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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Irregular Periods. Only Few Cycles A Year. What Are The Health Concerns To Be Taken For The Early Menopause?

Hi, I am 35 years old. I began menstruating at 13 and have never had regular menstrual cycles. When I was a teen the flow was very heavy, clotting, cramping very intense, and they lasted about 2 weeks, maybe 3-4 cycles a year. As I aged, the cycles decreased in flow and I had fewer of them in a year. In my 20s I had about 2 or so a year and they'd last about 5 days. Now I'm having 1 a year if that, and I'd call them light (1 pad last all day). The opposite problem runs in my family though. My mother, her mother, and my sister have, or had, extremely heavy periods causing anemia. My grandmother used to faint from the blood loss during her periods. They all needed, or need in the case of my sister, 4 maxi pads and had to change every hour. This they accepted as normal! My mom got fed up and was led to have a hysterectomy due to her heavy flows. My sister isn't treating her issues, but she should. She has had anemia her whole adult life. So, it's very odd that I'd have very few periods and when I do it's very rare for the flow to be heavy. Also, I had no trouble getting pregnant whatsoever. As soon as my husband and I began having intercourse (I was 21) I got pregnant and 7 weeks after my son was born I got pregnant again. I'd been told that it'd be difficult to get pregnant, and it turned out to be too easy! At age 22 I had a tubal ligation, after my second son was born. I've never minded having few periods, does anyone like them? But, now that I'm 35, I'm thinking menopause will come early for me. I went over a year before I had a menstrual this last time. My concern is with so few cycles in my life, and if I have early menopause too, what are the health concerns? Am I 10x more likely to get osteoporosis? Are there other concerns? Is there anything I can do about it, should do about it? I've been doing some searching online, but not too many women have this issue. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond! I appreciate it very much! Marie
Thu, 13 Jun 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

When periods that occur more than 35 days apart it is called oligomenorrhea. There are different possible causes such as (1) PCOS - this stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome and is diagnosed when 2 out of 3 the following are present- irregular periods, cysts on the ovaries, signs and symptoms of an increase in male hormones

(2) increase level of prolactin which is a hormone produced in the brain
(3)high levels of thyroid hormone
(3)inadequate diet
(4)perimenopause
(5)extreme physical activity

To determine if your irregular periods are related to one of these conditions you would need to be assessed by your doctor and blood tests to check the level of certain hormones, would have to be done.

In terms of osteoporosis you can reduce this risk by using an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D.

I hope this helps
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Have Irregular Periods. Only Few Cycles A Year. What Are The Health Concerns To Be Taken For The Early Menopause?

HI, thanks for using healthcare magic When periods that occur more than 35 days apart it is called oligomenorrhea. There are different possible causes such as (1) PCOS - this stands for polycystic ovarian syndrome and is diagnosed when 2 out of 3 the following are present- irregular periods, cysts on the ovaries, signs and symptoms of an increase in male hormones (2) increase level of prolactin which is a hormone produced in the brain (3)high levels of thyroid hormone (3)inadequate diet (4)perimenopause (5)extreme physical activity To determine if your irregular periods are related to one of these conditions you would need to be assessed by your doctor and blood tests to check the level of certain hormones, would have to be done. In terms of osteoporosis you can reduce this risk by using an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D. I hope this helps