Fainting during menstruation: provoking factors

Types of fainting and their features

Fainting or syncope is a short-term loss of consciousness associated with oxygen deprivation of the brain. Classified as a mild form of vascular insufficiency. Types of unconsciousness:

• vasovagal (the most famous type, associated with physical or psychological stress, caused, for example, by a hot shower or the sight of blood);
• emotiogenic (provoked by excessive emotions, such as fear or excitement);
• hypoglycemic (with a sharp drop in blood sugar levels);
• cardiogenic (occurs when there is a disturbance in the rhythm or functioning of the heart);
• intoxication (appears when poisoned by a harmful substance);
• anemic (when the natural flow of blood is disrupted).

Drug-induced syncope, a side effect of some medications, also occurs. Fainting before menstruation is more often associated with cardiogenic causes or a sharp decrease in blood pressure.

What is fainting and what are its types?

The medical term for fainting is syncope. This is a manifestation of a sudden loss of consciousness for a short period of time, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain. The brain is limited in oxygen and nutrients.

According to statistics, 50% of the world's population have experienced this disorder at least once.

There are several types of fainting:

• neurogenic;
• hyperventilation;
• somatogenic;
• extreme.

These types of fainting include some subtypes.

For example: neurogenic happens:

• vasodepressor – manifests itself during emotional and stressful changes, occurs in people who are frightened at the sight of blood;
• orthostatic - expressed with a sudden change in body posture, as well as due to taking certain medications; this group of fainting includes wearing tight things with a tight neck, and orthostatic fainting occurs in people with urinary incontinence during sleep, coughing and when passing feces;

With a sudden change in position, dizziness and even fainting may occur

• disaptive – activated when it is difficult to adapt to the climatic environment (very hot or, conversely, cold microclimate);
• hyperventilation - appears with severe fear or panic;

Somatogenic – has an interdependence with dysfunction of internal organs. Somatogenic is also divided into cardiogenic, anemic and hypoglycemic.

• cardiogenic – expressed in cardiac pathologies;
• anemic – expressed with reduced hemoglobin and a reduction in red blood cells;
• hypoglycemic – with insufficient glucose levels.

Extreme syncope can be: hypoxic, hypovolemic, intoxicating, drug-induced and hyperbaric:

• hypoxic – occurs due to oxygen starvation;
• hypovolemic – expressed due to severe blood loss, heavy menstrual flow, extensive burns;
• intoxication – develops with various types of poisoning;
• medicinal – when using drugs that help lower blood pressure;
• hyperbaric - manifests itself as a result of increased atmospheric pressure.

Poisoning can lead to fainting.
Each of all types of fainting has its own characteristics and the mechanism of development of painful manifestations.

How to identify presyncope

Signs of imminent syncope:

• sudden dizziness;
• darkening or “silver veil” in the eyes;
• manifestation of nausea;
• numbness, tingling sensation in the arms and legs;
• weakness in the legs;
• feeling of “coldness” inside;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• pale facial skin.

It is important to notice the approach of fainting in time to have time to sit or lie down. This will help protect you from falling and hitting your head.

Causes of fainting in women

Teenagers and adult women may experience fainting during their period. Reasons characteristic of such syncope:

• decreased blood volume;
• blood pressure decreases sharply;
• increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood (due to stuffiness in the room);
• decreased hemoglobin level.

The attack can cause severe pain during menstruation to the point of fainting. Infrequently, the cause is sudden fear. Fainting during menstruation from abdominal pain often occurs with severe PMS.

Preventing syncope attacks

After a crisis, the victim needs complete rest for several hours. If there was a fall during fainting that led to injury, then the patient should be taken to the hospital for medical care and diagnosis.

To prevent syncope during menstrual bleeding, a woman should:

1. Eat nutritiously and properly.
2. Use multivitamin complexes that compensate for the lack of microelements and vitamins.
3. Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
4. Avoid overwork and stress.
5. During menstruation, try not to drink “fun” cocktails and give up tobacco products.

Crises during menstrual periods can occur against the background of severe pain that appears as a result of spasm of the muscle tissue of the uterus. Sometimes fainting is caused by various processes (dehydration, blood loss) or pathologies (diabetes, anemia).

