Irregular periods for years
Irregular periods for years

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Irregular periods for years

Irregular periods for years

For the majority of women, an irregular period is absolutely nothing to be worried about. This is because most women will eventually develop a regular cycle with regular periods. Sometimes though, underlying complications can be the cause of irregular period problems. If you are noticing particularly irregular periods, or have gone a year (or years) with missed periods, see your medical professional.

Irregular periods can be one of the earliest signs that a woman is experiencing menopause. They signal that estrogen and progesterone production in the body is beginning to decline as the ovaries prepare to stop estrogen and progesterone production completely. Though the symptoms of irregular periods vary depending on a woman´s individual cycle, a vast majority of women experience irregular periods between 3-10 years before they stop completely. Read the following page in order to learn more about irregular periods during menopause.

What are irregular periods?

irregular periods regularityDefining an irregular period as opposed to regular one can be difficult given that every woman´s menstrual cycle is different. Some women experience periods every 20 days whilst other women may get theirs every 35 days. Determining their regularity or not is whether they occur with roughly the same number of days between each cycle. A regular period will typically last 5 days, but it is completely normal to menstruate anywhere between 3 and 7 days.

Irregular periods are changes in a woman´s ordinary menstrual cycle over several months. They may or may not be characterized by irregular bleeding and unusual cycle lengths. Read on for more information on irregular periods for years.

Some symptoms of irregular periods

An irregular period is any abnormal bleeding in comparison with your normal menstrual cycle. Symptoms can include a late period, an early period, or even bleeding between periods. It can also include menorrhagia (heavy bleeding) or minimal bleeding. Women experiencing irregular periods may have missed periods, continuous periods, or periods that happen twice in the one cycle.

Why some women suffer from irregular periods for years

In addition to the onset of menopause and subsequent decline in estrogen and progesterone production, there are a number of factors that can cause menstruation cycles to change.

irregular periods levelsPregnancy – Obviously when you are pregnant, the body produces different levels of hormones and ends your period.

Stress – Stress is a very common cause of irregular periods. This is because if you are anxious or constantly tired hormone levels become imbalanced.

Diet – A bad diet or extreme fluctuations in weight can affect your hormones. Women suffering from anorexia often have no or irregular periods.

Exercise – Intense physical exercise can upset the body and cause irregular periods.

Birth Control – Birth control pills often lead to irregular periods. This is because it takes the body some time to adjust to new levels of hormones delivered by birth control.

What is the best way to cope with irregular periods?

If you have been experiencing irregular periods for a relatively short time (i.e. less than 6 months) it is probable that your periods will return to regularity without the need for intervention. If however, there is an underlying medical condition responsible for the irregular periods, that should be addressed by a medical practitioner and regular periods should follow afterwards.

Irregular periods which occur over years as a result of the onset of menopause can be alleviated with a healthy diet and exercise regime, along with the natural medicines such as herbs. Some medicines directly target the issue of hormonal imbalance associated with menopause and can therefore be helpful. But, remember a healthy body is your number one resource against disruptions caused by irregular periods!

Click the following link for more information about treatments for irregular periods over years.

Other Related Articles:
Menstrual Disorders
Menstrual Disorder and Acupuncture
Menstrual Cycle Problems and Regulation
Long Menstrual Cycles
Irregular Periods and menopause

Sources:
  • Hutchinson, Susan M.D. "The Stages of a Woman's Life: Menstruation, Pregnancy, Nursing, Perimenopause, Menopause." November 2007.
  • Love, Susan M.D. Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
  • BMJ Group. "Menopause: What is it?" Patient Leaflet. 2007.