Menstruation is actually a natural phenomenon that women experience every 21 to 35 days. It lasts for two to seven days. A regular menstrual cycle is a predictable pattern of menstruation occurring approximately every 28 days. It includes shedding of the uterine lining in response to the hormonal fluctuations preparing for a potential pregnancy. If your menstrual cycle is not regular then you can say you are going through irregular periods & there are many causes of it.
What is an Irregular Menstrual Periods?
In contrast irregular periods are different from the standard pattern. It includes cycles which are shorter than 24 days and longer than 38 days. It can also exhibit a major variability in length from month to month.
If you are going through these irregularities, Then it might be a cause of concern as it might indicate underlying health conditions or disrupt your reproductive health. Understanding the causes, effects and solutions of irregular menstrual cycles is very important for promoting your overall well-being and optimizing your reproductive health.
Some Common Cause of Irregular Periods
After understanding irregular menstrual periods, now let us talk about the cause of irregular periods. Here below they are:
Hormonal fluctuations
Hormonal fluctuations are one of the most common causes of irregular menstrual periods. It is actually fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. The hormonal fluctuations can disrupt the regularity of your menstrual cycles. Factors like change in diet stress or exercise habits and certain medications can influence your hormonal balance.
Puberty
During puberty you might go through a lot of hormonal changes. It is because your body matures during that time. It might take several years for your hormonal levels to stabilize and because of that you would have to deal with irregular menstruation. If your menstrual cycle is not regular for a very long time after puberty it’s time for you to get serious and connect with your doctor.
Perimenopause and menopause
Pre menopause is actually a transitional phase leading to menopause. When you are going through menopause you might face a lot of irregular menstrual cycles due to fluctuating hormonal levels. As menopause approaches your estrogen and progesterone production starts declining. It means your menstrual cycle stops. So menopause is actually one of the major causes of irregular periods.
Birth control methods
There are several hormonal birth control like oral contraceptive pills and hormonal patches injections. These can impact your menstrual regularity. You might even experience irregular bleeding or absence of menstruation when you rely on birth control methods. So birth control methods can be a cause of abnormal menstruation.
Other hormonal conditions
- Polycystic ovary syndrome is a major reason for abnormal periods. It is actually a hormonal disorder characterized by cysts on your ovaries, insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances. So besides being a missing period reason the hormonal condition can also occur with symptoms like acne, excessive hair growth and infertility.
- Thyroid disorders like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can also be the cause of irregular period. It can impact your hormone production and some of the most common irregular period symptoms can include fatigue, weight changes and mood disturbances.
Lifestyle factors
- If you’re wondering what causes irregular menstruation then you must know that stress is a major factor here. It can disrupt the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis leading to irregular periods. Increased cortisol levels might interfere with the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone and subsequent hormone production.
- Significant weight loss or gain can impact your hormonal balance leading to irregular menstrual periods. Whether you are underweight or overweight you might experience irregular menstrual cycles because of changes in your hormonal levels.
- Intense or prolonged physical activity can also be a cause of irregular menstruation. It can suppress ovulation and also lead to irregular menstruation. The phenomenon is known as exercise induced amenorrhea and it is a common cause of irregular periods among athletes and people with rigorous training routines.
Medical conditions
- One of the major cause of abnormal menstruation is non cancerous growth in the uterus like fibroids. It causes abnormal uterine bleeding and irregular menstruation.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease can also be a reason for abnormal periods as it is an infection of the female productive organs typically caused due to sexually transmitted infections. Besides pelvic pain and discomfort the infection can lead to irregular menstrual bleeding and fertility issues.
ALSO READ: Early Signs Of Pregnancy – Symptoms To Watch Out
Effects of Irregular Periods
Besides understanding cause of irregular periods you must understand the effects of irregular menstrual cycles.
Physical effects
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding linked with irregular menstrual period can lead to iron deficiency anemia characterized by fatigue weakness and shortness of breath.
- As hormonal imbalance is the reason for missing menstrual period it can impact several bodily functions like your metabolism and reproductive health.
Emotional effects
Irregular menstruation might cause emotional distress like depression anxiety and frustration because of uncertainty and unpredictability. The physical symptoms and emotional toll of irregular menstruation can impact our overall quality of life impacting your relationship work and daily activities.
Reproductive effects
The irregular period symptom can make it challenging for you to conceive as irregular or will evaluation might hinder your fertility.
In cases where pregnancy occurs despite irregular cycles there might be increased risk of complications including miscarriage and gestational diabetes. So it is very important for you to understand the cause of irregular periods and implement appropriate interventions to promote overall health and well being.
Solutions for Irregular Menstrual Periods
- Besides understanding the cause of abnormal menstruation you need to implement the targeted interventions to restore your hormonal balance and promote menstrual regularity.
- You can practice relaxation techniques like mindfulness meditation yoga and deep breathing. This can help you reduce the stress levels as it is one of the reasons for abnormal periods.
- Furthermore you must eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients including fruits , vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. This will support your hormonal health and menstrual regularity.
- You can regulate your hormones and promote your overall well-being by engaging in regular physical activity like walking, swimming , cycling or yoga.
- As one of the most common cause of irregular periods is hormonal changes so you can take hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills patches injections to regulate your menstrual cycles. It can also help you get rid of hormonal imbalances.
- Hormonal replacement therapy might be recommended for perimenopausal or menopausal women experiencing irregular menstrual cycles. The irregular period Symptoms during menopausal stages include hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness.
- PCOS is the reason of missing the menstrual period. You can take treatment for the condition. It includes medication like oral contraceptives or gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists to manage the symptoms and restore your menstrual regularity.
Conclusion
So once you understand the causes of your menstrual cycles it’s time for you to seek medical intervention
In short, irregular menstrual cycles can greatly impact your physical health, emotional well-being and reproductive health. Understanding the underlying causes and effects of irregular menstrual cycles can promote your overall health and well-being.
By implementing targeted interventions like lifestyle modifications and fertility treatments you can address underlying hormonal imbalances. Above all you need to remember that you are not alone in the journey and support is always available to help you navigate the challenges of irregular menstrual cycles with confidence and empowerment.
