symptoms. For instance, some women experience pain, headaches and mood swings before and during a menstrual cycle. While such symptoms are usually considered normal, sometimes they can become very problematic to the women enduring them. What is defined as a menstrual problem will undoubtedly be different for every woman.

Pain may be defined as one of the biggest menstrual cycle problems. Menstrual pain is usually one of the most common menstrual symptoms. The pain may become abnormal when it is so severe that a women is unable to complete her normal daily activities. Sometimes, a woman may suffer pain that is so intense she may be forced to take to the bed until the pain is even moderately relieved. Often, when menstrual pain is this severe, the women may have other existing reproductive problems such as cysts or uterine fibroids.

Excessive menstrual bleeding and menstrual bloating are other common menstrual cycle problems. Some women have very short and light menstrual cycles. On the other hand, menstrual cycles can also be very long with excessive bleeding. Losing a significant amount of blood in a short period of time can lead to other health problems, such as fatigue and weakness. Bloating can also become troublesome during that particular time of the month. The biggest problem caused by bloating is a distention of the abdomen, possibly to the point where clothes that easily fit before the onset of the cycle may fail to afterward.

Many women suffer from an abnormal menstrual cycle. In most cases, a woman will have one cycle per month. Some women may have a cycle every other month or even less frequently. In rare cases, an individual can have more than one cycle per month. Menstrual cycle problems such as these are generally indications that there is some type of problem and may be a cause for further evaluation.

It is generally a good idea to schedule an appointment and have a complete health care examination for any type of irregular menstruation. A gynecologist is usually the doctor of choice to analyze menstrual cycle problems. Gynecologists are trained to specialize in diseases and conditions which affect the female reproductive system. In many cases, menstrual cycle problems are benign, or not an indication of a serious underlying condition. In the event that there is a serious cause of such problems, a gynecologist is trained to accurately diagnose the problem and advise a treatment plan for the patient.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon983825 — On Jan 03, 2015

Menses is a time for rest. It's okay to take it easy for a few days. If you can, don't take on too many responsibilities or activities and give yourself adequate rest and downtime to renew your energy. Treating yourself kindly during your menses will go a long way to help you feel better all month long.

By lluviaporos — On Nov 06, 2014

@KoiwiGal - I will add to that by saying that if you experience pain during your cycle then you should get checked as well. Too often pain is dismissed as just being a part of it and while it's true that a little bit of discomfort might be normal for some, more often pain is actually an indicator that there is a problem. Severe pain needs to be treated seriously.

Very little makes me more angry than doctors who will ignore pain because they think someone is exaggerating it or it's just part of normal menstrual cycle problems. It's not normal and there are usually measures that can be taken to change it.

By KoiwiGal — On Nov 06, 2014

@Ana1234 - It's all to do with what is normal for you though. If you have always had very long menstrual cycles that might just be the way you are. That doesn't mean that it won't have repercussions for your fertility at some point, but it might not indicate that there is a health problem otherwise.

Sudden changes are what should be checked. If you have always been completely regular and suddenly you aren't any longer and there is no other change in your life (like new medication, or weight loss or gain, or severe stress) then you really do need to check on that, particularly if your cycle is much heavier or lighter than normal. It could indicate a lot of different things.

The other thing you should be doing is having regular pap smears, regardless of how you feel or how regular you think your cycle happens to be.

By Ana1234 — On Nov 05, 2014

I find it very hard to make myself care when I don't get my period regularly because it's such a pain when it does arrive. But I once told my doctor I hadn't had one in three months (with no chance I was pregnant) and he was shocked that I didn't think that was worth reporting.

And there did turn out to be a problem. So if you notice any problems at all, including ones that don't seem like problems at the time, you should probably at least take note of them and report them to your doctor the next time you visit.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-menstrual-cycle-problems.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.