Women have to pay attention to so many things that their body is telling them. Unfortunately, many women suffer from menstrual issues from the very first cycle to the last – others don't have it too bad for the first many years, and then all of a sudden, things change. What was once a normal cycle has transformed into a gut-wrenching, mood-swinging, treacherous time of the month – once a month if you're lucky. When do you need to get in to see your gynecologist?
Yearly Exams
Seriously ladies, don't forget those yearly exams! During this yearly exam, you have the opportunity to talk directly with your doctor to discuss the subtle changes that you've experienced over the last year. You may not have noticed anything extreme from one year to the next, but being able to tell your doctor about what's been going on and having the doctor chart it, could help to detect an issue that is still too early to diagnose but is progressing.
Cramping
Some women have awful cramps with each menstrual cycle; other women don't. If you have severe cramping during your cycle, talk to your doctor. If you didn't suffer from severe cramping in the past, but things are beginning to worsen, talk to your doctor. Anytime something changes to anything other than what's normal for you, contact your doctor – a cycle is a cycle – it should remain the same. If there are changes, there could be problems.
If you experience cramping between your cycles, talk with your doctor. Your menstrual cycle should only be presenting symptoms during the days leading up to and during the flow – cramping between cycles could be a symptom of something more serious or something that isn't serious but can be treated.
Birth Control
Sometimes, starting a new type of birth control can cause your cycles to go all wonky. Your doctor will tell you how long it should take for your cycle to balance out with the hormones in the birth control. If things don't improve while you're on that particular type of birth control, talk with your doctor – chances are, there are other options out there that will do more to relieve the symptoms you are battling.
Anytime you feel uneasy about how your woman parts are functioning, don't wait – contact your gynecologist immediately. There are so many things that could be going on and many of them treatable with early detection – let your doctor help! For more information, check out a website like http://www.centraliowaobgyn.com.
