The Symptoms of Irregular Periods

Irregular periods are among the most common of all menopause symptoms and one of the first indications that a woman is approaching infertility. While the exact symptoms of irregular periods can vary from woman to woman, almost every woman will experience irregular periods for the 3 – 10 years preceding her final period. In fact, only 10% of women reach menopause without experiencing irregular periods.

Read on to learn more about the symptoms of irregular periods and how to treat them.

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What Are the Symptoms of Irregular Periods?

It can be hard to define the symptoms of an irregular period, as every woman's cycle is unique to her. In general, though, any menstrual experience outside of a woman's monthly norm is classified as irregular. Largely, irregularities might include shifts in the menstrual cycle pattern, duration, or flow. If a woman experiences irregular bleeding between periods and is aged 40 – 50, then the phenomenon may be a sign that she is going through perimenopause, the stage where the body prepares for the menopausal transition. During perimenopause, irregularities include short and long periods or lighter and heavier bleeding.

Other common symptoms of irregular periods include:

• Painful cramping
• Abnormal duration of bleeding
• Blood clots
• Breast tenderness
• Fluid retention
• Headaches
• Early or late periods
• Missed periods

While defining a regular period can be just as difficult as defining an irregular one, generally, an average period consists of a five-day bleeding cycle. Average blood loss is expected to be anywhere between two and eight tablespoons, and women can normally expect to be period-free for anywhere between 16 and 30 days.

Changes to a woman's typical menstrual cycle that continue beyond several months and involve abnormal bleeding or irregular cycle lengths should be considered as symptoms of irregular periods.

What Causes Irregular Periods?

For women between the ages of 45 and 55, fluctuating hormones are the most likely cause of irregular periods. Unfortunately, this is a natural consequence of the body preparing for infertility by producing fewer hormones. Generally, the closer a woman is to menopause, the more likely she is to be affected by hormone fluctuations.

Tips for Irregular Periods

Treating the symptoms of irregular periods can be problematic, but not impossible. Below are some of the most effective actions a woman can take to balance her hormones, and in doing so, reduce the occurrence of irregular periods.

• Eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of oily fish, fruits, and fresh vegetables
• Maintain a regular exercise routine
• Engage in stress relieving activities, such as yoga and meditation
• Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol where possible
• Use over-the-counter ibuprofen to alleviate menstrual cramps
• Apply a heat pad to soothe cramps.

Advisable only in severe cases, medications such as HRT can replace lost estrogen and thus reduce menopause symptoms. However, doctors today are reluctant to prescribe it because of the associated health risks.