The menstrual cycle has increased. Focal fibrous mastopathy. Why did the menstrual cycle go astray after the holidays

Hello Polina.

The length of a woman's menstrual cycle is one of the important characteristics, which may indicate the state of her health. To begin with, it is worth saying what is the norm for a woman.

Normal duration woman's menstrual cycle

In general, the cycle is divided into 2 phases, in the first of which maturation occurs dominant follicle containing an egg. During this period, sex hormones such as estrogens predominate in the female body. This phase ends with ovulation, i.e. rupture of the follicle and the release of an egg ready for conception. After that, the body increases the production of progesterone, as a result of which the uterus prepares to receive a fertilized egg, and in place of the ruptured follicle, a corpus luteum. If conception does not occur, then the corpus luteum regresses, the endometrial layer is rejected, i.e. a woman begins menstruation, and with it a new menstrual cycle.

The normal duration of the first phase of the menstrual cycle is from 10 to 16 days, and the second - from 12 to 16 days. That is why doctors consider it normal when the duration of the menstrual cycle is from 21 to 35 days. However, it is worth noting here that in most cases the duration of the second phase of the cycle is relatively constant, i.e. the menstrual cycle can fluctuate mainly due to the maturation phase of the follicle.

The formation of a constant menstrual cycle occurs in the first 2 - 3 years after the onset of menstruation. At this time, the cycle of girls may be irregular, because there is a formation hormonal background in the body. After the duration of the menstrual cycle has stabilized, only slight fluctuations, not exceeding +/- 5 days, are considered the norm, which is associated with a natural fluctuation in the level of sex hormones in the body. If the length of the menstrual cycle is far from normal, then this warning sign, which is the reason for contacting a gynecologist.

Lengthening of the menstrual cycle

One of the pathologies that relate to the duration of a woman's menstrual cycle is an increase in the duration of the menstrual cycle, or, as this condition is also called, opsomenorrhea. This can be said in cases where the cycle exceeds 35 days. If this happens rarely, for example, once a year, then there is nothing to worry about, most likely. The alarm must be beaten if the long duration of the menstrual cycle has become constant.

Why does the menstrual cycle get long?

There can be many reasons for such irregularities in the menstrual cycle, for example:

1. Hormonal disorders. This can lead to various endocrine pathologies such as diseases thyroid gland and bodies internal secretion;
2. Chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders, liver diseases;
3. Various pathologies ovaries;
4. infectious and inflammatory diseases;
5. Chronic diseases of the uterus;
6. Endometriosis, endometrial polyps;
7. Tumors of the uterus and ovaries;
8. Uterine bleeding;
9. Climate change, nervous experiences, overwork of the body;
10. drastic changes in nutrition and lifestyle, diet;
11. genetic predisposition.

Very often, operations on the uterus and ovaries, abortions, etc. lead to an increase in the duration of the menstrual cycle.

How does opsomenorrhea manifest?

Its main manifestation is an increase in the duration of the menstrual cycle. At the same time, in some women, menstruation becomes not only rare, but also scarce. Many people notice an increase in body weight, a violation fat metabolism, the appearance of acne on the face, chest and back. Often, masculine traits begin to appear in appearance. Very often, opsomenorrhea leads to women having problems conceiving.

What to do if the duration of the menstrual cycle has increased?

AT adolescence when the formation of the hormonal background in the female body occurs, the menstrual cycle is not always regular. Many note long delays in menstruation, or menstruation occurs regularly, but rarely. This is considered normal for 2 to 3 years after the start of the first menstruation.

However, even at this age, it should not be ruled out that the causes of a long menstrual cycle are any pathological processes in the body. That is why it is necessary obligatory visit a doctor and an examination, during which, most likely, you will have to take blood tests (including for sex hormones), a vaginal smear for the presence pathogenic microflora, undergo an ultrasound, etc.

An important role in diagnosing the causes of menstrual irregularities is the progesterone test. If necessary, the doctor prescribes treatment, which in most cases involves taking vitamins C, E, folic acid and hormonal drugs, although in some cases only the selection of a special balanced diet. In cases where drug therapy does not help, can be prescribed surgical intervention, for example, to remove endometrial polyps, ovarian cysts, etc.

