It is well known that all women experience menstruation from the time they hit puberty, which happens about 12 years of age. In the initial stages, this monthly cycle may not be very pronounced in terms of frequency and duration. An average cycle should be about 25-35 days and each menstruation should occur for about 3-7 days. This is not proper math, however, anything above and below it may not be considered healthy and normal.
Your menstrual cycle starts from the first day of your last period and till the beginning of your next period.
It is considered “irregular” if the cycle takes more than 37-38 days or if its duration varies drastically.
There is not a single reason behind periods being irregular. There can be several causes like hormonal imbalances, obesity, or some other underlying problem. We have shortlisted a few of the most common ones and their symptoms. See if you have any. If you realize that you do face these issues, you can try this safe and reviewed Ayurvedic Medicine for Irregular Periods.
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The most obvious one – Pregnancy
It is not something that will not cross your mind if you have an active sex life and experience irregular menses. It can cause you to skip a period or have spotting during the non-bleeding days of the cycle. General symptoms that you observe if pregnancy is the reason behind irregularity:
- Increased sensitivity to smells.
- Morning sickness.
- Unusual breast tenderness.
If you experience any of these while having irregular periods, you should check yourself for pregnancy.
Consumption of Birth Control Pills
Hormonal birth control pills can cause your menstrual cycle to change from your normal. This is because they contain a high dosage of hormones which primarily change the time of ovulation. As the phases get shifted due to delayed ovulation, your next period may be delayed as well. These pills also cause untimely spotting during the cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes the enlargement of ovaries which have small cysts around the edges. The cause is not clearly known but a combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to it. Irregular periods are the most common symptom of PCOS. If you have the condition, you will surely be experiencing irregularities like skipped periods, insanely heavy bleeding when you do get one.
Thyroid
It has been observed that people who have reported irregular menses also had thyroid problems.* Hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid ) can cause heavier and extended periods. Whereas, Hyperthyroidism ( overactive thyroid) results in shorter and lighter periods.
Endometriosis
It is a condition where the tissue which forms the uterus lining, starts forming on the outer edge of the uterine cavity. For the women in the reproductive age, this may be the reason. If you experience debilitating cramps whenever you get your next period along with abnormal bleeding, it may indicate that you have endometriosis. However, you cannot confirm it without any exploratory surgery.
Just after menarche (2-3 years after menstruation began)
When you are new to this life process, it may take a few weeks or years for your cycle to settle down and take its form. It is very normal and nothing to worry about. This is because during puberty the body undergoes major variations. This may take time to balance the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Nonetheless, if it does not subside even after years of beginning, then it is better if you consult a gynecologist.
Breastfeeding
In the months after giving birth, it is very common to observe irregular periods. Women who breastfeed are likely to experience this because of hormones. The hormones that aid lactation can cause the body to ovulate infrequently. For those women who do not breastfeed or do so less frequently, menstruation becomes normal quicker as compared to those who do. *
Abrupt sleep/wake cycles
You must have felt off whenever you would have skimped upon your sleeping schedules and durations. But poor sleep patterns can also throw off your menstrual cycle. In fact, the people who have jagged work shifts are more prone to experience irregular periods.* Shifts in the body clock affect your reproductive hormones, which directly impact menstruation and ovulation. Particularly, Melatonin is one such hormone whose levels get disturbed due to skimped sleep patterns.
Eating Disorders
Certain eating disorders like Anorexia (restricted energy intake which leads to weight loss) and Bulimia (binge eating), are known to impact menstrual cycles. People with eating disorders have been observed to experience Amenorrhea ( cessation of periods for 2-3 months at stretch ). This is because of the extreme starvation which the body undergoes. In such a situation, the body focuses on the main bodily functions like ingestion, digestion, and other most important ones. Growth and reproductive systems become less of a priority. If this happens after puberty, it is known as secondary amenorrhea and if before, then it is known as primary amenorrhea.
As for Bulimia, people splurge and binge on huge quantities of foods at one time tend to gain weight very quickly. In order to get rid of it, they turn to fasting and laxatives, which reverses the impacts in a very short span. Such a disruption in bodily functions makes your menstruation irregular.
Chronic Stress
Stress is not inherently bad. The severity depends upon a lot of factors like the kind of stressor, stimulus, timing, etc. In context to the reproductive system, it activates a hormonal pathway called hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This pathway leads to an increase in the levels of cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The key is that these hormones control stress but at the cost of suppressing reproductive hormones leading to abnormal ovulation.
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Having a stable and healthy cycle is very important for every woman’s health and hence for your family’s future. This is why you should know what is considered to be normal and where there is a need to get yourself checked.
