Is irregular menstruation during lactation a serious problem?

Women who are breastfeeding often have irregular menstruation. Menstruation is closely related to breastfeeding. Some women will delay their menstruation for a period of time, but some women will not have their menstruation during the entire breastfeeding period, and will have their menstruation after the breastfeeding period is over. Therefore, these phenomena are relatively common and do not require any adjustment and can recover slowly. Now let me teach you some things to pay attention to.

1. Let’s first look at the causes of abnormal postpartum menstruation. Postpartum breastfeeding causes high prolactin, which inhibits the secretion of gonadotropin by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, thereby inhibiting ovarian function. Generally, menstruation can occur around 6 months, but due to individual differences, the timing of the first menstruation after childbirth varies from person to person. Immediately after the resumption of menstruation, menstrual irregularities will occur, which will gradually return to normal. Women's condition does not rule out abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by incomplete uterine involution, reproductive tract infection, cervical erosion, cervical polyps, etc. First, it should be confirmed whether it is amenorrhea or pregnancy, which is possible in women from adolescence to menopause.

2. Reproductive tract infection. Whether acute or chronic, especially tuberculous endometritis, there is often abnormal uterine bleeding. If the functional layer of the endometrium is blocked, the regeneration of the endometrium is hindered, and bleeding may persist, or amenorrhea may alternate with bleeding.

3. Submucous uterine fibroids. There may be intermittent heavy bleeding.

4. Functional ovarian tumors. For example, theca cell tumor or granulosa cell tumor, due to the large secretion of estrogen, stimulates the proliferation of the endometrium and produces endocrine disorder uterine bleeding. If postmenopausal women develop this ovarian tumor, uterine bleeding may occur again.

5. Endometrial cancer. There may be irregular vaginal bleeding, especially long-term irregular bleeding and postmenopausal bleeding, which should be taken seriously.

6. Coagulation disorders. Diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, leukemia, and aplastic anemia may all manifest as uterine bleeding or excessive menstrual flow. A routine blood test, including platelet count and coagulation and bleeding time, is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

7. Diseases of the cardiovascular system. Women with hypertension or heart failure are also prone to uterine bleeding. Liver patients are prone to bleeding. These need to be checked out.