The delay in menstruation in many, in the first place, is associated with the onset of pregnancy. This is true, but there are many other factors that affect the menstrual cycle. Delay may be caused endocrine diseases, often this happens after an infection. severe stress and overwork malnutrition, climate change, and even the common cold can disrupt the menstrual cycle.

You should not consider as the norm the cycle to which you are already accustomed, even if it is characteristic of you from the very beginning of your menstruation, and even if you, despite its peculiarity or irregularity, manage to become pregnant and give birth. A delay in menstruation can occur in various age periods a woman's life: during puberty, during puberty and in premenopause. Cycle fluctuations for 5-7 days in both directions - within the normal range. If the fall provoked a shift in the cycle, then in a month or two everything will return to normal again. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor and undergo a routine examination.

We list the most common causes of delays in women with an established menstrual cycle.

1. Stress - long-term or strong short-term - is the cause of failure in work central structures(cerebral cortex, hypothalamus), regulating the work of the ovaries and uterus. An example of such disorders is the so-called wartime amenorrhea, when menstruation stopped in conditions of stress in women.

2. Climate change. Optimal time recovery regular cycle, both during the acclimatization period and after the cessation of breastfeeding, 1-3 months are considered, up to 6 months is acceptable.

3. Another reason for a significant delay in menstruation can be a significant and fast loss weight. At strong desire lose weight, reaching this critical menstrual mass (45-47 kg), a woman can get not only the desired result, but also long delay menses.

4. In addition, obesity leads to irregular periods. If this condition is brought to an extreme degree and persists for a long time, complete cessation monthly. In the presence of obesity, weight loss is absolutely necessary.

5. The menstrual cycle may be lengthened due to an ovulatory anomaly. The reason for this may be: acute inflammation, severe emotional shock, lack of ovulation in this cycle, or late ovulation. The latter, as a rule, is a consequence of taking hormonal drugs (ovulation can be delayed by 10-15 days), taking postcoital contraceptives, or suddenly stopping taking contraceptives in the middle of a cycle.

6. The absence of menstruation for 6 months or more is called amenorrhea. Distinguish between true and false amenorrhea. True physiological amenorrhea is observed in childhood, during pregnancy and lactation, during menopause. Pathological amenorrhea can be primary (menstruation never happens) and secondary (cessation of menstruation). Secondary amenorrhea is observed with common infectious and somatic diseases(tuberculosis, rheumatism, typhoid, heart disease, liver disease, etc.), severe intoxication (lead poisoning, mercury poisoning, alcoholism), nutritional disorders (malnutrition), neuropsychological disorders and hormonal disorders (damage to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, adrenals, thyroid). With false amenorrhea cyclic changes are available, but menstrual blood is not released outside due to obstructions in the cervix, vagina, hymen.

7. Menopausal dysfunction of the ovaries. At the age of more than 40 years, ovarian function begins to fade, ovulation is often delayed or does not occur at all, so delays in menstruation at this age are quite common.

8. Violation of the cycle can be caused by a functional ovarian cyst - follicular cyst, unovulated follicle or corpus luteum cyst. functional cyst characterized by normal maturation of the dominant follicle throughout the cycle, but without its rupture. This happens in 5-10% of normal cycles. But if this syndrome is repeated often, it usually leads to the inability to become pregnant. The follicle does not disappear, quickly increasing in size. It can reach 4-5 cm in diameter.

9. Ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is great danger for the life of a pregnant woman. A fertilized egg can graft on the ovaries, peritoneum, omentum and other organs abdominal cavity, but most often in pipes (99%). It is important to recognize in time ectopic pregnancy and hospitalize the patient.

10. Abortion. Delayed menstruation can also occur after an abortion. The reason is the violation hormonal balance, as well as the fact that during instrumental curettage of the uterus, an excessive amount of tissue can be removed, including that part of the inner lining of the uterus, which normally grows during the menstrual cycle and is excreted in the form menstrual blood. To restore this functional layer, sometimes it takes a little more time than during normal cycle. That is, after an abortion, menstruation may occur not after 28-32 days, but after 40 days or more. Such a delay is not normal: the woman needs examination and treatment. In addition, abortion is the cause of a severe hormonal breakdown, since the body is preparing to continue the pregnancy, and abortion rudely interrupts these processes. Rejection of the endometrium is under the control of ovarian hormones. Therefore, after an abortion, cycle disturbances are possible.

