Dr. Radoslav Jovanovic and Dr. Kevin Jovanovic have successfully treated hundreds of women who were experiencing problems with their periods. Whether you struggle with cramping, heavy periods, or other life-disrupting symptoms during your period, there’s a good chance that there’s a treatment that can help.
In this post, we discuss some of the most common problems women have with menstruation, as well as what kinds of treatments are available.
Pain that is associated with menstruation is called dysmenorrhea, and it’s the most common problem women have with their periods. More than half of women report having pain related to menstruation, and that pain can vary from a feeling of heaviness to severe cramping.
Most often dysmenorrhea is caused by contractions of your uterus as a normal part of shedding the uterine lining. The most common treatment approach is over-the-counter pain medications, and for many women the pain decreases with age.
However, sometimes dysmenorrhea is caused by some other problem, in which case it’s called secondary dysmenorrhea. If you have secondary dysmenorrhea, it’s likely to get worse as you get older.
Endometriosis, a condition in which the lining of your uterus grows outside your uterus, is one cause of secondary dysmenorrhea. Uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts may also be to blame.
The average range of a menstrual cycle is 24-38 days. If your cycle varies more than 20 days from month to month, you have an irregular period. For example, if your cycle is 27 days long one month, then 50 days long the next month, then 32 days long the next month, you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
Young women who have only just begun menstruating may experience irregularity for a few years, and older women who are perimenopausal may also experience irregularity. The changing levels of hormones in your body are to blame in these cases.
There are other potential causes though. Eating disorders, thyroid problems, and certain medications, among several other things, can cause an irregular cycle.
The most appropriate treatment for an irregular cycle depends on the cause. Hormone therapy is a common treatment.
Heavy periods are both disruptive and painful. You may find it difficult to do your normal activities when you have heavy periods. The medical name for a period that lasts longer than seven days or that causes you to bleed more than normal is menorrhagia.
Menorrhagia can be caused by hormone imbalances, puberty, infections, thyroid issues, fibroids, and changes in your diet or how much you exercise, as well as other possible causes. Before recommending a treatment, Dr. Jovanovic determines the underlying cause of your heavy bleeding and reviews your medical history. Once he understands your specific situation, he makes a recommendation.
When you miss periods altogether, and you haven’t gone through menopause, it’s called amenorrhea. If you miss three periods in a row, or you’re 15 or older and have never had a menstrual cycle, you may have amenorrhea.
Unless you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, amenorrhea may be caused by hormone issues, an eating disorder, gaining or losing too much weight, or other health problems. The appropriate treatment options depend on the reason you’ve missed periods.
In addition to the four common problems here, there are other menstrual issues that may cause you to seek medical care. Menstrual migraines, premenstrual syndrome, blood clots, and other issues aren’t rare, and there are treatments that can help.
If you’ve been experiencing period problems, book an appointment with Dr. Jovanovic to find out if there may be treatments that can help. You can schedule with our convenient online booking tool, or you can call our New York City office at 347-589-8018, and we’ll be happy to help.
