Risk Factors for Menstrual Disorders
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop a menstrual disorder with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing a menstrual disorder. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.
Menorrhagia (Heavy Bleeding)
Most women experience heavy bleeding at some point during their reproductive years. Risk factors associated with
menorrhagia
include:
Obesity
Excess body fat
is a risk factor for menorrhagia. Hormones in fat tissues can convert into estrogen. When this happens, the endometrial lining thickens causing heavier menstrual bleeding.
Conditions
You may be at increased risk for menorrhagia if you have one of the following gynecologic conditions:
You may be at increased risk for menorrhagia if you have one of the following general conditions:
- Bleeding disorders or taking blood thinning medicines
- Thyroid problems
- Lupus
- Diabetes
Age
Young Women
Just after menarche (the start of menstrual periods), teenagers may experience temporary menorrhagia. They may have:
- Too many periods close together
- Periods spaced further apart
- Amenorrhea
The reason for these changes is due to the woman's reproductive system maturing.
Older Women
If you are approaching
menopause
, you may have heavier periods. Women who have menstrual periods at an older age than average may also be at risk for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Contraceptives
If you use a copper
intrauterine device
(IUD), you are slightly more likely to have heavy menstrual periods.
On the other hand, progestin-containing IUDs (eg,
Mirena
) are more likely to decrease menstrual bleeding.
In most cases, oral contraceptives decrease menstrual bleeding. If you have heavy bleeding while taking the pill, contact your doctor.
Medications
Certain drugs (eg, blood thinning drugs, anti-inflammatory medicines, chemotherapy drugs) can increase your risk of heavy bleeding.
Imbalances of Hormones and Other Body Chemicals
Some women have imbalances in estrogen and progesterone that can cause them to skip menstrual periods. In this case, there may be overgrowth of the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which can lead to very heavy bleeding when menstruation returns.
Amenorrhea (Lack of Menstruation)
Risk factors for amenorrhea include:
Excessive Physical Activity
If you exercise very strenuously, you may be at risk for primary or secondary amenorrhea. Female athletes who participate in ballet, gymnastics, rowing, long-distance running, and cycling are especially at risk.
Eating Disorders
Having an eating disorder, such as
anorexia nervosa
or
bulimia nervosa
, puts you at risk for amenorrhea. This may be due to inadequate nutrition, low body fat, rapid weight loss, and hormonal and psychological factors.
Stress
You may skip menstrual periods if you are going through major life changes, or having problems with work, school, or relationships. A change in environment, such as moving, can cause you to miss periods. It appears that emotional stress prevents the brain from sending certain signals to the ovaries. Once the stressful situation has been alleviated, menses usually returns to its previous cycle.
Conditions
In most cases, amenorrhea does not indicate that you have a serious medical problem. In some cases, however, amenorrhea results from medical problems, such as:
Discontinuation of Birth Control Method
If you have recently stopped taking birth control pills or stopped using another type of birth control (eg, IUD), it is possible that you may not have a menstrual period for up to several months.
References
Abnormal uterine bleeding. FamilyDoctor.org website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/abnormal-uterine-bleeding.html
. Updated August 2010. Accessed August 20, 2012.
Amenorrhea. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/
. Updated January 21, 2011. Accessed August 20, 2012.
Amenorrhea. FamilyDoctor.org website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/amenorrhea.html
. Updated August 2010. Accessed August 20, 2012.
Heavy menstrual bleeding. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/
. Updated 25, 2012. Accessed August 20, 2012.