Irregular Periods Causes And Treatment

Do you have irregular periods? Do not worry too much because normally it does not show anything dangerous. Most women who experienced it. However, before you declare that you are not periods regularly, let us first agree on what is called irregular.

Not all women equally.

There are women who have regular menstrual cycles, like “calendar life”, there are also irregular. The most common cycle is 28 days, but this can vary between 21-35 days. Beginning of the cycle forward or backward 1 day to 3 days is normal. Bloody period usually lasts for 5 days, but bleeding up to 7 days was still regarded as a normal condition.

Menstruation is called irregular only when does not follow the normal pattern of your cycle. Anovulation (not releasing eggs) is a major cause of slowness menstruation in many women. This condition is considered normal if happens only once or twice in a year. Menstruation will also be irregular in a few months or years after menarche or early periods. This is because the hormones that control period takes time to reach equilibrium.

Irregular periods cause

Irregular periods caused by things related to lifestyle and health problems.

1. Life Style

Certain lifestyle that can disrupt the menstrual cycle are:Increasing of stress. This is the most common cause. If you are experiencing stress due to overwork, pressure from friends or family demands, your periods will become irregular. When you are stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol, a hormone which have a direct impact on some hormones which play a role in menstruation such as estrogen and progesterone.

Extreme body weight.

Although low weight is the common cause of irregular periods, obesity can also causes period problems. In this situation, the brain can not stimulates  production of right hormones for the follicle development, which is needed to make estrogen.


Many women experience menstrual irregularities until the end of breastfeeding.


Birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUD) can cause bleeding between periods. Mild bleeding is common at the first time take contraceptive pill. IUD may also cause heavy bleeding.

Check Also: Healthy Eating During Pregnancy.

Malnutrition, drug use, smoking, and caffeine in specific cases can disrupt menstrual cycle.

2. Health conditions

Some health conditions that can disrupt menstrual cycle include:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS occurs when some tiny cysts growing in the ovary. The ovaries produce follicles which produce high levels of estrogen but never release an egg, resulting in irregular menstruation.

Hormonal imbalance related to perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the period of hormonal transition before menopause. Technically, menopause occurs when you do not have menstruation for 12 consecutive months since last menstrual period. However, women who menstruate regularly and suddenly stopped at all are rare. The much more common cases are menstrual cycle to be irregularly for several years or several months before reaching menopause.

This disorder is caused by an imbalance of progesterone, a hormone that regulates the amount and duration of bleeding. Fluctuations of progesterone, makes menstruation lasts longer or shorter.

The imbalance of androgen hormones.

Some women experience irregular periods because they have too much androgen. Male hormone which is normally only a few amount in the female body, can cause hair growth on face, chin, chest, and abdomen, and sometimes associated to excessive weight.

Thyroid disorders.

Thyroid gland produces hormones to keep the body’s metabolism. The function of thyroid is closely linked to all of hormones in the body. Thyroid hormones are not balanced like in hypothyroidism can cause various symptoms such as frequent periods, fatigue, weight gain, and depression.

Premature ovarian failure.

Premature ovarian failure is condition in which you stop menstruating before age 40 years old. Surgery, chemotherapy, and abdominal or pelvic radiation therapy can cause premature ovarian failure.

Other conditions such as uterine abnormalities (fibroids, cysts, polyps, endometriosis), irritable bowel syndrome, tuberculosis, heart disease, and diabetes can also cause menstrual irregularities, although rare.

Irregular periods treatment

Tips for you Menstrual irregularity rooted in hormonal imbalances. Whatever you do to restore the hormonal balance will also restore your menstrual cycle.

Some of these tips may help you:
  • Reduce stress and improve your nutritional status.
  • Try to relax and enjoy your life more.
  • Rest enough in the evening.
  • Change your diet to be more balanced by increasing intake of complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and water.
  • Exercise regularly, but moderately.

If you are worried that the cause of irregular menstruation is disease or other conditions, consult a physician. Ask your doctor the possible causes of your menstrual irregularities. You need to see a doctor if your period is also accompanied by heavy or prolonged bleeding, pain after sex, abdominal pain, excessive hair growth, weight gain without clear cause, or a smelly discharge.

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