Patient's question:
How should a 14-year-old girl deal with her menstrual cycle of only about 20 days?Doctor's answer:
Confirmed as menstrual disorders caused by neuroendocrine dysfunction should adopt different treatment plans based on the severity of the condition and the patient's specific circumstances. The main issues menstrual disorders bring to patients are as follows, and treatment should focus on addressing these problems:(1) Bleeding and anemia: Due to prolonged periods and heavy menstrual flow, in addition to general hemostatic measures, hormones or D&C (dilation and curettage) can be considered as appropriate.
(2) Irregular cycles: Estrogen-progestogen monotherapy or combination therapy can be used, or traditional Chinese medicine treatment may be an option.
(3) Infertility: Dysfunction in one or more links of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis can lead to anovulation, which is one of the pathophysiological foundations of menstrual disorders and a contributing factor or cause of infertility. This is often an urgent issue for patients to address. Some patients may ovulate but still experience infertility due to luteal phase deficiency. Depending on the patient's condition, different ovulation-inducing drugs can be selected to improve ovarian function or replace partial functions of the pituitary and hypothalamus.