Patient's question:
Irregular menstruation, especially with very little menstrual flowDoctor's answer:
Irregular menstruation can be caused by various factors, and the treatment methods differ depending on the cause. Therefore, the choice of medication for irregular menstruation should be determined based on the specific condition. Irregular menstruation refers to a group of diseases related to menstruation, characterized by changes in the menstrual cycle, volume, color, quality, or the occurrence of certain symptoms before or after the menstrual period.(1) For cases of early menstruation, excessive volume, pale color, and thin, watery quality, it is often due to qi deficiency. In treating such menstrual disorders, Chinese patent medicines with the functions of invigorating qi, nourishing blood, and consolidating should be chosen.
(2) For delayed menstruation, dark red color, small volume, severe lower abdominal pain, and aversion to cold with cold limbs, it is often due to cold. Warm-natured Chinese medicines can be used in such cases.
(3) For irregular menstruation without a regular cycle, accompanied by difficulty during menstruation, breast tenderness, fullness in the flanks, and hard lower abdominal pain, or for menstruation that is either early or delayed, small volume, pale color, thin quality, dizziness, tinnitus, and lower back pain, it is often due to kidney deficiency. Chinese medicines for tonifying the kidneys can be used.