Encomium
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke to some medical experts on menstruation.
BLESSING UDEMEZUE
What can you tell us about menstruation?
It is the monthly flow of a female. It consists of a cycle and a period. Menstrual flow is the shedding of the inner lining of the uterus monthly.
What are the medical challenges incidentals to menstruation?
Irregular flow. There should be a flow on a general note monthly but some people’s cycle is either too long or too short. Some people have heavy flow which could lead to anemia.
Is it possible for extreme menstrual pain to cause infertility?
Pains during menstrual flow cannot cause infertility. Something must have gone wrong for it to lead to infertility.
What is the way out?
It depends, it could be the normal menstrual pain. It could be as a result of fibroid. It could be primary pain which cannot be linked with any cause. It could be secondary, it can be caused by fibroid.
What average age does menstruation start and what average age should it stop?
14 to 15 years. With advance in technology, better diet, some have it early as from 9 to 10 years old.
Menopause is the stop of menstrual flow. It also varies, it starts from age 40 to 50. Averagely, it should be 47 to 55 years old.
ADEJUWON
Can you tell us more about menstruation?
It is a physiological monthly shedding of endometrial layer of the uterus.
What are the medical challenges incidentals to menstruation?
There could be many problems that could come with menstruation. If the blood flow is not enough, if it is not up to the volume it should be, it is called Hypomensis. If the blood flow is too much, it is called Hypermenorial or Menoraegial.
The duration should be between two to seven days but if a woman is bleeding for more than seven days, it is also called Menoraegial or Hypermenorial. If it is less than two days, it is called Hypomenorial.
The normal cycle length is between 21 and 31 days but if someone sees her period in less than 21 days, it means it is abnormal, it is called Hypermenorial. If the cycle is more than 35 days, it is called Oligomenorial.
If a woman sees her period in six months interval, it is called Amenorial. Pain during menstruation is called Dismenorial. It could be primary or secondary pain.
Primary pain is bearable. It is the physiological response to hormonal changes in the person. It starts a day or two before menstruation. It stops a day or two after.
Secondary pain starts when the menses starts and ends when menses ends. It usually starts much later in life. The pain is usually excruciating. It is called Endometriosis. It can be caused by PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), fibroid.
Is it possible for endometriosis to cause infertility?
Yes, it is true. If the person has pain in sexual intercourse, it can lead to infertility. Addiction can also cause infertility. It simply means tissues that form after the surgery, if they form around the fallopian tube or around the ovaries.
What is the way out?
If it is primary pain, she will see her doctor and necessary drugs will be administered. If it is secondary pain, it means something is wrong. She will have to undergo certain procedure.
– SHADE WESLEY METIBOGUN and DOLAPO AMODENI
