Irregular Period: Knowing the Causes and What to Do

Having irregular periods? That can be very worrying for any lady. Many things can cause problems with an irregular period, including lifestyle factors like stress and health challenges such as endometriosis and fibroids. While some of these causes are not much to worry about, some can impact fertility. So, it’s understandable for you to worry about irregular periods.

But before even discussing the causes, what exactly is an irregular period? What qualifies as abnormal?

What is abnormal menstruation?

Every woman is different, and so is their menstrual cycle. A normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21-35 days, and most periods last four to seven days. Anything below or exceeding these values may be considered abnormal menstruation.

The following are examples of abnormal or irregular periods:

• Menstrual cycle lasting less than 21 days or more than 35 days
• Periods lasting less than four days or beyond seven days
• Bleeding that’s heavier or lighter than usual
• Periods that come with heavy cramping, nausea, or vomiting
• Spotting occurring between periods or after intercourse
• Infrequent periods (oligomenorrhea)
• You’ve missed your period
• Your periods have stopped completely but you’re not yet due for menopause
• You haven’t started menstruating at age 16

Suppose you have been menstruating 28 days apart. If your period suddenly starts much earlier or later than that, it can be considered irregular. That is, it has deviated from the normal. However, it may be caused by stress or some other lifestyle factor that is easily corrected.

Causes of abnormal menstruation

Any of the following can cause abnormal periods:

• Lifestyle factors: stress, weight loss/gain, dieting, travel, or other sudden irregularities in a woman’s daily life can offset her menstrual cycle.

• Birth control: birth control pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation, thus disrupting the menstrual cycle. As a result, you can experience irregular menstruation for up to six weeks after stopping the pills.

• Endometriosis: endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, can cause abnormal bleeding and severe cramping before and during periods. It also usually makes intercourse painful.

• Fibroids: uterine fibroids are tumors that attach themselves to the uterus lining. They can cause heavy menstruation and pain during intercourse and may affect infertility and pregnancy.

• Infection: Bacteria can enter the ovaries through the vagina and cause irregular periods, heavy vaginal discharge, unpleasant odor, diarrhea, and pain in the lower abdomen.

• Problem with the ovaries: health challenges affecting the ovaries can cause them to malfunction or stop functioning at all, leading to irregular periods.

What you can do when experiencing irregular periods

If your period comes quicker or later than usual, it could have been due to a change or disruption in your lifestyle. Simply readjusting would be enough. But if there’s unusually heavy bleeding, pain, or infrequent periods, it’s best to see an OB-GYN, a doctor specializing in female reproductive health and pregnancy. If you live in New York, you can simply walk into an obgyn nyc clinic near you and inform the specialist about your experiences. They would examine you, diagnose the problem, and find appropriate treatment measures as the case may be.

Final thoughts

Sometimes, these things are nothing to worry about. Your menses may come late or early occasionally due to hormonal changes. If your period is late, you might want to consider an at-home pregnancy test. However, medical attention is advised when some underlying health complication seems to be causing your abnormal menstruation.