Menstrual cycle is an important part of woman’s life from puberty. From menarche( very first period) to menopause ( last periods ) menstruation has life-changing effects on a woman’s body and mind. But few women encounter irregular menstruation and are unaware of reasons for irregular periods.
Normal menstrual length is from 28 to 30 days but some females can have cycles of 21 to 35 days also. A few females do experience irregular menstruation which can be longer or shorter than the expected schedule.
A little variation in the menstrual cycle during puberty, breastfeeding or in the perimenopause phase can be normal. But long-duration in between your periods might be a sign of underlying health problems.
Various factors play role in irregular periods. If you are experiencing same situation then check your reasons.
1. Thyroid Imbalance
Thyroid dysfunctions are very common these days and can be a reason for irregular periods or abnormal bleeding. High or low levels of thyroid hormones, both directly affect your periods. In this case, make sure you consult your doctor and undergo relevant treatment to address your thyroid concerns.
2. Low body weight
Women with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, may experience missed periods. Low body weight messes with your periods as well as stop ovulation also. If you have eating disorder then kindly consult a physician, otherwise take high protein diet. Maintaining a healthier weight can bring your menstrual cycle back on track.
3. Smoking
4. Nutritional Deficiency
What is a balanced diet?
A balanced healthy diet is a diet that contains adequate portion of different nutritional foods to meet the daily requirements of the body like calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins and alternative nutrients.
- Eat more raw food like salads
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat more Vegetables and fruits than meat
- Limit caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar.
- Choose lean meats and skim dairy products.
- Eat healthy fats available in the form if nuts, seeds, fish, olives.
5. Stress
Stress can shuffle hormones, change your daily routine, and affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating your period. Over time, stress can lead to illness or sudden weight gain or loss, all of which can impact your cycle. According to a study conducted on Japanese students, it was found that psychological stress directly influenced pre-menstrual symptoms and resulted in irregular menstrual cycles in college students. Stress messes with your ovulation and result in irregular periods.
6. PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome
PCOS is a condition in which ovary produces extra male hormones, resulting in hormonal imbalance and irregular periods. It affects ovulation and can stop periods completely. You need to a gynecologist if you have PCOS to get proper treatment to regularise your menstruation. Exercise and diet plays a vital role in PCOS.
7. Obesity
Just like nutritional deficiency, being overweight can also cause severe irregularities in your periods. Obesity had increased instances of irregular periods as it invites omre hormonal changes and can cause PCOS. You can consult a dietician to control weight and start exercising. Maintain a healthy BMI and have a healthy menstruation.
8. Birth control
You may experience a change in your cycle when you go on or off birth control. Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. It can take up to six months for your cycle to become consistent again after stopping the pill.
We hope that information has been helpful in understanding the reason for your irregular periods. However, it is always better to consult your gynecologist if this irregularity persists for more than two months.
I hope this article was informative. Be sure to sign up for my free newsletter so you can receive new health-related posts where I offer an alternative approach to medical conditions. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
if you manage those loop hole in your life you will see visible change in your menstrual life.
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