You've been period-free for the past 2 months. You think you're pregnant (again), so you buy a pregnancy home-kit (again). You tested negative. You'd like to think of a possible explanation. You say you're actually glad that you don't have one, especially because you always experience the worst PMS ever known to womankind.
Unfortunately for you, today is your day (just when you wore white). It is not only the most excruciating pain you have ever felt, but you also feel that something's terribly wrong. You want to go to the doctor, but he just might give you something just for the pain again.
What do you do?
I know the pain that you feel. But ironically, good news is that you are not alone in your suffering. If you're between 40 to 50 years old (possibly earlier but not below 35), then you may be suffering from perimenopause periods. This is an affliction silently suffered by most women in that age bracket, in preparation for menopause. Irregular periods are characterized by long or short cycles, a heavy or very light blood flow, sometimes just spotting, painful cramps, blood clots, or simply missed periods.
When both estrogen and progesterone shows low productivity, this is where the imbalance will set in. The first casualty will always be your menstrual cycle. This combined with additional stress levels will always have your periods at an irregular rate, sometimes not even appearing for whole months!
A ton of other related symptoms also contribute to irregular periods. Eating disorders, diabetes, thyroid problems, weight gain (or loss), smoking, over-exercise, excessive alcohol and caffeine intake, liver disease and recent miscarriage or birth is just some of the symptoms. If you just gave birth and you're breastfeeding, it is a natural contraceptive that also allows your menstrual period to just stop completely. Ovarian diseases and uterine abnormalities (fibroids, polyps, etc.) and tuberculosis could also be possible reasons. So to rule the last 3 symptoms out, be sure to visit your doctor and have yourself tested for these just in case your gut feel tells you it's something more than perimenopause.
Now when do you really need to see a doctor? When you have heavy, extended bleeding for more than a week, severe abdominal pain, and spotting, unexplained weight gain and if you're bleeding after intercourse, then this would be a good time to lose your fear of hospitals and go to a doctor.
To prevent that from happening, take a break from work or home (if only for a while). Relax. Meditate. Have a healthy diet consisting of leafy greens and fruits. Consider alternative medicine first before thinking of surgery. If you can't take it anymore, visit your health care provider and ask for alternative remedies.
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