The female reproductive system in humans features a menstrual cycle where the woman goes through a period of fertility during every month. The cycle is typically 28 days long although it may vary from time to time. During the cycle, the lining of the uterus becomes thick in anticipation of a fertilized egg implanting itself. This egg is released from the ovaries and will be fertilized if there are sperm present in the woman’s body as a result of sexual intercourse. When this does not happen, the woman will undergo her next menstruation followed by the repetition of this cycle once again.
The definition of oligomenorrhea states that it is a condition where the woman experiences infrequent and irregular menstrual periods. Normally, each woman falls into a pattern of menstruation where the duration between cycles is fairly accurately fixed. A simple definition of oligomenorrhea could be made using the word scanty or infrequent as the woman will go through days, possibly weeks, before she menstruates normally again. The symptoms of oligomenorrhea include this abnormal gap between menstrual cycles. Other symptoms include heavy bleeding during menstruation, pain and discomfort, a feeling of heaviness in between menstrual cycles and infertility which results from the woman having an unpredictable menstrual cycle.
There are basically two main causes for oligomenorrhea. Amongst the most common causes of oligomenorrhea is the problem of hormonal imbalance. The hormones that control the female reproductive system like estrogen and progesterone may not be present in the right quantities in the body. While this may be linked to a number of other medical conditions, it is this abnormality that is blamed for oligomenorrhea. A woman who experiences symptoms of oligomenorrhea can seek various options for treating this condition. The second set of causes of oligomenorrhea is related to oral contraceptives. These are also based on hormonal changes that occur in the body. When the body is suffering from abnormal hormonal levels it will not be able to control the normal functioning of the menstrual cycle.
Treatment
As most cases of oligomenorrhea are related to hormonal issues, the treatment for oligomenorrhea will also be associated with the hormones in the woman’s body. The treatment for oligomenorrhea involves the consumption of oral medications that will help to balance out the woman’s hormone levels. Once these levels are balanced out, there is no reason why her menstrual cycle should not correct itself over a period of a couple of months. Some doctors may actually prescribe birth control pills to be used as treatment for oligomenorrhea. These pills contain synthetic hormones that help to control the functioning of the woman’s reproductive system. Once this control is achieved, it will become possible to ensure that the menstrual cycle returns to normal once the course of birth control pills has been completed.
Normally, this treatment for oligomenorrhea can be used to cure oligomenorrhea completely. Once the woman’s cycle returns to normal, her body should manage itself and return to a normal menstrual cycle. Factors such as excess weight, excessively low weight, poor health and lack of exercise can compound the problem. However, if these are taken care of, then the woman will be able to successfully cure oligomenorrhea without much medical intervention. In some rare cases, the cure for oligomenorrhea may involve surgery or therapy to deal with some gland that is malfunctioning, thus throwing off the balance of hormones in the woman’s body. The relationship between oligomenorrhea and pregnancy is such that the woman will have a reduced chance of getting pregnant. This is not necessarily because she does not have the suitable conditions present in her body. However, the abnormal duration of the menstrual cycle will make it more difficult to plan conception.