Irregular periods can be incredibly frustrating, with bleeding arriving unexpectedly and usually at the most inconvenient time. Beyond never knowing for sure when (or if) your period will start each month, irregular menstrual cycles are often signs of an underlying health concern.
Whether your periods began like clockwork before suddenly becoming irregular, or you’ve had unpredictable menstrual periods ever since they began, you receive compassionate and understanding women’s health care from David Leszkowitz, DO, and the White Lake Family Medicine team in White Lake, Michigan.
So, what are irregular periods, exactly? Here’s what you need to know about menstrual problems and their causes.
Some women have such regular menstrual cycles that they know the day when their period will begin and how long it will last.
But most women don’t have such predictable periods, so let’s explore the guidelines defining expected versus irregular menstrual cycles.
Periods typically last up to seven days. Menstrual cycles occur every 28-29 days on average, meaning your next period starts about 28-29 days after the first day of bleeding in your last period.
Your periods are irregular if you have one or more of the following four common signs:
Women with irregular periods may also experience heavy bleeding and abdominal pain.
Whether or not you have irregular periods, you may struggle with heavy bleeding and severe pain.
Your bleeding is heavier than usual if you have any of the following:
Excessive menstrual bleeding is a top cause of iron deficiency anemia in women.
Six out of ten women have mild to moderate cramps, a common problem caused by muscle contractions in the uterus. Cramping typically begins the day or two before your period and ends within a few days.
Severe pain or pain lasting longer than your period may point to a gynecological condition.
Irregular periods occur for many possible reasons. Here are the most common:
Gynecological conditions disrupt your periods by affecting reproductive organs and causing hormonal imbalances. The problems most likely to cause an irregular period include:
These conditions can also cause heavy bleeding and menstrual cramps.
Irregular periods begin when a health condition affects estrogen and other reproductive hormones. Uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, and endometrial cancer disrupt menstrual periods. Being extremely underweight or obese also disrupts estrogen and affects your periods.
Your periods may not settle into regular cycles for several years after you start menstruating. But you should talk with us if your periods are regular and suddenly change or if you have any of the signs listed above.
The stress of intensive athletic training and excessive exercise affects hormone levels. As a result, you may have irregular periods or stop menstruating.
Women’s hormones start fluctuating years before they reach menopause, causing irregular and missed periods. Though this natural transitional time (perimenopause) can begin in your 30s, it typically starts in your 40s.
Your emotional and behavioral health has a direct impact on your periods. You may have irregular periods if you struggle with mood swings, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, or chronic stress.
The caring White Lake Family Medicine team includes women’s health specialists who are available to help you with irregular periods, heavy bleeding, and menstrual cramps. Call the office today or request an appointment online if you have menstrual concerns.
