Conditions

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Low BMI (although BMI is an outdated term)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

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.

Gynecologic Cancers

Roughly 12.4% of all new cancer cases in menstruators

This is a disease where cells in a menstruator’s reproductive organs grow out of control.

Some Symptoms

Abnormal vaginal bleeding/discharge
More frequent/urgent need to urinate and/or constipation
Pelvic pain or pressure

Five main types

Cervical
Ovarian
Uterine
Vaginal
vulvar

Gynecologic cancers have many different treatments, depending on the kind and severity of the cancer.

Treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy

HIV

Roughly 53% of all people living with HIV are menstruators

HIV is the name of a virus that attacks the body’s immune system; which if untreated will eventually progress to AIDS.

Some Symptoms

Flu-like symptoms
Weight loses
Rash
Swollen lymph nodes

Can Cause

Tuberculosis
Cryptococcal meningitis
Severe bacterial infections
Cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma

There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral therapy, which stops the virus from replicating in the body. ART must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life.

It is more common for menstruators to contract HIV through vaginal sex than non-menstruators.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Affects about 5% of menstruators in the US

PID is an infection of the reproductive organs of menstruators. It often happens when sexually transmitted germs spread from the vagina to the uterus.

Some Symptoms

Pain in lower belly and pelvis
Heavy/unusual/odorous discharge
Bleeding from vagina between periods
Fever

Complications

Ectopic pregnancies
Trouble getting pregnant
Chronic pelvic pain
Tubo-ovarian abscess

Fast treatment with medicine can get rid of the infection, but there is no way to fix scarring or other damage to the reproductive tract.

Surgery is rarely needed, but should an abscess threaten to burst or burst, a healthcare professional might drain it. Surgery might also be done if there is no response to antibiotic treatment.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

Affects roughly 1-4% of menstruators worldwide

This occurs when ovaries stop working as they should before the age of 40–meaning the ovaries don’t make the typical amounts of estrogen or release eggs regularly.

Some Symptoms

Irregular or missed periods
Hot flashes/night sweats
Trouble getting pregnant
Anger, depression, or anxiety

Complications

Infertility
Osteoporosis
Dementia
Parkinson’s disease

Most often, treatment for this condition focuses on the lack of estrogen. Treatments may include estrogen therapy or calcium and vitamin D supplements.

However, no treatment is proven to restore fertility. Some people resort to IVF, though.

Ovarian Torsion

3% of all menstruators

This is a medical emergency where one of the ovaries twists on the tissues supporting it. This can cut off the blood supply to the affected ovary, which, if untreated, can lead to the ovary’s death.

Some Symptoms

Moderate to sever pain in lower stomach
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge

What ovarian torsion feels like

Sharp and stabbing/dull and crampy
Located through lower belly or only on affected side (usually right)
Isolated to lower belly or spreading to thighs, sides, and lower back
Constant or intermittent

Surgeons treat torsion by untwisting the ovary. They may also remove cysts. Normally, the ovary is able to be saved.

Most often surgeons perform laparoscopy to treat ovarian torsion (a few small cuts where a laparoscope will be inserted, and then the ovary will be untwisted if necessary). Sometimes, however, open surgery will be needed; and in severe cases the ovary will have to be removed.