Why Are Your Menstrual Cycles Irregular?
Missed or late periods are relatively common, either due to pregnancy or changes in lifestyle habits. But on the extreme, the issue may stem from an underlying health problem.
Physicians consider periods irregular if your cycles are longer than 38 days. Other times, you might experience heavy bleeding that lasts for several days on end. Or you could miss a few menstrual cycles.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of irregular periods.
You Are Undergoing Perimenopause
From long cycles to short cycles, heavy bleeding and occasional spotting, women often have irregular periods in their perimenopause. Perimenopause is the stage before menopause. It happens to women in their 40s, or four to eight years before hitting menopause.
During this period, you experience occasional longer menstrual cycles than usual. As time goes by, you will get your periods less often to a point where they stop entirely (menopause).
The colour of your menstrual blood may change from bright red to dark brown at any time of the month. You may also realize changes in the discharge texture, usually a clumpy and thick appearance.
Other signs of perimenopause include:
- Night sweats
- Sleeplessness
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Unexplainable mood changes
Visit your physician for confirmation if you suspect perimenopause. The health expert will likely perform a blood test to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
If you rarely get menstrual periods despite not being pregnant, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Unfortunately, PCOS affects approximately 9% of women of childbearing age.
Polycystic ovary syndrome condition results from abnormally high testosterone hormone levels. As a result, excess testosterone causes an imbalance of the female sex hormones. As such, PCOS is often among the causes of ovulatory infertility.
Irregular menstruation cycles are a definite symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome. Sometimes, you may get your periods several times a month. Or, you may get them once in a few months, after which they last for weeks at a time. This condition makes it difficult to track your fertility days when trying to conceive.
Other symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome are;
- Large ovaries with cysts
- Sudden weight gain around the tummy
- Excess hair growth on the chest, back, and stomach
- Male-pattern hair thinning or baldness
Irregular menstruation cycles mainly occur due to hormone fluctuations. Other causes range from easy-to-manage factors like stress and weight problems to severe conditions like PCOS. Visit your women's health physician as soon as you notice irregular periods to determine the exact cause of this problem.
For more information on women's health, contact a professional near you.