Irregular Periods Every Two Weeks

Perhaps the most inevitable symptom of menopause or in the phase leading into menopause is irregular periods. As the body prepares to have its final period and begin its post-reproductive life, the effect of periods can be unpredictable, scary, and let’s face it, a little strange. For this reason many women experience irregular periods, some experiencing periods twice a month or every two weeks. Whilst this is in no way normal, it may often have a relatively simple explanation as outlined in the paragraphs below.

What is an irregular period?

irregular periods average In order to define an irregular period, one must first have an idea of what constitutes a “regular” one. Menstruation, or periods, refers to the monthly shedding of the lining of the womb, a normal part of the female reproductive cycle. This cycle begins during puberty and continues until reaching menopause. Whilst the average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days, periods varying between 25-35 days can be constituted as normal. Bleeding will typically last from two to seven days and women after puberty tend to settle into a regular menstrual cycle pattern.

Put simply, an irregular period is one that does not conform to the general time frames outlined above. They may consist of varying amounts of time between periods or irregular bleeding. Periods that occur every two weeks over a sustained period of time are exceptionally rare and constitute an extremely irregular period.

What could be the cause of an irregular period every two weeks?

A woman’s menstrual cycle pattern can be upset by a host of factors, including a change in the method of contraception or more commonly by an imbalance of hormones (particularly estrogen and progesterone) that occurs during menopause. Irregular periods can also occur due to dramatic weight loss or gain, demanding exercise, stress, illness (sexually transmitted or otherwise) and certain medications.

A responsible suggestion for a woman suffering from irregular periods every 2 weeks would be to see a doctor or gynecologist as soon as possible. A biopsy may be needed to rule out other causes (such as polyps) and frequent bleeding can also sometimes lead to anemia and thus be dangerous.

Usually, if one were to explain the reason for a period every two weeks, or twice in the calendar month, it would refer to when a normal period begins on the first or second day of the month and arrives before the end of the month. This could be considered normal given the cycle length is between 25-35 days, however any shorter would be considered irregular. This could be the result of a thyroid dysfunction or an abnormal thickening of the woman’s uterine lining. The thickening can sometimes result from an attempt to medically regulate hormones by taking an excess of estrogen supplements without accounting for progesterone.

As estrogen is responsible for causing the uterine lining to become thick and lush, while progesterone serves to thin out the lining. Thus, a balance between these two hormones is necessary to regulate periods.

Are there any other tips for dealing with irregular periods?

irregular periods capacity Irregular periods due to menopause can be somewhat regulated through following a healthy diet, exercise regime, combined with natural herbs or medicine treatments. Some natural medicines work by boosting the body’s own capacity to produce hormones such as estrogen and thus reduce the side-effects of estrogen depletion.

For more thorough information about the treatments for irregular periods click here.