There’s nothing to worry about if your menstrual cycle is irregular from time to time. But do you know when you should already be concerned and keep a watchful eye?
The menstrual cycle isn’t always like clockwork. Some women get their periods right on schedule every 28 days, others have difficulty predicting theirs. Irregular cycles usually shouldn’t cause you to be worried, but sometimes they’re telling you that you have a reproductive health problem.
So, what is considered irregular?
The average menstrual cycle usually lasts 28 days, but it can vary from 21 to 35 days. Irregular bleeding commonly occurs especially when girls first begin menstruation after puberty, but their cycles eventually become more regular and predictable as they grow older. Menstrual bleeding lasts five days on average, but can go from two to seven days.
Periods become irregular if they occur in less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, or the bleeding lasts longer than seven days. Irregular cycles can also be identified by missed periods, heavier or lighter bleeding than normal, and constant spotting.
To determine the length of your menstrual cycle, count the number of days from the last day of your previous to the first day of your next period. The number of days between each period is the length of your menstrual cycle. Is your cycle consistent or does it seem irregular? If the intervals between your periods vary significantly each month, you may have an irregular cycle.
Then, let’s see what are the causes of irregular periods?
Irregular cycles can be caused by a number of things ranging from stress to underlying medical conditions:
- Puberty and menopause. It’s normal to experience hormone imbalances for a few years after puberty and before menopause. This can make your menstrual cycle longer or shorter, and your bleeding lighter or heavier.
- Contraception. Contraceptives can affect the menstrual cycle when you start using a method. Pills can make periods lighter, irregular, or more frequent, while injectables can make some women completely stop menstruating while they’re using the method. The copper IUD can sometimes cause heavier, longer periods. Getting off contraceptives also affect menstruation. Some may experience irregular or missed periods for up to six months. It’s important to note that these side effects do not happen to all women, and they usually last for only the first few months. Give your body some time to adjust to contraception.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. A missed period may be a sign of pregnancy (especially if you had unprotected sex). Breastfeeding can also delay the return of menstruation after giving birth.
- Lifestyle. Stress, significant amount of weight gain or loss, diet, changes in workout routines, travel, illnesses, or other disruptions to a woman’s daily routine can affect the menstrual cycle.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). When a woman has PCOS, the ovaries produce excessive amounts of androgens (a male hormone) and cause tiny cysts to form on the ovaries. The hormonal changes prevent egg cells from maturing, which interferes with regular ovulation, and result in irregular periods.
- Thyroid disorders. Although they are rare, they can cause irregular periods. The thyroid gland is located in the neck, and it produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism. Menstrual irregularities occur when the blood levels of the thyroid hormone go too low or too high.
- Other causes. Aside from the factors previously mentioned, other causes that aren’t so common are uterine or cervical cancer, medications such as steroids, pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted infection, diabetes, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis.
So, what do I do if I have irregular periods?
Irregular periods may not always need treatment, but it will depend on the underlying causes. It’s best to consult your healthcare provider if:
- you have frequent bleeding or spotting between periods or after sex
- you have severe pain during or before your periods.
- your periods are unusually heavy, where you need to change your tampon or pad every hour or two, or you have to wear both a pad and a tampon
- heavy bleeding floods into your bed or through your clothes
- periods last longer than seven days
- periods become very irregular after you have had regular cycles.
- you may need a different contraceptive, or further investigations may be needed to find out whether you have an underlying health condition.
If irregular periods are already affecting your daily activities, it’s best to have it consulted. Your menstrual cycle may be naturally irregular, but it’s also possible that there’s an underlying cause that may need medical attention. If that’s the case, proper diagnosis, and treatment can help put your cycle back on track.
Sources:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-irregular/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.everydayhealth.com/pms/irregular-periods.aspx
Hi po 20 yrs old na po ako nais ko lang po malaman kung ano po pwedeng gawin kapag mahina po ang regla atsaka irregular po kasi ako simulat sapol baka po may pwede gawin o gamot po? Slamat
Hi Apple! Tulad nga po ng inyong nabasa sa artikulong ito, maraming posibleng sanhi ng irregular na menstruation. Ang angkop na lunas po ay depende sa sanhi, kaya kailangan masuri ka ng doktor para malaman ang sanhi at mapayuhan sa paggamot.
Hello po 20 yrs na po ako and mag isang buwan na po di tumitigil menstruation ko. And irregular din po ako. Ano po pwede kong gawin?
Hi Sunshine! Ang angkop na lunas para sa inyo ay depende po kasi sa sanhi, kaya mabuting magpasuri sa doktor para malaman ang sanhi at mapayuhan ka sa tamang paggamot.
Mag e-eleven palng po anak q first tym po nya mregla bkit po gnito ktgal ng regla nya png 10days nya ngaun araw nto pro phinto hinto po tska ang kulay minsan dark red minsan nmn prang brown???anu po b ang pwdng gwin normal lng po b ang gnyan s unang regla???
Hi Rebecca! Kakaumpisa pa lang po ang inyong anak na magdalaga at dumadaan pa sa maraming pagbabago ang kanyang katawan. Normal po para sa mga nagdadalaga katulad niya na hindi pa regular ang regla, at maaaring tumagal o mas maikli ito kaysa sa karaniwan. Magiging normal rin naman po ito kalaunan pagkatanda niya. Basahin rin po ito: https://doitright.ph/tl/pagdadalaga/
Hello po 22 yrs old po ako, mula june po di napo ako nagkaroon, irregular po ako umaabot po ng 20 days yung missed period ko, hanggang ngayon po kasing august di pa ko nagkakaroon at active rin po ang sex life ko since june po.
Hi Jandd! Tulad nga po ng inyong nabasa sa artikulong ito, maraming posibleng makaapekto sa regla. Kung nais niyong malaman ang sanhi, mainam na magpasuri sa doktor ukol dito.
Hello po! Ask ko lang po kung normal lang po ba sa babae yung nireregla ng up to 3weeks? My girlfriend have that kind of issue about her mens po kase eh and she is 17yrs/o. Thanks in advance
Hi Clyde! Hindi po ito normal at mainam na magpasuri na siya sa OBGYN ukol dito para malaman ang sanhi at mapayuhan sa angkop na gamot.
Hello po kaka 18 ko lang po noong May 8 dinatnan pa po ako nung April pero pag dating nang May hanggang ngayong August hindi na po ako dinatnan ask ko lang po kung normal pa po ba ito di ko po kasi matukoy kung dahil ba sa pagbabago ng lifestyle ko dahil nga sa lockdown palagi nalang po ako sa bahay walang ginagawa hindi tulad pag pumapasok sa school tsaka underweight po ako pero ngayong po medyo nagkalaman ako ng konti lang
Hi Micaella! Normal po sa mga nagdadalaga tulad mo na hindi pa regular ang regla. Kadalasan naman pong magiging normal rin ito pagkatanda mo pa. Maaari ring dahil sa stress ang iyong nararanasang pagbabago sa siklo ng regla.
13 years old po ako ang last period ko po ay April 3 tapos po ay August 19 na po tapos wala parin po akong means, pero pag nag karoon na po ako ng means sobrang lakas naman po at minsan dalawang linggo minsan normal buwan buwan, tapos umulit po ulit nung dati na pag katapos ng first means ko 5 months bago po ako niregla normal pa po bayun?? tapos sabi nila delay lng po ako
Hi Maryss! Normal lang po para sa mga nagdadalaga tulad mo na irregular pa ang regla dahil dumadaan pa sa iba’t ibang pagbabago ang iyong katawan.