11. The reason for the delay in menstruation may be the use of oral contraceptives. In the course of taking the drug or after its withdrawal for several menstrual cycles, the absence of menstruation may be observed: this is the so-called ovarian hyperinhibition syndrome.

12. Pregnancy is the most common and most physiological reason for delayed menstruation in women of reproductive age.

Violations are the most common reason for women to visit a gynecologist. Any woman faced such problems as the irregularity of the cycle, a change in the abundance and duration of menstruation (menstruation). Our article will help you understand what a normal menstrual cycle should be like, how to recognize its violations, and what can cause such changes.

What should be a normal menstrual cycle?

And all these signs are normal. Another thing is that all these signs should not cause significant discomfort.

So, let's designate the main conditions that define the concept of a normal (physiological) menstrual cycle of a woman:

1. cyclicality (due to hormonal changes in the body there should be a sequential change of 3 phases of the menstrual cycle);
2. Normal cycle length (at least 20 days and not more than 45 days). The most common indicator of the duration of a normal cycle is 28 - 30 days;
3. Directly, menstruation for each woman should have a certain duration (2 - 7 days), and this indicator should not differ significantly from month to month;
4. Total blood loss for one menstruation should not be less than 50 ml, and not more than 150 ml;
5. Menstruation should not bring a woman strong and unwell.

The length of the correct menstrual cycle

If deviations from the norm occur occasionally (once a year) and are limited to a few days to a week, this is not considered a pathology, and no treatment is required. Thus, if your period comes earlier or later by a few days, this does not mean that you have an irregular menstrual cycle.

In the case of a break between periods of more than 40 - 60 days, or, on the contrary, earlier by 20 - 25 days (2 times a month), there is clearly an irregular menstrual cycle.

To define the so-called, without dangerous days, you need to subtract 18 days from the number of days of the largest menstrual cycle, and subtract 10 days from the number of the most short cycle. The resulting numbers will mean the following: the first digit is the number safe days at the beginning of the month, and the second at the end. These days will be safe from unwanted pregnancy. But directly the period between these two numbers is the most favorable for.

Most effective method calculating the menstrual cycle is considered a regular measurement of one's own. This is the body temperature in internal organs(measured in the vagina or in the mouth), capable of changing under the influence of female sex hormones. It should be noted that this temperature should be measured early in the morning, immediately after waking up. The obtained indicators are drawn up in the form of a simple graph, the data of which doctors rightly consider the most accurate indicators. Starting to measure the temperature within one calendar month (every day), you will soon notice such changes.

So, the received data is decrypted as follows. From the first day of menstruation to the moment of ovulation basal body temperature is at around 36.6 - 36.8 degrees Celsius. If on a certain day the temperature dropped to 36.4 degrees, this is the day the ovulation began. The entire period, while the temperature is kept below 37 degrees, - favorable period for conception. Then comes the second phase of the menstrual cycle (temperature 37 degrees), this temperature is kept until the beginning of the next menstruation. It is important to know that each woman's temperature fluctuations can be expressed differently. Therefore, for correct calculations, it is necessary to take into account the slightest temperature fluctuations as much as possible (if they are constantly fixed, this will be immediately visible).

Instruction

Menstrual cycle consists of two phases: before and after it. And if the duration of the second phase is constant (about two weeks), then the first is influenced by various factors. That is why the length cycle and can vary from 21 to 35 (normal) days or more. Since all changes in the body occur under the influence of hormones, or you can postpone menstruation by adjusting their ratio. For this, there are both soft folk and serious medications.

For all processes occurring in the female body in the first phase of the menstrual cycle and estrogen influences. It is on their number that the rate of egg maturation and growth depends. Reduce estrogen levels, but slightly lengthen the first phase cycle maybe by reviewing it. Consume more vegetables especially cauliflower and broccoli. Add peanuts to meals linseed oil. Engage in physical education: even minor, but regular exercise affects the level of estrogen.

