The normal reproductive years of a women are characterised by monthly rhythmic changes in the rates of secretion of female hormones and corresponding changes in the sexual organs themselves. The rhythmic pattern is called the female sexual cycle or Menstrual cycle. The duration of the cycle averages 28 days. It may be as short as 20 days or as long as 45 days even in completely normal women, though abnormal cycle length is occasionally associated with decreased fertility.
The two significant results of the female sexual cycle are: first, only a single mature ovum is normally released from the ovaries each month, so that only a single foetus can begin to grow at a time; second, the uterine endometrium is prepared for implantation of the fertilized ovum at the required time of the month.
The menstruation reflects not only the health of the uterus but also the health of the endocrine glands that control it, i.e. the ovaries and the pituitarry gland. The disorders of the female reproductive system are frequently involved in the menstrual disorders. Some of them are:
Amenorrhoea
This means without monthly flow, i.e. the absence of menstruation. If a woman has never menstruated, the condition is called primary amenorrhoea. This can be caused by endocrine disorders, most often in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus or by genetically caused abnormal development of the ovaries or uterus. Secondary amenorrhoea, the skipping of one or more periods, is commonly experienced by women at some time during their life.
Changes in body weight, either gains or losses, often cause amenorrhoea. Obesity may disturb .ovarian function, and similarly the extreme weight loss that characterises anorexia nervosa often leads to a suspension of menstrual flow. When amenorrhoea is not related with the changes in body weight, its causative factor may be the deficiencies of pituitary and ovarian hormone. Amenorrhoea may also be caused by continuous involvement in rigorous atheletic training.
Dysmenorrhoea
It refers to pain associated with menstruation and the term is usually reserved to describe an individual with menstrual symptoms that are severe enough to prevent her from functioning normally for one or more days each month. Primary dysmenorrhoea is painful menstruation with no detectable organic disease. The pain in this condition is thought to result from uterine contractions, probably associated with uterine muscle ischaemia and prostaglandins produced by the uterus.
Prostaglandins are known to stimulate uterine contractions, but they cannot do so in the presence of high levels of progesterone (a hormone secreted by ovary). Progesterone levels are high during the last half of the menstrual cycle, and during this time prostaglandins are apparently inhibited by progesterone from producing uterine contractions. However, in the absence of pregnancy progesterone levels drop rapidly and prostaglandin production increases. This causes the uterus to contract and slough off its lining, which may result in dysmenorrhoea.
In addition to pain, other signs and symptoms may include headache, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation and increased urinary frequency. Secondary dysmenorrhoea is painful menstruation that is frequently associated with a pelvic pathology. In some cases it is caused by uterine tumours, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and intrauterine devices.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
This refers to mestruation of excessive duration or excessive amount, diminished menstrual flow, too frequent menstruation, intermenstrual bleeding and post-menstrual bleeding. The causative factors for all such conditions may be the disordered hormonal regulation, emotional imbalance and any tumour in the uterus.
Premenstrual Syndrome
It is a term usually refers to severe physical and emotional distress occurring in the post-evaluatory phase of the menstrual cycle and sometimes overlapping with menstruation. Signs and symptoms usually increase in severity until the onset of menstruation and then dramatically disappear. Among the signs and symptoms are oedema, weight gain, breast swelling and tenderness, abdominal distension, backache, joint pain, constipation, skin eruptions, fatigue and lethargy, greater need for sleep, depression or anxiety, irrtibility, headache, poor coordination and clumsiness, and craving for sweet or salty foods. Although premenstrual syndrome is related to the cyclic production of ovarian hormones, its symptoms are not directly due to the changes in these hormones’ profile, and the basic cause of this state is not known.
Preksha — Yoga management
Shat kriyas – Neti — daily, Kunjal and Laghu Shankh prakshalan — thrice a week
Yogic kriyas – Of abdomen and waist
Asanas – Surya Namaskar, Ushtrasana, Shashankasana, Supta Vajrasana, Vajrasana, Bhujangasana, Shalbhasana, Dhanurasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Paschimottanasana, Matsyasana, Pad hastasana and Tadasana
Pranayama – Nadi shodhan, Ujjayai and Bhramari
Mudra and bandh – Vipareet karni and Ashwini mudra Mool bandh
Kayotsarga – 30 minutes daily
Preksha – Perception of body
Anupreksha – Contemplation for strengthening the reproductive organs
Dietary recommendations
• To consume wholesome vegetarian food
• Excess oil and ghee should not be taken
• Light food on the pattern of “little less then required” should be taken