Childbirth is a physiological process. In the same physiological process is postpartum recovery of the menstrual cycle, and along with it - fertility of women. But sometimes this process becomes pathological, and, for example, when joining the infection.

Reproductive organs of women after childbirth

After birth, the menstrual cycle is restored slowly because the inner surface of the uterus is a continuous wound and requires restoration. Besides the uterus stretched - the recovery is both in the muscle membrane. Postpartum recovery period lasts 6 - 8 weeks. It is that time is required to take place after normal childbirth recovered mucosa, and have cut off - lochia. Lochia immediately after birth are bloody, and then their number decreases and they become lighter and a half months after delivery disappear altogether.

Also being phased out and the muscles of the uterus, first completely reduced the uterus, then closed the outer mouth (opening) of the cervical canal and the time of recovery of the mucous membrane and the muscle is restored.

Once this process is over, women who do not breastfeed, begin menstruation. Women who combine breastfeeding with supplementary feeding the baby infant formula, begin menstruation later. If a woman feeds her baby only breast, then menstruation is restored within six months after birth, when the child entered the first solid foods The first solid foods The lure: a spoon first adult food : Ready or buy? . This is due to the fact that breastfeeding in the pituitary gland begins to produce the hormone prolactin, which stimulates the secretion of breast milk. The more milk is required, the more prolactin is released, and as soon introduce solid foods the amount of milk it takes a child decreases and with it reduced the amount of prolactin secreted by the pituitary. Prolactin inhibits the secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH stands, but not enough for the full maturation of the egg.

Violations of the menstrual cycle after birth can also occur with increased allocation of pituitary prolactin, which is not diminishing and after weaning. This can occur at various endocrine disorders, such as tumors of the pituitary or decrease thyroid function.

Features of the first menstrual cycle after birth

A feature of the first menstrual cycle after birth (it can be only one, the first menstrual cycle or more in a row) is that they tend to be single-phase or anovulatory .  When anovulatory cycles egg matures in the ovary under the influence of FSH and female sex hormones estrogen .  But as FSH underfunded, the egg is not fully mature and can not break the follicle and out of the ovary, so ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary) does not occur .  The egg was never released from the ovary and begins to gradually atrophy (decrease in volume) .  Since the hormonal support of the state of the mucous membrane of the uterus is reduced, it zapustevayut small blood vessels, and it is rejected, accompanied by bleeding menstrualnopodobnoe .  Despite the fact that anovulatory cycles are incomplete and accompanied ovulation may be cyclic .  After a few menstrual cycles normally restored their normal two-phase, and together with it and ovulation .  It says that a woman can have a baby .

Pathological conditions after birth

But in some cases, recovery of the menstrual cycle is delayed indefinitely. Most often this occurs after pathological delivery. For example, if labor was bleeding heavily and the body needs more time to recover. Or childbirth, are heavily traumatized wall of the uterus and cervix. In some cases, massive bleeding during childbirth necrosis (dying) cells of the pituitary gland. In this case (according to the amount of necrosis) can develop complete amenorrhea Amenorrhea - if you do not come monthly   (no menstrual period) or oligomenorrhea (rare brief period).

But more often the cause of prolonged menstrual disorders after childbirth is an infection. In heavy labor involving elevated traumatic, as well as when a woman has some inflammation in the area of ​​female genital mutilation, during the recovery period often begin infectious and inflammatory diseases. For example, such as endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the uterus), adnexitis (inflammation of the uterus), festering tissue surrounding the uterus. All this leads to the persistent violations of the menstrual cycle.

If within six months after the birth menstrual cycle has not recovered, and the woman is not breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor.

Galina Romanenko

Related Articles

The menstrual cycle - that occurs in different phases?

Menstruation - traditional medicine can help

The impact of antibiotics on the month - is there a connection?

Menstrual cycle: safe days