Conditions - WIP

About a quarter of all people with periods suffer from menstrual irregularities. Here, I'll name a few.

PMOS (f.k.a. PCOS)

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome

Up to 25% of menstruators

PMOS is an incurable hormonal health issue that starts to show signs as soon as someone gets their period. The exact cause is unknown.

Some Symptoms

Irregular periods
Hirsutism
Obesity
Infertility

Raises Risk For

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease

PMOS can cause small cysts, called follicles, to grow on the ovaries. These differ from ovarian cysts, which if ruptured, can cause severe pain.

Although PMOS is incurable, the main way to lessen symptom severity is through weight loss. However, due to the nature of the illness, it is incredibly difficult for patients to lose weight, so it is likely that symptoms will persist until menopause.

Endometriosis

Up to 10% of menstruators

This is an often-painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.

Some Symptoms

Painful periods, sex, bowel movements and urination
Excessive bleeding
Infertility
Severe pain regularly

Risk Factors

Starting a menstrual cycle at a young age or menopause at an older age
Heavy menstrual periods or short menstrual cycles
Low BMI (although BMI is an outdated term)

Endometriosis symptoms can sometimes seem like other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as IBS. This makes it harder for health care teams to find the exact cause of symptoms.

Treatment for endometriosis often starts with medication (pain medicine or hormone therapy), but if medication is ineffective, then the only other option is surgery. The last resort is a hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries.

Uterine fibroids

Up to 80% of menstruators

These are common uterine growths which appear during years of menstruation. Sizes vary, but some can grow to the size of a grapefruit or larger.

Some Symptoms

Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods
Pelvic pressure or pain
Growing stomach area
Constipation/issues with urinating

Causes

Gene changes
Hormones
Other growth factors
Extracellular matrix

Uterine fibroids often aren't dangerous. However, they can cause pain, and they may lead to complications. These include anemia, which can cause fatigue from heavy blood loss.

Researchers are continuing to study the causes of fibroid tumors, although more research is needed on how to prevent them. In fact, it might to be possible to prevent them at all.