Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Irregular menstrual cycles are experienced by women of all ages and most women are likely to suffer from them at some stage of their lives. However, when a women reaches the age of 40 she may experience irregular menstrual cycles more frequently which could be the first signs of menopause. Take time to read the article below in which there is useful and important information about irregular menstrual cycles.
What are Irregular Menstrual Cycles?
 A healthy women’s body will establish a normal menstrual or period pattern which is unique to her. Although no one is truly regular, it´s thought that a normal menstrual cycle can vary between 23 to 35 days occurs at roughly the same date each month. At a certain age most women start to witness their periods becoming irregular, sometime fluctuating considerably. This can not only be inconvenient, but also uncomfortable and stressful for the woman involved.
Irregular menstrual cycles occur when a woman fails to properly develop and release a mature egg every month as they would normally. Because everybody is different, women may find that they develop any number of types of irregular menstrual cycles on the onset of menopause.
Types of Irregular Menstrual Cycles
| Irregular menstrual cycles that affect
frequency of Menstruation |
| Polymenorrhea: frequent periods (with intervals of 21 days or less). |
| Oligomenorrhea: infrequent or short menstrual periods. Frequency exceeds 35 days in between menstruation, and less than 3 days during it. |
| Amenorrhea: absence of periods for more than 60 days in a woman of reproductive age. Usually occurs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. |
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| Irregular menstrual cycles that produce
pain during menstruation |
Dysmenorrhea, cramps or painful menstruation, involves menstrual periods that are accompanied by either sharp, intermittent pain or dull, aching pain, usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen.
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| Irregular menstrual cycles that affect
quantity of menstruation |
| Hypomenorrhea: A diminution of the flow or a shortening of the duration of menstruation. |
| Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period. It may be associated with abnormally painful periods (dysmenorrhoea). |
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What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycles?
Although irregular menstrual cycles are usually caused by physical changes within the body, there are some instances when psychological problems can also be to blame. Below are some of the most common reasons for irregular menstrual cycles.
 Psychological causes of irregular menstrual cycles. Stress and anxiety can play a big part in disrupting the body's daily functions. Women who find they do not get enough sleep or those that have very stressful jobs are more likely to develop irregular menstrual cycles. Although physical causes are more common, especially as a woman enters menopause, it is important to manage these psychological factors before they start to become a real problem.
Physical causes of irregular menstrual cycles. Estrogen and progesterone control the menstrual cycle and when these hormones become imbalanced it can result in an array of side effects. One of which is an irregular menstrual cycle so it's important to recognize that hormonal balance in the body is imperative for a woman to properly ovulate.
Take a look at the following articles which help to explain what steps can be taken for controlling irregular menstrual cycles.
How to Treat Irregular Menstrual Cycles?
The most important factor when trying to find the right treatment for irregular menstrual cycles is to establish whether these changes are due to psychological or physical problems.
Psychological: Menstrual disorders caused by anxiety, stress, overwork and fatigue could be easily treated by simply relaxing a schedule or making a good night´s sleep a priority. If sleeplessness is a problem it might be worth looking into medicated help for sleep disorders, however its important to consult a doctor before doing this. It's also important to keep in mind that many women suffer from a combination of psychological and physical factors which combine to cause irregular menstrual cycles.
Physical: When irregular menstrual cycles are caused by fluctuating hormone levels they can be treated by a range of combination therapies such as "lifestyle approaches" and alternative medicine. Such "lifestyle approaches" may include more exercise or a more balance diet.
You can click on one of the links in the page below to learn more about the treatments for irregular menstrual cycles.
Three approaches for treating irregular menstrual cycles:
(1)lifestyle changes, (2)alternative approaches and (3)drugs and surgery. The safest way is to start with the least risky treatment for irregular menstrual cycles and go on to the next level only if it is necessary. Click on treatments for irregular menstrual cycles and don't miss these three excellent approaches.
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