Menstrual cycle
The period from the first day of one to the first day of the next period. It usually takes 28-32 days, +/- a few days. Larger deviations, especially irregular ones, may indicate a certain pathology, and such situations certainly require certain examinations, tests and treatment.
The first menstruation (lat. Menarche) occurs in girls during puberty, around the 12th year of life (ages 9-14), although the appearance of menarche a few years later is not uncommon.
It is also common that the cycles during the first 3 years from the onset of menarche are very irregular, prolonged (many months may pass before the next menstruation occurs). Menstruation continues until the 45-55th year of a woman's life, when menopause occurs. During her lifetime, a woman menstruates on average about 500 times.
The menstrual cycle is a very complex process, which includes various hormones (GnRH, FSH, LH, estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, testosterone and its fractions, androstenedione, SHBG; thyroid hormones), sexual organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina) and the brain. .
For a proper MC, it is important that all three levels function flawlessly. That is, a disturbance in the MC can occur due to:
- disorders in certain centers in the brain that control the production and release of sex hormones,
- disorders in the amount, action and effect of various sex hormones, i.e. in the endocrine organs where hormone production takes place
- reasons related to the sexual organs themselves - ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus,
In addition to the above, menstruation is also affected by:
- body weight, but the proportion of fat tissue, diet, intensity and type of physical activity, quality, quantity and time of sleep and wakefulness, stress and other factors are also important.
It is known that MC disorders, in the sense of long-term absence of menstruation, are common in professional athletes, models, girls/women suffering from anorexia or bulimia, those who are under special psychological stress (due to the death of a close or loved one, more illness in the family, unemployment, etc.).
Terms used to describe MC disorders are:
- oligomenorrhea (prolonged MC)
- polymenorrhea (abbreviated MC)
- hypermenorrhea (heavy menstrual bleeding)
- hypomenorrhea (scarce menstrual bleeding)
- metrorrhagia (irregular menstrual bleeding)
- dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
- amenorrhea (absence of menstruation)
Any MC disorder requires an examination by a gynecologist, as well as appropriate diagnostic processing and appropriate treatment, according to the gynecologist's instructions.
Genital inflammations
With typical symptoms, it is not difficult to conclude that there is genital inflammation and that an examination by a gynecologist and treatment are necessary.
But often genital inflammation does not cause any disturbances, or at least not pronounced ones, so the woman does not react, but even this can significantly impair health and quality of life, and sometimes it can leave lasting consequences on the woman's health.
symptoms
Local:
- Increased vaginal discharge that can be of different colors (colorless, intense white, yellowish, greenish, grayish, reddish colors), of different consistencies (clear, cloudy, foamy, thick, cheesy, bacony), of different abundance (traces, scarce, abundant ), of different duration (one-time, long-term - several days, several months).
- Soreness in the area of the outer part of the vagina, which can be constant or occasional, can occur in some situations (for example during sexual intercourse) or independently of anything.
-Changes on the vagina can be raised, sunken or at the level of the surrounding skin, they can be a different color from the surrounding skin, they can be dry or they can ooze secretions. General
Increased body temperature, chills, fever; urination disorders (painful and with burning)
With the appearance of any of the above, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist as soon as possible, in order to perform basic diagnostic work-up, establish a diagnosis and start timely and valid treatment.
But how do you know if there is a genital infection if there are no pronounced symptoms? Of course, you should talk honestly with your partner and if he has any problems in the genital area, he should have a doctor's examination. If he is diagnosed with a genital infection, it will mean that the partner also has the same infection. In addition, you should carefully listen to your body and respond promptly to anything that deviates from the usual state.
When a diagnosis of genital infection caused by a specific pathogen is made based on the findings of the diagnostic tests, the recommended treatment must be carried out simultaneously for both partners. In addition, sexual abstinence during treatment is usually advised.
After treatment, a control examination is mandatory (according to assessment and control findings).
A cured genital infection does not mean that it will not happen again, so it is very important to behave responsibly and in this way reduce the occurrence of genital inflammation to the smallest possibility. (cheers)
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