Irregular periods, also known as abnormal menstruation, are a common problem for many women. Irregular periods can affect your physical and emotional health, as well as your fertility and pregnancy chances.
In this article, we will explain what causes irregular periods, how to recognize the symptoms, and what treatment options are available.
What are irregular periods?
Irregular periods are when your menstrual cycle varies significantly from month to month, or when you miss your periods for more than three months in a row.
A normal menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days, with bleeding lasting between two and seven days. However, some women may experience cycles that are shorter or longer, heavier or lighter, or more or less frequent than usual.
This is considered irregular and may indicate an underlying health issue.
What causes irregular periods?
There are many possible causes of irregular periods, ranging from hormonal imbalances to lifestyle factors.
Some of the most common causes are:
¡》Stress:
Stress can affect your hormones and disrupt your ovulation, leading to irregular or missed periods. Stress can also cause other symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
¡¡》Weight changes:
Being overweight or underweight can also affect your hormones and ovulation. Losing or gaining a lot of weight in a short period of time can cause your periods to become irregular or stop altogether.
Weight changes can also affect your fertility and increase your risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
¡¡¡》Exercise:
Exercise is good for your health, but too much or too little can also interfere with your periods. Excessive exercise can cause your body to produce less oestrogen, which is essential for ovulation and menstruation.
On the other hand, lack of exercise can cause your body to store more fat, which can increase your oestrogen levels and cause irregular bleeding.
¡V》Diet:
What you eat can also affect your periods. A balanced diet that provides enough calories, protein, iron, calcium, and other nutrients is important for your reproductive health.
However, a diet that is too restrictive, high in sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or processed foods can cause hormonal imbalances and irregular periods.
V》Medications:
Some medications can also affect your periods, such as birth control pills, injections, implants, patches, or rings. These methods work by altering your hormones to prevent pregnancy, but they can also cause irregular bleeding, spotting, or amenorrhea (absence of periods). Other medications that can affect your periods include antidepressants, steroids, blood thinners, and chemotherapy.
¡V》Medical conditions:
Some medical conditions can also cause irregular periods, such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sexually transmitted infections.
These conditions can affect your hormones, ovulation, or the lining of your uterus, causing abnormal bleeding, pain, or infertility.
What are the symptoms of irregular periods?
The symptoms of irregular periods may vary depending on the cause and severity of the problem. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Bleeding more or less than usual: You may notice that your periods are heavier or lighter than normal, or that they last longer or shorter than usual. You may also experience spotting or bleeding between periods, or after sex or physical activity.
- Having periods more or less often than usual: You may notice that your periods are more or less frequent than normal, or that they are unpredictable and irregular. You may also have cycles that are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, or that vary by more than seven days from month to month.
- Missing periods: You may miss one or more periods in a row, or have no periods for more than three months. This is called amenorrhea and can be caused by pregnancy, menopause, or other factors.
- Having other symptoms: You may also experience other symptoms along with irregular periods, such as cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings, acne, hair loss, hair growth, weight changes, fatigue, or headaches.
How are irregular periods diagnosed?
If you have irregular periods, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, your menstrual cycle, your lifestyle, and your symptoms.
Your doctor may also perform a physical exam, a pelvic exam, a pap smear, and some blood tests to check your hormone levels, thyroid function, blood sugar, and pregnancy status.
Your doctor may also order some imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, a CT scan, or an MRI, to check for any abnormalities in your uterus, ovaries, or other pelvic organs.
How are irregular periods treated?
The treatment of irregular periods depends on the cause and the severity of the problem. Some of the possible treatment options are:
¡》Hormonal therapy:
Hormonal therapy can help regulate your periods by restoring the balance of oestrogen and progesterone in your body. Hormonal therapy can be in the form of birth control pills, injections, implants, patches, or rings.
Hormonal therapy can also help with other symptoms such as cramps, acne, hair growth, or mood swings. However, hormonal therapy may have some side effects, such as weight gain, nausea, breast tenderness, or spotting. Hormonal therapy may also affect your fertility and increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or breast cancer.
¡¡》Non-hormonal medication:
Non-hormonal medication can help reduce the bleeding or pain associated with irregular periods. Non-hormonal medication can be in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or tranexamic acid, which helps the blood clot.
Non-hormonal medication may have some side effects, such as stomach upset, ulcers, or bleeding problems. Non-hormonal medication may also interact with other drugs or supplements, so you should consult your doctor before taking them.
¡¡¡》Surgery:
Surgery may be an option for some cases of irregular periods, such as when there is a structural problem in the uterus, ovaries, or other pelvic organs.
Surgery can be in the form of hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or hysterectomy.
- Hysteroscopy is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and a light to examine and treat the inside of the uterus.
- Laparoscopy is a procedure that uses small incisions and a camera to examine and treat the outside of the uterus, ovaries, or other pelvic organs.
- Hysterectomy is a procedure that removes the uterus and sometimes the ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
Surgery can help with the bleeding or pain caused by irregular periods, but it may also have some risks, such as infection, bleeding, scarring, or damage to nearby organs.
Surgery may also affect your fertility and hormone levels, so you should discuss the pros and cons with your doctor before deciding on it.
How can you prevent or manage irregular periods?
Irregular periods can be prevented or managed by making some lifestyle changes, such as:
¡》Reducing stress:
Stress can affect your hormones and ovulation, so you should try to reduce the sources of stress in your life. You can also practice some relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or massage, to cope with stress better.
¡¡》Maintaining a healthy weight:
Being overweight or underweight can affect your hormones and ovulation, so you should try to maintain a healthy weight that is appropriate for your height and age.
You can do this by eating a balanced diet that provides enough calories, protein, iron, calcium, and other nutrients, and by avoiding foods that are high in sugar, caffeine, alcohol, or processed foods.
You can also exercise regularly, but not excessively, to burn calories, improve your blood circulation, and boost your mood.
¡¡¡》Keeping a menstrual calendar:
Keeping a menstrual calendar can help you track your periods and identify any patterns or irregularities. You can use a paper calendar, an app, or a website to record the start and end dates of your periods, the amount and colors of the bleeding, the presence of any clots or tissue, the severity of any pain or cramps, and any other symptoms or changes that you notice.
You can also mark the days when you have sex, use contraception, or take any medication or supplements. This information can help you and your doctor diagnose and treat any problems with your periods.
¡V》Seeing your doctor regularly:
Seeing your doctor regularly can help you monitor your reproductive health and prevent any complications from irregular periods. You should see your doctor at least once a year for a general check-up, a pelvic exam, and a pap smear.
You should also see your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about your periods, or if you experience any of the following signs:
- You miss your periods for more than three months in a row and you are not pregnant or menopausal
- You bleed more than seven days or more than 80 ml per period
- You bleed between periods or after sex or physical activity
- You have severe pain or cramps that interfere with your daily activities
- You have other symptoms that affect your quality of life, such as mood swings, acne, hair loss, hair growth, weight changes, fatigue, or headaches
The Bottom Line
Irregular periods are a common problem for many women, but they can be treated and managed with the help of your doctor and some lifestyle changes.
Irregular periods can affect your physical and emotional health, as well as your fertility and pregnancy chances, so you should not ignore them or suffer in silence. You deserve to have regular and healthy periods that do not interfere with your happiness and well-being.
RELATED ARTICLES
- How to Relieve Menstrual Cramps Naturally and Effectively
- Women’s Health: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Stay Healthy and Happy During Pregnancy: Tips for Expectant Mothers
- 10 Superfoods for a Healthy Pregnancy: What to Eat and Why
