Irregular menstrual periods
Irregular menstrual periods are an extremely common indication that a woman is approaching menopause, and are among the first menopausal symptoms women notice. Despite the fact the every womanīs menstrual cycle is unique almost all women will experience irregular menstrual periods for three to ten years before menopause.
This is because as menopause approaches, hormonal imbalances upset the menstrual cycle and result in irregular menstrual periods. Only 10% of women reach menopause without having experienced irregular menstrual periods. Keep reading to find out more information about irregular menstrual periods.
Is there such a thing as a regular menstrual period?
To understand irregular menstrual periods it is necessary to try and define regular periods. As mentioned above, every womanīs menstrual cycle is different but generally speaking, a īnormalī period is a five-day cycle of bleeding with an average blood loss of two to eight tablespoons. There are approximately 25 to 31 days between the start of each period and the next. A woman will be able to judge whether or not she is experiencing irregular menstrual periods or not based on her own menstrual pattern and symptoms.
Irregular menstrual periods are defined as alterations in a womanīs typical menstrual cycle that continue for several months, such as abnormal bleeding and/or unusual cycle lengths.
What do irregular menstrual periods mean?
Irregular menstrual periods are a common indicator of menopause and the older a woman is, the more she will be affected by hormone imbalance as the ovaries continue to slow down. Estrogen and progesterone hormones are the main contributors to the menstrual cycle and so when hormone production begins to wane, it can result in irregular menstrual periods because the menstrual cycle is completely dependent on hormones.
Perimenopause the stage before actual menopause – this is when women are most likely to first notice irregular menstrual periods. Itīs possible that a woman will have longer or shorter periods or lighter or heavier bleeding. The menstrual cycle can change dramatically during perimenopause and this can be worrying for women if they are unsure why such changes are occurring. However, all of the hormonal changes taking place before menopause that cause irregular menstrual periods are just to enable the body to prepare for its final period.
To find out about the most common symptoms of irregular menstrual periods, please read the next section.
What are the common symptoms of irregular menstrual periods?
If you have one or more of the symptoms listed here, then itīs likely that you are experiencing irregular menstrual periods:
• Infrequent/too frequent periods
• Missed Periods
• Painful cramping
• Extended bleeding duration
• Changes in blood flow
• Blood clots
If you experience any of the symptoms below, it is recommended that you contact your doctor, as such symptoms can indicate other health problems:
• Heavy bleeding
• Extended bleeding (more than 7 days)
• Bleeding after sex
• Spotting
• Abdominal pain
• Excessive hair growth
• Unexplained weight gain
• Any odorous discharge
When do irregular menstrual periods begin?
Typically, irregular menstrual periods start in the late forties and, for some women, in their mid to late 30s. Symptoms of irregular menstrual periods vary from woman to woman but most females will experience irregular menstrual periods in the lead up to menopause.
Other Related Articles:
Menstrual Disorders
Menstrual Disorder and Acupuncture
Menstrual Cycle Problems and Regulation
Long Menstrual Cycles
Irregular periods for years
