A woman's menstrual cycle affects many systems in her body. For this reason, disorders of menstruation can have far-reaching effects. If you think behaviors may be related to menstrual cycle, it helps to track them by writing them down on a calendar over a two-month time span.

Because of developmental problems, age, or acquired physical problems, some individuals are not able to communicate that they are having discomfort or pain. That's an opportunity for family members and care givers to listen to what behaviors may be telling them about medical conditions.

Behaviors that appear shortly before, during, or shortly after menstruation may communicate about menstrual disorders:

• Watch for behaviors that:
  • Start within two weeks of menstruation, and improve once it has begun
  • Change in the middle of the menstrual cycle
  • Improve after menopause
• Sleep problems, fatigue
• Irritability, anxiety, depression, rapid changes in emotions
• Change in bowel habits: constipation, diarrhea, more frequent urination
• Improvement if person takes ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve)

Other factors that may indicate the presence of a menstrual disorder:

• Family history of menstrual disorders, endometriosis
• Heavy bleeding, blood clots, pain during periods
• Spotting or light bleeding between periods
• Nausea or vomiting
• Menstrual periods that:
  • Come too often (more than once a month)
  • Last too long (more than 8-10 days)
  • Don't come often enough (no period for more than 3 months)

Do you think someone's behavior may be telling you about a menstrual disorder? Talk with your doctor or other health care provider. They can work with you to learn whether this is the case.

A Checklist of What Behaviors Tell Us

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