The Symptoms of Irregular Periods

Irregular periods are among the most common menopause symptoms and are one of the first indicators of menopause. While the symptoms of irregular periods vary from woman to woman, almost all women will experience irregular periods for three to ten years before their periods completely end. Only 10% of women reach menopause without having experienced the symptoms of irregular periods.

Read on to learn all about the symptoms of irregular periods and how to treat these.

What are the symptoms of irregular periods?

irregular periods cycle The symptoms of irregular periods are basically any unusual occurrences during a woman’s monthly period. It’s hard to define the symptoms of irregular periods as every woman’s cycle is unique but generally speaking, any changes in the pattern of menstrual bleeding can be thought of as symptoms of irregular periods.

If a woman experiences irregular bleeding between periods and is at the age when menopause could be approaching then she may be in perimenopause, the time of life when the body prepares for the menopausal transition. During perimenopause the symptoms of irregular periods can include longer or shorter periods and lighter or heavier bleeding.

Other common symptoms of irregular periods include:

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

While it’s hard to define what a normal period is in order to determine irregular periods, it is possible to give a general example. Typically, a normal period is a five-day cycle of bleeding and the average amount of blood loss is two to eight tablespoons. There are roughly 25 to 31 days between the start of each period and the next. Therefore, the symptoms of irregular periods can be characterized by symptoms that are unusual for individual women.

Any changes in a woman’s typical menstrual cycle that continue for several months and involve abnormal bleeding and/or unusual cycle lengths can be defined as symptoms of irregular periods.

What causes irregular periods?

For older women between the ages of 45 and 55 the most probable trigger of the symptoms of irregular periods is fluctuating hormone levels. The closer a woman gets to menopause (i.e. the older she is) the more she will be affected by hormone fluctuations. Leading up to menopause the ovaries slow down and work less and less and hormone production declines. Because the menstrual cycle completely depends on hormones, the symptoms of irregular periods often occur.

Find out how to treat the symptoms of irregular periods by reading below.

Treatments for the symptoms of irregular periods

irregular periods yoga Treating the symptoms of irregular periods can be tricky but it’s not impossible. There are a range of remedies available to help women deal with this problem. These are:

Lifestyle changes: Eating more healthily and doing more regular exercise.

Alternative Treatments: There are many herbal and natural treatments that can help restore hormone levels and relieve the symptoms of irregular periods.

Drugs and Surgery: This should only be used in extreme cases due to the high risks involved with this option.