Oligomenorrhea
From time to time, every woman experiences some type of irregularity in her menstrual cycle. Missing a period on occasion, or bleeding earlier or later than usual is completely normal and even to be expected. However, if your periods are consistently absent or occuring at long intervals, you may want to speak with your health care provider. You could be suffering from a condition called oligomenorrhea, which, if not treated, could decrease your chances of becoming pregnant.
What is Oligomenorrhea?
Oligomenorrhea is a complication of the menstrual cycle. It is the medical term used to describe infrequent or light menstruation. Women who do not get their periods regularly or whose periods are much lighter than they should be, are described as suffering from oligomenorrhea. Oligomenorrhea usually begins after a time during which your menstrual cycle was regular. Typically, most women have normal menstrual cycles by the age of 16. If your periods become irregular or infrequent after this time, you may be suffering from oligomenorrhea.
Symptoms of Oligomenorrhea
If you think that you may have oligomenorrhea, monitor yourself for these symptoms:
- irregular or unpredictable periods
- periods that come more than 35 days apart
- fewer than 4 to 9 periods a year
- difficulty conceiving
- easily broken or fractured bones
Causes of Oligomenorrhea
Period irregularities are usually caused by environmental factors, which can easily be changed to help reintroduce a normal period. These factors include:
- emotional stress
- physical illness
- poor nutrition
- over exercise
- frequent travel
Sometimes however, oligomenorrhea is the result of physiological problems which must be addressed in order to restore normal menstruation. These include:
Confused MessagesSometimes, irregular menstruation is the result of a lack of synchronization between your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries. In order to stimulate ovulation, these three parts of your body need to send messages to one another in a specific order. Sometimes these messages get confused, resulting in a missed period. Usually, synchronization will work itself out, though sometimes your body needs a kick start to help things along.
Hormonal Imbalances
Oligomenorrhea is commonly the result of hormonal imbalances. When the body produces too many male hormones, called androgens, and too few female hormones, called estrogens, ovulation can become irregular. Women who use anabolic steroids, certain prescription medications, or who have eating disorders often have hormonal imbalances.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS)
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the more common causes of oligomenorrhea. In PCOS, your body creates too many androgens, which causes tiny cysts to form inside your ovaries. This causes infrequent ovulation and menstruation.
Oligomenorrhea and Infertility
For women who are trying to conceive, oligomenorrhea can be a serious issue. Because you are only experiencing a period a few times a year, your body is also ovulating less. This means that you have a smaller chance of becoming pregnant. If you want to become pregnant, it is important to seek treatment for oligomenorrhea. Medications can restore your ovulation, increasing your chances of conceiving.
Treatments for Oligomenorrhea
Treatments for oligomenorrhea depend upon the cause of your infrequent periods.
If environmental factors are contributing to the infrequency, addressing these issues is your best bet. Try to ensure you get good nutrition, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce your stress levels.
Medications
Women with PCOS and other hormonal imbalances can be given medication in order to restore their hormone levels. Birth control pills or other hormonal forms of birth control can help to balance out your hormones and restore menstruation. Women with high levels of androgens can use anti-androgen medications in order to encourage ovulation.
