My Period is Irregular – What’s Happening?
An average woman menstruates for about 40 years. It’s almost impossible that she doesn’t experience occasional period irregularities during this time. But when they’re recurring, it may indicate an underlying menstrual disorder. Keep reading more about what could your irregular periods mean and how to get them back on track!
Types of Menstrual Disorders
Irregular periods may have several presentations and mean different things to different women. While there are general guidelines as to what’s considered a healthy menstrual cycle, a woman must also know what’s her norm, and use it as a point of reference.
Irregularities may relate to a woman’s cycle length, blood flow, and cramping intensity. Here are the most common types of irregular periods:
- Amenorrhea is when a woman has no periods.
- Dysmenorrhea is when a woman has painful periods.
- Oligomenorrhea is when a woman has long cycles (<35 days), resulting in infrequent periods.
- Polymenorrhea is when a woman has short cycles (<21 days), resulting in frequent periods.
- Menorrhagia is when a woman’s periods are heavy (>80 mL/cycle).
- Hypomenorrhea is when a woman’s periods are light (<30 mL/cycle).
- Metrorrhagia is when a woman is spotting between periods.
On top of that, women with irregular periods are likely to also have ovulation problems, including infrequent ovulation (oligoovulation) or lack of ovulation whatsoever (anovulation).
Common Causes of Period Irregularities
In most cases, irregular periods happen due to hormonal imbalance. This can have a wide variety of causes, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid issues, endometriosis, inadequate body fat, prolonged stress, strenuous exercise, uterine polyps, and many others.
Irregular periods may also indicate a woman’s entry into perimenopause, which is a reproductive stage preceding menopause. Some forms of birth control may also cause menstruation to become irregular.
Other non-hormonal causes include sexually transmitted diseases, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, and more.
How Can I Get My Period Back on Track?
The first step toward the path to regular periods is scheduling a doctor’s check-up to pinpoint the underlying cause. Running a few simple tests – such as a blood test or a pap smear – will not only quickly determine what caused your irregular periods, but will also direct you towards adequate treatment.
Depending on the diagnosis, getting your periods back on track may include making some lifestyle changes, such as eating more healthily to fix nutritional deficiencies, bringing your weight closer to the normal range, or adjusting your exercise routine.
For restoring hormonal balance, Macafem is your best bet. It contains nutritive compounds that help the endocrine system maintain its functions, including producing adequate levels of the reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. This not only helps regulate periods, but may also ease PMS and PCOS symptoms.
Likewise, some cases of irregular periods may require prescription medications, including oral contraceptives or antibiotics. Surgical procedures, such as dilation and curettage (D&C), may sometimes be needed to treat abnormal menstruation, such as heavy periods.
Instead of stressing over irregular periods, use them as an indication that something in your body needs your attention. Once you get to the bottom of what’s causing them, you can implement the aforementioned treatment strategies and be on your way to hormonal balance and regular periods once again!