Increase estrogen levels, and therefore reduce the length of the first phase cycle a, you can also with . Eat legumes, especially beans, peas, soybeans, and lean fish and meat. But remember that in everything you need to observe moderation. Too much estrogen (as well as too much) affects not only the length of the menstrual cycle a, but also general well-being.

affect the length cycle or maybe upland, or one-sided ortilia. This plant contains phytohormones that affect the female reproductive system. If you want to lengthen your menstrual cycle, drink an infusion of the uterus (a tablespoon of herbs in a glass of boiling water) in the first 2 weeks after. If you need to hasten the onset of menstruation, use the infusion in the second phase cycle a. And yet it is better not to get involved in herbalism in the absence of serious indications.

In the presence of medical indications doctor may prescribe hormonal preparations, which normalize the ratio of estrogen and progesterone in the body. As a result, the length of the menstrual period will also change. cycle a.

Sources:

• how to change menstruation cycle

Problems with menstruation cycle can occur for a number of reasons, from serious hormonal disorders and chronic diseases before climate change or stress. If the doctor did not find any serious deviations from the norm, then you can try to restore the cycle with folk remedies.

Instruction

Prepare cornflower infusion. Pour 1 teaspoon of dried cornflower flowers into a glass hot water. After thirty minutes of aging, the infusion is ready. You need to drink it for 21 days, then stop and continue. Drink three times a day for a quarter tablespoon.

To prepare the infusion, brew a tablespoon of chopped ortilia lopsided with 250 ml of boiling water, insist in a thermos for two hours. Strain. Take according to Art. l. 15-20 minutes before meals.

To prepare a decoction, place two tablespoons of chopped raw materials in a container, pour 500 ml of boiling water. Simmer in a water bath for 20 minutes. Strain, bring to the original volume. Take 1-2 tbsp. before meals. The course of treatment is 3 weeks. Then take a two-week break and repeat the intake.

Indications for the use of the red brush

The red brush is also used for gynecological diseases, adenoma prostate, hormonal disorders, with pyelonephritis, prostatitis, diseases of the kidneys and liver.

To prepare the tincture, pour 100 g of a red brush with a liter of medical alcohol. Insist in a dark place for one month. Strain. Pour into small dark glass vials. Take 20 drops diluted in 100 ml of water.

To prepare a decoction and infusion, brew a tablespoon of crushed raw materials with 250 ml of boiling water. In the first case, simmer in a water bath for 15 minutes and bring to the original volume. In the second case, insist in a thermos for 2 hours. Take a tablespoon before meals and at bedtime.

The combined use of a boron uterus and a red brush

Most often joint application two medicinal plants recommended for treatment reproductive system. Infusion, tincture and decoction are prepared in the same way. But at the same time, two medicinal plants must be mixed in equal proportions.

A contraindication for taking a boron uterus and a red brush is pregnancy, lactation, individual intolerance. Usually, medicinal plants recommended in complex therapy. Therefore, before a course of treatment, it is worth getting a doctor's recommendation.

If a woman monitors her menstrual cycle, then the onset of menstruation will never come as a surprise to her, and the presence of pregnancy can be determined in the first days of the delay.

Length of the menstrual cycle

The average cycle length is 21 to 35 days. However, in some women, the interval between periods is less than 21 or more than 35 days, but this is not always a deviation from the norm. To make sure there are no diseases, disruptive cycle, women with a short or too long cycle should be examined by a gynecologist. It is worth noting that irregular cycle can be a consequence of overwork, stress, weight changes. Also deviations from normal schedule cause hormonal drugs and a change in the climatic zone (for example, a trip abroad during the holidays).

How to calculate your menstrual cycle

In it is considered that the beginning of the menstrual cycle is the first day of menstruation, and its end is the day before the first day of the next menstruation. Even the day when bleeding insignificant.

Conventionally, the entire cycle is divided into “safe” and “dangerous” () days. The first and second phases of the cycle have a safe period, and the third phase, which lasts several days and is replaced by the fourth phase, preceding the start of the next menstruation.

For the correct calculation of the cycle, it is necessary to conduct at least six months menstrual calendar, marking in it the beginning and end of menstruation. Based on the calendar, the minimum and maximum duration cycle. Knowledge of these data will be required in order to determine the period of ovulation and the so-called safe period.

