Retrograde menstruation is when blood flows backward into the pelvis instead of out of the vagina duringmenstruation.
This is common and actually occurs to some degree in most women who have their period.
However, not all research supports this.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
This article reviews the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis, and discusses why treatment is not necessary.
Retrograde Menstruation Symptoms
People with retrograde menstruation often do not have any symptoms.
The primary symptom associated with retrograde menstruation is pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea).
Most research about retrograde menstruation looks at it in the context of endometriosis.
There is very little research on the causes of retrograde menstruation themselves.
Diagnosis
Retrograde menstruation is not usually diagnosed as a condition on its own.
It may be diagnosed in the context of endometriosis or pelvic pain evaluation.
Unfortunately, many women with endometriosis spend years in pain before they receive a diagnosis.
Discomfort during menstruation is common.
However menstrual pain should not be disabling or affect a womans ability to live her life.
Healthcare providers should consider a variety of causes, not just assume pain is due to primary dysmenorrhea.
As such, it is not treated unless it is causing other problems.
When it is treated, prescription hormones or a hormonal IUD may be recommended to reduceor eliminatemenstrual flow.
Summary
Retrograde menstruation may sound scary, but remember that it isnt all that uncommon.
In general, retrograde menstruation is not something it’s crucial that you worry about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you still bleed from the vagina.
It is typically absorbed by your body.
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