Menstruation is a natural process that occurs in the life of every woman. However, there are various factors that can influence the regularity and flow of menstrual cycles.
One intriguing question that has arisen is whether Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium, can play a role in disrupting menstruation.
Shortly, you will see the relationship between Staphylococcus aureus and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).
What is Staphylococcus aureus?
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of staphylococcal infection.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria often cause skin and soft tissue infections like abscesses, folliculitis (infected hair roots causing a slightly painful, tiny pimple at the hair base), impetigo, cellulitis, and scalded skin syndrome (leads to large-scale peeling of the skin).
In breastfeeding women, Staphylococcus aureus can also cause mastitis, which is characterized by swelling and the accumulation of pus in the breast.
Other infections and diseases associated with Staphylococcus aureus
- Osteomyelitis
- Pneumonia
- Food poisoning,
- Bone infection
- Heart valve infections
- Urinary tract infections.
People at a higher risk of developing an S. aureus infection include those who are overweight, patients with medical devices inserted in their bodies, and people who are immunocompromised.
Chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and lung diseases can also increase a person’s risk of developing a Staph infection says Centers for Disease Control.
Staphylococcus aureus can be transmitted or spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, abrasions, medical devices, and pets (can serve as carriers).
Related articles
- Can Staphylococcus Lead to Infertility
- Can Staphylococcus cause miscarriage?
- Can staphylococcus aureus cause urinary tract infections?
- Can a man with staphylococcus aureus pregnant a woman?
- 35 Diseases Caused by Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus And Menstruation
There have been studies to show the relationship between Staphylococcus aureus and menstrual problems, particularly amenorrhea.
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the commensal microorganisms naturally found in the female lower genital tract. However, this microbe becomes problematic when it becomes overgrown.
Inflammation caused by Staphylococcus aureus can cause a major negative impact on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland (parts of women’s reproductive system directly responsible for menstruation). Hormones produced by the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and the ovary are regulators of the menstrual cycle.
These bacterial endotoxins can cause the release of immunological mediators in the hypothalamus, which can have a negative impact on the synthesis of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH) in the hypothalamus.
A number of other factors can be linked to the absence of menstruation, also known as amenorrhea, and the most frequent causes of amenorrhea include ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, pituitary causes, hypothalamic causes, and hyperprolactinemia.
Do you want more details on Amenorrhea?
Check this video. it explains the two types of amenorrhea and their possible causes.
Does Staphylococcus Stop Menstruation?
Staphylococcus aureus is not usually defined as a sexually transmitted microbe. However, Staphylococcus aureus can stop menstruation.
- From the analysis made in this article, we can see that Staphylococcus aureus is closely linked to the hormones responsible for regulating menstruation.
- Staphylococcus aureus has been proven to be responsible for the generation of large quantities of cytokines in the female reproductive system which affects ovarian physiology.
- Recent studies suggest that the inflammatory stress caused by Staphylococcus aureus on its host can affect the ovarian reserve and cyclicity in women. This may result in amenorrhea related to ovary insufficiency.
- Another cause of amenorrhea is chronic disease and infection. Infections linked to amenorrhea (stopped menstruation) include chlamydia, gonorrhea, aerobic vaginitis, and bacterial vaginosis and Staph has a relationship to other amenorrhea-causing infections like aerobic vaginitis, and Chlamydia.
- Staphylococcus aureus can colonize the female reproductive system (especially the female lower reproductive tract) and affect its functions and structure.
- Staphylococcus aureus has been associated with bacteria vaginosis; it is one of the most prevalent vaginal pathogens present in women with bacteria vaginosis.
- Also, Staphylococcus aureus has been linked to the development of endometriosis which is a significant condition responsible for irregular periods in women.
- It has also been shown to be a prevalent microbe in the pathology of STIs known to be responsible for amenorrhea.
Can Staphylococcus aureus cause irregular menstruation?
Because Staphylococcus aureus can affect menstruation, it is safe to say, staphylococcus can delay period as well. it is associated with the onset of endometriosis, a serious disorder that causes women to experience irregular periods.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which the endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, grows outside of the uterus. This can result in pain, irregular menstrual periods, infertility, and other symptoms.
Endometriosis is believed to be caused by a combination of genetics, hormone levels, and environmental factors. Endometriosis is often linked to pelvic inflammation, which can lead to scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes, resulting in infertility.
Endometriosis can also cause other symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain. Endometriosis can be treated with medications, surgery, or both. It’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment options and how to manage your symptoms.
Staphylococcus aureus and Women’s Reproductive Health
Conditions like endometritis, miscarriage, premature labor, and infertility have been linked to alterations in vaginal microbiology.
This could be further traced to a type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA).
A study carried out on 57 pregnant women with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) showed that skin and soft tissue infection was responsible for 96% of recurrent infections which occurred in 58% of the women.
Vaginal overgrowth of Staphylococcus has been linked to STIs like Chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, and aerobic vaginitis.
It has also been associated with more serious conditions like endometriosis. These conditions negatively affect a woman’s fertility.
Even during pregnancy, vaginal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus sometimes results in neonatal sepsis, which eventually leads to the death of the fetus.
Neonatal sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus also accounts for very low birth weight in infants.
Also, women with Staphylococcus aureus can experience preterm delivery when the microorganism infects the amniotic fluid of the baby.
Staphylococcus aureus And Female Fertility
There is a high rate of presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the HVS (high vaginal swab) cultures of patients dealing with infertility. This may be due to the close association of Staphylococcus aureus with infections known to cause infertility.
Staphylococcus aureus is also responsible for an acute, life-threatening illness that is sometimes associated with tampons (tampons-related toxic shock syndrome).
Toxic shock syndrome is characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure resulting from the release of toxins by the overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus in the vagina. This can lead to death.
Note that tampon is not the only material associated with toxic shock syndrome, although Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for this condition.
Other Factors That Can Stop Menstruation
- Defects in the anatomy of the female genital tract. Such defects include vaginal agenesis, transverse vaginal septum, impersonate hymen, and cervical agenesis.
- Hormonal imbalance
- Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]
- Pituitary tumors
- Endocrine diseases
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Ovarian tumors (caused mainly by ovarian cancer)
- Early menopause
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Intense physical activity
- Chronic diseases Infections
Treatment
There are different strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The particular strain that is most times responsible for STIs and female genital colonization is the MRSA strain. Treatment methods include antibiotic therapy with erythromycin and Vancomycin.
Combination therapy can also be used to treat Staphylococcus aureus. Combination therapy is important because it allows healthcare providers to customize a treatment plan to suit the individual needs of the patient.
By combining different therapies, healthcare providers can tailor a treatment plan to target different aspects of a patient’s condition. Warning, don’t prescribe drugs for yourself.
What Next?
You should see a doctor if you’ve missed your period three times in a row. You can also check to see if there’s a history of menstrual problems in your family while preparing for your doctor’s appointment.
Take note of important dates like the start and finish dates of your last period and the duration of your last period.