PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS)

These symptoms, ranging from anger to depression to weight gain, may be due to the sudden drop in progesterone levels, which occurs just prior to menstruation.

NO PERIODS (amenorrhea)

Primary amenorrhea is defined as: 1- no period by age 14 and no sign of any secondary sex characteristics; 2- no period by age 16 even if showing other secondary sex characteristics.  In secondary amenorrhea, a woman has no periods for at least 3 cycles or 6 months.

PAINFUL PERIODS (dysmenorrhea)

This is sometimes due to excess prostaglandin (PG) levels, which can overstimulate the uterus and cause lower abdominal pain.

HEAVY PERIODS (menorrhagia)

Women with excessive menstrual bleeding often have increased levels of estradiol (E2) and prostaglandins (PG).

LIGHT PERIODS

Women with light periods may have low levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and/or have a thin uterine lining.

EARLY OR LATE PERIODS

Variations on cycle length usually reflect differences of the follicular phase (days starting at menses and ending at ovulation).  Women with a 25-day cycle ovulate around Day 10-12, and women with a 35-day cycle ovulate around Day 20-22.  The luteal phase (time from ovulation until next menses begins) is typically consistent at around 13-15 days.  Less than 1% of women have a regular cycle lasting < 21 days or > 35 days.

IRREGULAR PERIODS

Most women have cycles that last from 24-35 days, but at least 20% of women have irregular cycles.

MENSTRUAL MIGRAINES

These headaches may occur before, during, or at the end of menstrual flow, but they occur around this same time each cycle.  Chinese medical treatment varies according to when the headaches occur, as your Chinese medical diagnosis is different in each of these cases.

Source:  Speroff & Fritz.  Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th edition.