From Menarche to Menopause: Medical Terminology explained (in my own words)
Why this article? Well I hope that if you receive your medical notes and dont understand some of what is being said, this will help.
1) Menarche: This is when you get your first period. In a sentence you may say “when menarche begins you may be surprised”. There is also a lot to be said about the age you start.
2) Amenorrhea: Absence of periods and there are two types.
Primary amenorrhea: Means you have never had a period, so for example you are a 18 years old and have never had your first period (Menarche)
Secondary Amenorrhea: Means you have had regular cycles before and they have stopped.
3) Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods
Primary Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods that happen without a known cause/ identifiable condition
Secondary Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods with a known cause eg pain caused by Endometriosis or Fibroids
4) Menorrhagia: Heavy periods. There are two types, either you have periods longer than 7 days or you’re bleeding large amounts every day (some refer to it as flooding)
5) Oligomenorrhea – Irregular or infrequent periods. The cycle is roughly 28 days (give and take a few days) and should occur on a monthly basis. So if the time between periods is not average you could be considered to have Oligomenorrhea
6) Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): The behavioural and emotional symptoms you have in the days leading up to your period. This can be tiredness, being teary, switching at people every two seconds or wanting to eat everything you lay your eyes on. Although PMS is normal if you find that your emotions are way out of whack than normal or your behaviour becomes really disruptive, you may want to have a check up on what your hormones are doing.
7) Anovulation: This is where you are not ovulating, this may explain why your periods are irregular (Oligomenorrhea) or absent (Amenorrhea)
8) Ovulation: When a mature egg is released from the ovary. You will notice that you may be feeling really horny, your cervical mucus will have a particular appearance and it’s usually around day 14 of your cycle (give and take a couple of days). I notice my face looking extra beautiful around this time too.
9) Perimenopause: This is the transition period before menopause and can start up to 10 years before you reach actual menopause.
10) Menopause: this is a time in a woman’s life when menstruation ceases. The exact point would be when you haven’t had a period for 12 months. Usually happens between the ages 45-55 but can happen much earlier and much later – the youngest person was 11 years old.
Now if you want to know in more detail how to deal with Periods and some of the issues we may experience, why not book me in for a workshop? (please add link to periods workshop and fibroids/endometriosis workshop)