Long Menstrual Cycles
With only 10% of women not suffering from irregular periods as they go approach menopause it is no wonder that many women find that they experience long menstrual cycles from as long as ten years before menopause proper. Long menstrual cycles are not only inconvenient but can also be painful and effect other areas of a women’s life. The article below has some information about the causes and treatments of long menstrual cycles, so keep reading to find out more.
What are Long Menstrual Cycles?
 Women normally maintain a period pattern through out her reproductive years, yet no one is completely regular within their menstrual cycle. Cycles can vary from 23 to 35 days, but they are classed as regular if periods occur at roughly the same date each month. At certain age, the frequency between periods start fluctuating considerably, making them extremely difficult to track.
Long menstrual cycles are also known to cause irregular periods. This means that women do not properly develop and release a mature egg every month as they should during their reproductive years. Because women respond differently, there are different types of long menstrual cycle to look out for.
Types of Long Menstrual Cycles
Amenorrhea: Absence of periods for more than 60 days in a woman of reproductive age. Usually occurs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Menorrhagia: It is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period. It may be associated with abnormally painful periods (dysmenorrhoea).
What Causes Long Menstrual Cycles?
The causes of long menstrual cycles can be divided into the psychological and the physical. Psychological factors aren't as common a reason for this symptom of menopause, in fact, it's normally accepted that physical causes are responsible for most women who suffer from long menstrual cycles.
 Psychological causes for menstrual disorders. Anxiety and other forms of emotional daily stress, overwork and fatigue can cause menstrual disorders. If these factors are not controlled, they could make a woman lose her emotional stability.
Physical causes for menstrual disorders. As a woman ages, the body starts to reduce hormone production needed during the reproductive years and with this process levels the menstrual hormones estrogen and progesterone can become imbalanced very quickly. This state of imbalance is a well known cause of irregular periods and in particular long menstrual cycles.
The following article which explains in more detail the steps to take when controlling long menstrual cycles.
What to do about Long Menstrual Cycles?
The most important thing to get the right treatment for long menstrual cycles is to find out whether your problem is caused by psychological or physical factors.
Psychological: Long menstrual cycles can be caused by anxiety, stress, overwork and fatigue. Although many modern women often have busy and stressful lives, it's important to make time to rest and relax, especially if suffering from adverse health. Keep in mind that in most cases of excessively long menstrual cycles a combination of psychological and physical treatment is the best option.
Physical: Long menstrual cycles can be caused by imbalanced hormonal levels, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone work in a delicate balance within a woman's body and severe symptoms can occur if such imbalances are left untreated. There are several ways to manage long menstrual cycles, but the best way is by combining therapies such as "lifestyle approaches" and alternative medicine.
You can click on one of the links below to learn more about the treatments for long menstrual cycles.
Three approaches for treating long menstrual cycles:
(1)lifestyle changes, (2)alternative approaches and (3)drugs and surgery. The best way to start treatment for long menstrual cycles is to make non-invasive lifestyle changes which won't have any negative side effects. More complex treatments should only be looked at if long menstrual cycles do not become more regular. Click on treatments for long menstrual cycles for more information.
| 
