There are many reasons why a menstruation can be irregular, however, many women at first tend to be scared as they tend to believe that they could be very serious problems or even a pregnancy. For this reason, it is very important to know the causes why a menstruation is irregular and why a specialist should be consulted commonly to avoid scares and bad times.
For this reason, in this article we have consulted Dr. Alberto Alvarado García, so that he can tell us exactly what are the reasons why the period is completely irregular and remedy it as soon as possible. Do you want to meet them? Pay a lot of attention!
Why can you have an irregular menstruation?
- Menstruation or period is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Every month, her body prepares for a possible pregnancy. If this does not happen, the uterus sheds its lining. This is menstrual blood, which leaves the body through the vagina. This blood is part blood and part tissue from the inside of the uterus (endometrium) in a very precise way in suco complex.
- For menstruation to be regular, women must have their internal organs without alterations and hormonal function, that is, the secretion of hormones, without problem. Any alteration in the structure of the genital organs can give rise to an alteration in the menstrual frequency, likewise the lack of abnormal hormonal secretion, mainly the lack of ovulation, can be responsible for irregular menstruation.
Most common causes of irregular menstruation
Although menstruation in adolescence can be irregular due to anovulation and immaturity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, cycles generally occur every 21-45 days and last 7 days or less. It is very common for the period to change, generally as the years go by it becomes shorter, especially when the woman approaches menopause (at 50 years). It is also very normal and common to miss periods or change the amount of bleeding, but as we have mentioned before, although you should not be alarmed, it is very important to consult your doctor.
There are different causes for which you can have an irregular menstrual cycle, the main ones are all those situations where the patient does not ovulate. Of these the most frequent include:
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome: When you have this disorder, which is very common, you may have irregular periods.
- Eating disorder: disorders such as anorexia or obesity can be the cause of irregular menstruation or even a lack of period.
- Excessive exercise: Increased physical activity can also interrupt menstruation.
- Thyroid problems – An underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism can cause long, heavy periods, as well as increase cramping. They can also cause short, light menstrual periods. Likewise, hyperthyroidism can cause a lack of ovulation and consequently a menstrual irregularity.
- Stress: It is considered that stress can also affect the menstrual cycle because it temporarily interferes with the part of the brain that controls the hormones that regulate the cycle.
- Perimenopause – The transition phase before entering menopause that usually begins at age 40, but can sometimes occur earlier. The symptoms that occur the most and that can last from 4 to 8 years are: night sweats, mood swings, hot flashes, changes in the menstrual cycle, vaginal dryness and difficulty sleeping.
Due to the aforementioned, it is important to always consult with a gynecologist.
How to track your period to detect irregularities?
In order to maintain control over the period, it is advisable to keep a record of the days on which the period occurs and on which it is late, in this way it will be easier to talk to your doctor since even though the irregularities do not They are usually serious, on some occasions they can warn of health problems. To track the menstrual cycle, you can take note of the following:
- Normal and abnormal bleeding: it is very important to put the dates of the period and the dates in which it is skipped.
- Pain: Sometimes the pain is worse than normal, so it is important to write down and describe the pain associated with the period.
- Flow: It is recommended to record the density of the flow. How often should sanitary protection be changed?
- Other changes: in addition to what was mentioned above, it is recommended to write down the changes that have been suffered, whether they are in mood or in periods.
Going to the gynecologist to analyze the information and establish the most appropriate treatment is essential. It is also very important to remember that you should not self-medicate.