1/4. Oral contraceptives: therapeutic uses and quality-of-life benefits--case presentations.Numerous studies have shown that oral contraceptives (OC) provide protection against a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, including loss of bone density, ovarian cysts, menstrual cycle irregularities, dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, benign breast disease, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. How OC can be used not only for contraception but also to improve health among women throughout their reproductive years is illustrated by four case presentations: an adolescent with menstrual problems; a 25-year-old mulligravida who wishes to delay childbearing; a 35-year-old who has completed her family and requests tubal ligation; and a 45-year-old with perimenopausal symptoms. In view of their numerous health benefits, OC are to reproductive-age women as hormone replacement therapy is to menopausal women.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = menstrual cycle, cycle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Traditional Chinese medicine: a case of dysmenorrhoea.acupuncture treatment continued for three cycles, undertaken one week prior to menses whereas herbal therapy was maintained for six months. Within this six month time frame Jenny's overall health status had changed dramatically for the better. She was pain free and consequently her life-style had improved to the point where she felt confident to travel overseas for a holiday. To date, Jenny and her mother have kept in touch with clinic staff and no further treatment has been necessary.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0041125988543194keywords = cycle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Membranous dysmenorrhea: the forgotten entity.BACKGROUND: Membranous dysmenorrhea involves the spontaneous slough of the endometrium in one cylindrical or membranous piece that retains the shape of the uterine cavity. Because this entity is rarely mentioned in the medical literature, the purpose of this report is to describe two such cases. CASES: An 18-year-old nullipara with regular menstrual cycles presented with membranous dysmenorrhea after taking the contraceptive Gynera (Gestodene 0.075 mg, ethinyl estradiol 0.030 mg). Symptoms disappeared when the medication was discontinued. The second patient, a 26-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 1, was on a 10-day monthly regimen of Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) 2.5 mg/day for dysfunctional uterine bleeding. When the Provera dose was increased to 10 mg/day, the symptoms disappeared. CONCLUSION: Membranous dysmenorrhea is "a disease of theories" with various recommended medications. When this condition is caused by iatrogenic treatment, the best approach is to discontinue the offending drug or change its dosage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = menstrual cycle, cycle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Self-mutilation, anorexia, and dysmenorrhea in obsessive compulsive disorder.This report described 19 female patients (M = 23.5) diagnosed as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD; DSM-III-R) who exhibited additional symptoms of self-mutilation, dysmenorrhea, and dysorexia. A biphasic pattern related to menstruation during the course of OCD emerged: Phase 1, amenorrheic--characterized by anorexia nervosa, amenorrhea, and aggressive behavior, and Phase 2, postamenorrheic--characterized by self-mutilation following the return of the menstrual cycle, dysorexia, and aggressive behavior. All mutilative acts were reported by the patients to be painless and consisted of slashes. Seventy percent of the patients were sexually abused during childhood. All patients underwent an open trial of clomipramine (M = 200 mg/day) for 6 months, and intensive behavior therapy for 8 weeks. Based on clinical observations and self-reports, there was a decrease in self-harm and OCD symptoms. The emergence of OCD, self-mutilation, dysorexia, and dysmenorrhea in a sequential manner may suggest a specific clinical syndrome or the presence of an OCD subset. A biological working hypothesis of a hypothalamic dysfunction with serotonergic participation was suggested.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = menstrual cycle, cycle (Clic here for more details about this article) |