Determination of fertile days

Analyzing the calendar data for six months, you need to choose the shortest and longest cycle. For example, minimum cycle is 28 days and the maximum is 32 days. Then, 18 must be subtracted from the number of days of the short cycle, and 11 from the number of the long cycle. That is, 28-18=10 and 32-11=21. As a result, it turns out that cycle days from 10 to 21 are optimal for conception. Therefore, women who do not accept birth control pills, in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy, it is on these days that you need to use reliable contraceptives.

This method the calculation works only when the cycle is relatively stable, and the intervals between periods are always approximately the same. If the cycle fluctuates, for example, from 21 to 30 days, then calendar method ovulation determinations will be inaccurate.

The female body is a great mystery! And like inexplicable events in nature, changes in the phases of the moon change the life of a woman. Many scientists have noticed that the cyclical nature of the celestial body is reflected in the girl's menstrual cycle. But sometimes there are storms, and a woman’s health is amenable to changes from the outside and disturbances occur in the body that can bring a lot of inconvenience to a woman’s life, and most importantly, deprive her of the opportunity to feel the joy of motherhood!

Let's see what is a normal menstrual cycle

This is a cyclic, monthly period in the life of each healthy woman, except for the period of pregnancy and lactation, starting from the first day of the onset of spotting (menstruation) and until the first day of the next menstruation. Normally, this period ranges from 21 to 35 days, plus or minus 3 days. If the cycle is shorter or longer, then we can already talk about pathology and sound the alarm. The menstrual cycle plays a huge role in a woman's reproductive function and is necessary for the ability to fertilize, bear children and have children.

A girl becomes a girl with the onset of her first period (menarche), which usually begins at 11–14 years of age. They may be irregular at first, but after a couple of years the cycle sets in. And throughout life it is stable, up to the period of premenopause, somewhere around the age of 40-50.

From birth, a girl has up to 2 million follicles in the ovaries, by the beginning of the menarche there are up to 400 thousand of them. One menstrual cycle “uses” one maturing follicle to release an egg from it.

Normal cyclic changes in women have a two-phase cycle and are clearly controlled by the hormonal mechanism of influence of the endocrine glands.

Normal parameters of the menstrual cycle:

• The duration of the cycle is from 21 to 35 days. On average 28 days.
• The duration of menstruation is from 2 to 7 days. On average 5 days.
• Conditional blood loss from 40 to 60 ml. On average 50 ml.

Cycle phases

• The first phase, or folliculin. During this period, the growth and maturation of the follicle in the ovaries occurs under the influence of the hormones of the pituitary and hypothalamus (follicle-stimulating or FSH). From the mature follicle during the period of ovulation (middle of the menstrual cycle), an egg is released, ready for fertilization.
• The second phase, or luteal. In this phase, again under the action of brain hormones (luteinizing hormone or LH), the corpus luteum matures, releasing the follicle egg. If, nevertheless, pregnancy occurs at ovulation, then the corpus luteum of pregnancy is formed from this follicle, producing progesterone up to 16 weeks, a high level of which contributes to the preservation of pregnancy. And at 16 weeks, the placenta takes over this function.

Parallel to the ovaries, cyclic hormonal influence exposed and the endometrium in the uterus.

The endometrium, as you know, consists of several layers, the surface layers are represented by functional and intermediate layers. The basal layer is not torn off during menstruation, but ensures the restoration of torn layers. Intermediate, but, being rejected, comes out in the form of menstruation.

There are cyclic changes in the endometrium in the form of the following phases:

• Proliferation ( follicular phase). active hormones in this phase is estrogen. It lasts from the 5th day of the cycle for 12-14 days. During this period, the surface layer of the endometrium grows with tubular glands up to 8 mm thick.
• Secretion (luteal phase). In this phase, the level of both progesterone and estrogen rises, it lasts about 14 days. During this period, the tubular glands begin to produce a secret, the peak of which is reached on the 21st day of the cycle. The blood flow to the arteries of the endometrium increases on the 22nd day of the cycle, favorable conditions for zygote implantation.
• Menstruation. When pregnancy does not occur, due to low quantity hormones produced by the ovary, blood supply to the endometrium decreases, blood clots and spasms form in the vessels, and then their sharp expansion leads to rejection of the endometrium. This is observed by the 24-27th day of the cycle. The very same menstruation consists of the following phases:

1. Desquamation (rejection of the functional layer).
2. Regeneration (healing of the functional layer). This phase begins immediately after shedding of the intermediate layer of the endometrium. The basis for this, as mentioned above, is the basal layer. And on the 4th day, epithelialization of the entire surface of the endometrium occurs after its rejection.

