Menstruation, or the flow of menstrual blood, is not just a habit that comes to a woman every month and ends, but it is an essential part of her life as a woman. Irregularity of the menstrual cycle is an indicator of general health, meaning that there are health problems if the menstrual cycle is irregular. It also reflects the health of the reproductive system and hormones. Regularity of the menstrual cycle is very important for women who want to get pregnant. The more regular the cycle, the more regular the hormone levels are, and therefore the better the psychological, physical, and emotional stability. Regularity of the cycle also enables women to accurately predict when their period will come, and therefore they are able to deal better with the symptoms and pains they face during this time.
First, we need to understand what a regular menstrual cycle is.
A regular menstrual cycle is one that comes regularly every 28 days and regularly every 21 to 35 days, not less or more than that. That is, if it recurs every 22, 23, or 25 days, it is regular as long as it is in the period between 21 and 35 days, and the cycle lasts the same number of days each time.
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When is a menstrual cycle considered irregular?
Contrary to what we mentioned previously, if the period between the two menstrual cycles is not fixed and does not recur at equal intervals, and the cycle comes at intervals of less than 21 days or more than 35 days, and it is also irregular if more than three months pass without a menstrual cycle, the flow of blood is heavy or much lighter than usual in your cycle, the period of bleeding lasts more than 7 days because the normal is 3-7 days, and anything more than that is an irregular cycle, the time intervals between cycles vary, i.e., once the interval is 28 days and another time it is 37 days, and so on, a large interval, the menstrual cycle is accompanied by severe pain, vomiting or nausea, bleeding or passing blood clots between cycles or after intercourse, passing a large amount of blood in one hour.
It is normal for some minor changes to occur in your menstrual cycle, and for it to be delayed by a day or two every so often. Small changes and fluctuations are acceptable, but large ones that last for a while require consultation with a specialist doctor.
Causes of irregular menstruation
There are many reasons associated with irregular periods, ranging from stress to serious medical conditions. We want you to know that your psychological state greatly affects your cycle, even stress during exams or periods of pressure, all of which negatively affect the regularity of your menstrual cycle.
1. First, lifestyle factors that lead to irregular menstrual cycles
Your irregular daily routine or unhealthy daily habits can affect the regularity of your hormone levels and thus lead to irregular menstrual cycles, such as:
- Stress, anxiety, overthinking, and psychological disorders in general can very negatively affect the menstrual cycle.
- Losing or gaining a significant amount of weight.
- Practicing exercises that lead to a significant loss of body fat percentage.
- Viruses and other diseases.
There are some cases in which menstrual irregularities can occur.
2. Pregnancy and childbirth complications and their effect on the body can cause this, and breastfeeding can also cause it.
- Birth control pills, whether taken or even stopped, cause changes in hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs, thus leading to irregular menstrual cycles.
- Miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies can lead to delayed or irregular menstruation for a period of time.
- After surgeries, or blockage in the uterus or fallopian tubes, or damage or injuries to the uterus.
3. Some medical reasons that can cause you to delay your period. These reasons are diagnosed by a specialist doctor. We have mentioned these reasons for understanding and awareness only and not for diagnosis.
- Endometriosis occurs when tissue grows outside the uterus and attaches to the ovary or fallopian tube.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a bacterial infection that affects the reproductive system. This infection enters the uterus and PID results in heavy vaginal discharge with a foul odor, irregular menstruation, and pelvic pain.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Ovarian insufficiency
- Thyroid disorders or pituitary gland disorders
- severe bleeding
- Uterine cancer or ovarian cancer, may God protect you.
Only a specialist doctor can diagnose the causes and determine the treatment. Therefore, if there is a delay in the period for more than three consecutive months, or irregularity in the time periods, or severe pain at the beginning of the menstrual period, a doctor should be consulted.
How can we reduce the risk of developing an irregular menstrual cycle?
Here are some recommendations you can use, such as
- Taking care of yourself and paying attention to your own health helps you maintain hormonal balance and thus avoids severe changes and disturbances in the menstrual cycle.
- A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and performing physical activities to stimulate blood circulation and restore hormonal balance provide you with a healthy life, regular hormones, and therefore a regular menstrual cycle.
- A healthy menstrual cycle begins with proper nutrition and balanced, nutrient-rich meals, and healthy habits such as avoiding fast food, excessive caffeine, fried foods, and excessive salt in food. All these habits lead to fluid retention in the body and hormonal imbalance.
- Rest is very important; make sure you get enough rest and avoid excessive stress.
- Practice relaxation and calmness techniques. You can search for and access many videos that teach you these wonderful techniques.
- Although exercise helps maintain hormonal balance, excessive exercise can lead to a severe decrease in body fat and consequently irregular menstruation.
- Consult your doctor about contraception and make sure it will not harm your menstrual cycle.
- Change your sanitary pads or tampons regularly every 4 or 6 hours to avoid vaginal infections.
- Make sure to visit your gynecologist regularly for periodic checkups and to detect any health problems, God forbid, from the beginning.