Menstrual cycles in women follow certain patterns. If a woman experiences her period significantly earlier or later than expected, accompanied by discomfort, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. However, in the first 1-2 years after menarche or as women approach menopause, fluctuations in the cycle may occur without indicating illness.
Normal menstrual blood is typically dark red. If the menstrual blood is bright red, coffee-colored, yellow, or shifts from thin to a black, watery consistency, it requires careful observation. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that such variations may be due to either excess cold or heat in the body, indicated by symptoms such as shortness of breath, weak voice, reluctance to speak, fatigue in limbs, or sluggish movement. Maintaining proper hygiene can often help manage these conditions.
Abnormal menstrual flow can manifest as either excessively heavy or too light periods. Heavy menstruation can be defined in two ways: First, the volume of blood lost exceeds 100 ml per day (normal range), and second, the duration of menstruation extends beyond 7 days (normal duration). Heavy periods may occur due to irregular shedding of the uterine lining, endometrial hyperplasia, or conditions such as uterine fibroids, liver dysfunction, blood disorders, or external factors (e.g., poor menstrual hygiene, exposure to cold or heat, or stress).
Too little menstrual blood (spotting) can indicate amenorrhea if a woman over 18 has not menstruated for three consecutive months after previously normal cycles. This condition is often linked to chronic systemic diseases like severe anemia, liver disease, diabetes, parasitic infections, poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, or genital tuberculosis. Additionally, strong emotional stress or physical strain can also lead to amenorrhea. However, amenorrhea during pregnancy and breastfeeding is considered a normal physiological state.
Normal menstrual blood is usually not thick, slightly sticky, and clear, sometimes containing white clots (which are remnants of endometrial cells). If the blood is both sticky and clotted or transparent like water, or forms large, hard clots, Traditional Chinese medicine attributes this to blood stagnation, necessitating good hygiene practices.
Generally, healthy women do not experience significant symptoms during menstruation. Some may feel minor discomfort, such as emotional instability, irritability, or overall fatigue, which typically resolves after menstruation ends. However, if a woman notices pronounced symptoms during her period, these may indicate a pathological condition:
– Breast tissue hyperplasia during menstruation: This condition often occurs in young women, typically before or during menstruation, presenting as swelling and tenderness in one or both breasts, with some able to feel irregular lumps. Causes include hormonal imbalances with low progesterone and high estrogen levels.
– Unilateral headaches during menstruation: Common in young women, this condition arises from impaired vascular function, often accompanied by nausea, blurred vision, hallucinations, and is thought to be related to pituitary hormones.
– Dysmenorrhea: This includes lower abdominal pain before, during, or after menstruation and can be categorized into two types:
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Primary dysmenorrhea: Typically occurs in healthy young women without underlying reproductive health issues, where pain subsides after menstruation.
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Secondary dysmenorrhea: Associated with underlying reproductive health problems, such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease. Addressing the underlying condition is necessary to alleviate the pain.
– Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Some women may experience forewarning symptoms like headaches, dizziness, insomnia, breast tenderness, emotional instability, irritability, impatience, or anxiety before menstruation, which resolve quickly after menstruation. Generally, these symptoms do not significantly impact a woman’s health, and with proper care, they can improve. It is believed that these symptoms stem from autonomic nervous system disturbances and imbalances in hormonal and water-salt metabolism.
– Nosebleeds during menstruation: Patients often report pelvic pressure and general discomfort. Nosebleeds may lead to a decrease in menstrual flow and provide relief. Possible causes include disruptions in the biological clock or chronic conditions such as hypertension, liver disease, or pulmonary tuberculosis.
