You've probably heard of leukaemia, but is there a connection between this disease and the menstrual cycle? See the solution in this article.
Leukemia is a broad term that encompasses various cancer types, and these types vary depending on the cells that are affected. What is the connection between leukaemia and the menstrual cycle? Leukemia may affect immune system cells, bone marrow, and tissues that produce blood. Learn about it as follows:
Leukemia and the menstrual cycle
Most women find menstrual irregularities to be concerning, and in order to find out and identify the cause of this change, a specialist should be consulted.
According to a study, abnormal uterine bleeding may be a sign of leukaemia, and the relationship between leukaemia and the menstrual cycle results from the following factors:
- Leukemia causes abnormal growth of white blood cells.
- Abnormal white blood cells grow in the bone marrow and sequester the red blood cell-forming cells.
- This results in a decrease in the formation of platelets , which are responsible for blood clotting.
- Blood clotting decreases, and then women suffer from irregularities in the menstrual cycle, which are as follows:
- Unusual amounts of blood during the menstrual cycle.
- The bleeding continues for a longer period than usual.
- a shift in the menstrual cycle's timing or unusual days when bleeding from the uterus first appears.
Chemotherapy and its effect on the menstrual cycle
After learning about the connection between leukaemia and the menstrual cycle, it is important to discuss the connection between chemotherapy and the cycle's impact.
Leukemia treatment, whether it involves chemotherapy, radiation, or medications, has a number of side effects that have an impact on the patient's physical and mental well-being. The patient may experience the following symptoms during or after treatment:
- Premature ovarian failure.
- Menstrual disturbances.
- Amenorrhea.
- Early menopause . Premature Menopause
Once we are aware of the potential side effects of chemotherapy, the following must be considered:
- These changes caused by chemotherapy can be permanent or temporary.
- Women may not go through menopause but still experience some symptoms like menstrual problems.
- After treatment, amenorrhea is common, but most women start having periods again in two years.
- It is challenging to foresee the onset of early menopause. It could happen right away, later on during treatment, or not at all.
- A woman may be able to become pregnant after chemotherapy, but she must wait 4 to 8 weeks and use the proper contraceptives during this time after consulting with her doctor.
Dealing with menstrual disorders after leukemia treatment
After learning about the connection between leukaemia treatment and the menstrual cycle, we must remind you that there is no specific treatment for these disorders because the menstrual cycle can resume after treatment is over or return to normal. However, there are some symptoms of early menopause that can be treated. Come:
1. Treat hot flashes
The standard treatment for it is hormone replacement therapy, but this may be risky for those recovering from chemotherapy, so the specialist doctor may recommend using non-hormonal treatments that don't completely eliminate hot flashes but lessen their severity, such as:
- Vitamin E.
- Vitamin B6.
2. Treatment of vaginal dryness
Some water-soluble vaginal moisturisers and creams high in oestrogen can be used to treat vaginal dryness, but a doctor should be consulted before doing so because hormonal therapy may not be appropriate for people recovering from cancer.
3. Overweight treatment
Eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising, after consulting your doctor about the best kind of exercise you can do, are the best ways to treat obesity.