Continuous cyclic process of friendly reproductive organs- glands, ovaries and endometrium, throughout the entire menstrual cycle, promotes maturation, release of the egg from the ovary and its fertilization, attachment to the already prepared endometrium (due to the two-phase cycle) and further development and preservation of pregnancy to a greater extent by ovarian hormones. If fertilization does not occur, then the functional layer (necessary at the onset of pregnancy for the embryo to attach to it and ensure its vital activity) is rejected in the form of menstruation.

The process of regulation of the cyclic process is carried out by the neuroendocrine system through direct and feedback hormones, i.e., with a decrease in some hormones, others increase and vice versa. The following hierarchy of levels of regulation of the menstrual cycle is distinguished:

1. The first level is the cerebral cortex, the limbic system, the hippocampus and the amygdala. Influence top level depends on its initial state, action external factors. Therefore, menstrual irregularities often depend on mental state women, and sometimes you can observe a delay in menstruation after stress.
2. The second level is the hypothalamus. It is influenced by the feedback principle of sex hormones coming from the blood.
3. The third level is the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, in which LH and FSH, prolactin, adenocorticotropic and thyroid-stimulating hormones are produced.
4. The fourth level is the ovaries, thyroid and adrenals.
5. The fifth level is sensitive to the action of hormones (uterus, endometrium and mammary gland).

But, unfortunately, not all women have a regular menstrual cycle and work like clockwork. All violations are divided into the following categories:

• cycle irregularity.
• Painful discharge of menstrual blood.

Reasons for irregular menstruation

• Impact on the body from the outside - stress, overwork, malnutrition, change of residence and climate.
• Internal factors - accompanying illnesses(pathology of the ovaries, central nervous system, adrenal glands, endometrial diseases, curettage of the uterine cavity and abortions, liver diseases, impaired hemostasis, etc.).
• Under the influence medicinal substances(hormones, anticoagulants, drugs used in psychiatry, etc.).

Types of menstrual irregularities

Menorrhagia (hypermenstrual syndrome)– cyclic heavy menstruation. It is further subdivided into:

• Polymenorrhea - prolonged bleeding occurring cyclically with an interval of less than 21 days.
• Proyomenorrhea - increased menstruation.
• Hypermenorrhea - a large number of menstrual flow.

Hypomenstrual syndrome – outward manifestation decrease in menstruation:

• Hypomenorrhea - scanty menstrual flow.
• Oligomenorrhea - duration of menstruation up to 2 days.
• Opsomenorrhea - an interval between periods of more than 5-8 weeks.
• Spaniomenorrhea - menzies is observed up to 2-4 times a year.
• Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for more than 6 months.

• - bleeding that began a year or more after the cessation of menstruation in older women.
• Metrorrhagia - acyclic bleeding, not accompanied by rejection of the endometrium.
• Intermenstrual bleeding - occurring between periods.
• Algodysmenorrhea - painful menstruation.
• Juvenile bleeding - heavy bloody issues in adolescent girls.

Treatment of menstrual irregularities

After complete examination women, including the collection of anamnesis, detailed general and gynecological examination, ultrasound, swabs, clinical and biochemical analysis blood, coagulogram, hormonal examination, hysteroscopy, and sometimes MRI, you can start treatment.

1. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the influence of external factors.
2. Treatment of concomitant diseases.
3. Hemostatic therapy is provided for bleeding.
4. Surgical treatment (curettage of the uterine cavity, removal of the uterus).
5. hormone therapy. Use combined oral contraceptives, gestagens, gonadoliberin agonists.

Self-treatment is highly unacceptable! It is dangerous for a woman's life. In case of menstrual irregularities, you should seek help from medical institution, because delay can in mild cases lead to inflammation, endocrine disorders, infertility, and in last resort- to lethal outcome. Take care of yourself and your health - it's priceless!