During an attack, a woman needs first aid; in some cases, a consultation with a doctor is required to determine the cause of syncope. If the provoking factor is illness, competent treatment will be required to prevent fainting.

Adequate and proper nutrition is the key to reducing attacks of syncope

Specifics of the pathology

Fainting during menstruation is the body not having time to adapt to the loss of blood. The answer to the question “why do people faint during menstruation” is usually connected with this. This problem often occurs at the very beginning. Because of this, complaints appear: “I faint on the first day of my period.”

Indirect reasons:

• constant stress;
• strenuous physical activity.

Such syncope occurs only during menstruation and does not bother at other times.

general information

If fainting occurs only once, there is no need to panic. This phenomenon is not considered a pathology, but there is a risk that in the future “critical days” will also be accompanied by fainting. Pain or anemia can trigger loss of consciousness. If possible, the “dangerous time” is best spent at home. When fainting recurs periodically, it is recommended to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Main provoking factors

There are the following reasons for the development of fainting during “critical days”:

• sharply decreased blood pressure;
• severe pain syndrome;
• decrease in hemoglobin;
• severe stress.

In some cases, we may be talking about a pathological process. Sometimes this happens to young girls who are in puberty.

The main cause of fainting is often a decrease in blood pressure. This happens if a woman’s body cannot adapt to blood loss in a timely manner, or under certain pathological conditions. The heart is not able to cope with the increased load with reduced pressure. In this case, timely release of blood from the heart muscle is impossible.

Against the background of insufficient blood supply, the body's cells experience oxygen hunger, which is not always satisfied. Because of this, the woman feels weak and complains of malaise. Physical activity can be a trigger for fainting. It increases the cells’ need for nutrients, without which the brain can “turn off.”

Additional factors

There are other causes of the pathological condition during the period of “critical days”:

• decrease in circulating blood volume;
• lowering sugar levels;
• increase in carbon dioxide levels.

A decrease in the volume of blood circulating through the vessels during menstruation is associated with diarrhea, frequent evacuation of urine and severe sweating.

Sometimes fainting is provoked by severe fear. This often happens to teenagers and young women. Some fainting occurs due to a pathological fear of blood.

In rare cases, fainting may be caused by urination, swallowing and coughing. Tension acts as a provoking factor here. It is accompanied by a decrease in the volume of blood that returns to the heart. If this symptom occurs when swallowing food, we may be talking about a pathological process occurring in the esophagus.

Do I need to see a doctor if I experience regular fainting?

If such a symptom occurs for the first time, you must consult a doctor. You need the advice of a gynecologist, and, if necessary, other specialists. Diagnostic methods:

• collecting anamnesis (data about menstruation, its regularity, duration and frequency of fainting);
• examination (pressure measurement, auscultation and percussion of the heart and lungs);
• comprehensive examination (general analysis and blood glucose, ECG).

If it is necessary to exclude the risk of disease, additional studies are prescribed.

Drugs

Drug treatment used:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen) – for painful periods;
• antispasmodics (“No-shpa”);
• vitamin E;
• sedatives (herbal medicines or tranquilizers).

For complex pathologies, combined estrogen-gestagen agents are used.

Danger signs and risks of complications

If the complaint “I faint during menstruation” is repeated frequently, this is a reason to visit a gynecologist. Regular syncope may be a sign of:

• inflammatory process in the pelvic organs;
• arterial hypotension;
• decreased or increased blood sugar;
• heart problems.

Medical attention is needed urgently if cramps of the calf muscles or the whole body appear simultaneously.

How long can you wear one tampon?

In general, the tampon needs to be changed when it is full. As a rule, this is 3-4 hours. On days when your periods are no longer as heavy, you can change your tampon less often. But it is better not to leave it longer than 8 hours.

And you should always remember to keep your body clean, otherwise there is a risk of toxic shock from using tampons. It is caused by bacteria that usually live on the skin. If they enter the vagina, they multiply rapidly, releasing toxins. A woman suddenly begins to feel unwell - as if she had an acute respiratory viral infection, and there are even cases of death.