Menstruation

Alternate Names : Menses, Period, Menarche

What are the treatments for the condition?

Women use a variety of menstrual products to control the flow of their period. Tampons, pads, sponges, cloth, and menstrual cups can all be used safely by most women to capture menstrual flow. The products come in various absorbencies for heavy and light flows. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can help ease the pain of cramps. Severe cramping or bleeding should be brought to the attention of a healthcare provider.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Women who use tampons must be careful to change them often. Frequent changes keep bacteria from building. If bacteria build up, a woman may become ill with a potentially life-threatening disease called toxic shock syndrome.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

When menstruation ceases, a woman no longer needs tampons, pads, or other menstrual products.

How is the condition monitored?

Menstruation is generally not monitored unless a woman has premenstrual syndrome, is trying to get pregnant, or is entering menopause. For most women, menstruating is just a normal part of each month. A woman usually has physical signs, or knows by the calendar when her period is due.

If menstruation has not occurred and there is severe abdominal pain near the ovaries, immediate care should be sought. These symptoms may mean an ectopic pregnancy, or a pregnancy that is growing in the fallopian tube.