What You Need to Know about Irregular Periods

There are different menstrual problems that women may experience





Home remedies for pre-menstrual syndrome



When to see a doctor or other healthcare provider

Irregular periods are nothing to freak out about. In fact, between 5 and 35 percent of menstruating women have irregular months once in a while.

While occasional changes to your menstrual cycle may be due to stress or other lifestyle factors, consistent irregularity could be a sign of an underlying health condition. See a doctor or other healthcare provider if:

you soak through one or more menstrual products an hour

you pass blood clots the size of or larger than a quarter

you have a period more than once every 21 days

you have a period less than once every 35 days

you haven’t had a period for three months

your periods last for more than a week at a time

If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, your healthcare provider might suggest a new medication or other treatment. Here are some of the possible causes:

breastfeeding

PCOS

puberty or menopause

thyroid problems

eating disorder

stress

obesity

Your doctor will work with you to determine the underlying cause and develop a plan that suits your needs. This may take a bit of trial and error, so be open with your doctor and give it time.



Summary

Menstruation or more commonly known as ‘Periods’ are undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of a woman’s life. Periods are a biological process where the lining of the uterus, called endometrium, sheds itself. This shedding process leads to bleeding and is discharged through the vagina. The whole process is a part of their life up to 50 years and therefore it is important to make sure that this process works perfectly fine. Irregular periods can cause a lot of distress and pain to a girl. In some cases, it may be a symptom for something even more dangerous like a thyroid disorder or uterine cancer.A woman’s period or menstruation is a natural part of her monthly cycle. The number of days spent menstruating can vary widely from person to person. Most woman bleed for two to seven days. Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) typically start 5 to 11 days before your period begins.Occasional fluctuations in symptoms, menstrual flow, and overall duration usually aren’t cause for concern. Diet, exercise, and stress can all affect the glands that regulate your body’s hormone balance, which in turn, affect your monthly periods.A menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of a period to the first day of the next. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but this can vary from woman to woman, and month to month.Your periods are still considered regular if they come every 24 to 38 days. Your periods are considered irregular if the time between periods keeps changing and your periods come earlier or later. Treatment depends on finding out what’s causing your irregular periods, but there are remedies you can try at home to get your cycle back on track.Menstruation often bring a variety of uncomfortable symptoms leading up to your period. Premenstrual syndrome or PMS encompasses the most common issues, such as mild cramping and fatigue, but the symptoms usually go away when your period begins.Serious menstrual problems may also occur. Menstruation that is too light or too heavy, or the complete absence of a cycle, may suggest that there are other issues that are contributing to an abnormal menstrual cycle.Normal menstrual cycle means something different for every female. A cycle that’s regular for you may be abnormal for someone else. It’s important to stay in tune with your body and to talk to your doctor if you notice any significant changes to your menstrual cycle.Sometimes it’s possible to get your periods back on track with a few lifestyle tweaks. Home remedies aren’t a substitute for checking in with your doctor, but these science based solutions are a good place to start.A number of factors increase the chance of irregular menstruation. Most relate to hormone production. The two hormones that impact menstruation are estrogen and progesterone. These are the hormones that regulate the cycle.Life cycle changes that influence the hormonal balance include puberty, menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth, and breastfeeding.Before menopause, women often have irregular periods, and the amount of blood shed may vary. Menopause occurs when 12 months have passed since the woman’s last menstrual period. After the menopause, a woman will no longer have periods.During pregnancy, menstruation ceases, and most women do not have periods while they are breast-feeding.During puberty, the body undergoes major changes. It can take several years for the estrogen and progesterone to reach a balance, and irregular periods are common at this time.A woman taking contraceptives can experience irregular periods. Some contraceptives can cause lighter periods with spots of bloods. It can also make you miss your periods or even completely stop your periods in some extreme cases. IUD can cause a heavy menstrual flow in some cases.When a woman first uses the contraceptive pill, she may experience small bleeds that are generally shorter and lighter than normal periods. These usually go away after a few months.Contraceptives can cause irregular bleeding. An intrauterine device (IUD) may cause heavy bleeding, while the contraceptive pill can cause spotting between periods.Stress is one of the major causes for irregular periods. Illnesses like Polycystic ovary syndrome or thyroid disorders can also be a reason for your irregular periods. In such cases, irregular periods are a symptom to these diseases. Therefore, it is important that you do a thorough checkup during such irregularities.Other changes that are associated with irregular periods include:extreme weight gainextreme weight lossendurance exercise, for example, marathon running.eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimiaPremenstrual syndrome occurs 1 to 2 weeks before your period begins. Some women experience a range of emotional and physical symptoms. Others experience few symptoms or even none at all. Premenstrual syndrome can cause:backaches, headaches, breast soreness, bloating, food cravings, depression, diarrhea, etcMany Women may experience different symptoms every month, and the severity of these symptoms can also vary. PMS is uncomfortable, but it’s generally not worrisome unless it interferes with your normal activities.Sometimes, women may not get their period or amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when woman don’t get her first period by age 16. This may be caused by an issue with the pituitary gland, a congenital defect of the female reproductive system. Secondary amenorrhea occurs when you stop getting your regular periods for six months or more.Common causes of primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea in teens include:anorexia, overactive thyroid gland, ovarian cysts, stopping birth control, and pregnancyWhen adults do not menstruate, the common causes are often different. These may include:stopping birth control, pregnancy, premature ovarian failure, pelvic inflammatory disease (a reproductive infection)A missed period could mean pregnancy. If you suspect you may be pregnant, be sure to take a pregnancy test. To get the most accurate results, wait until you have missed your period by at least one day before taking the test.Another common menstrual problem is a heavy period or menorrhagia.Heavy periods cause you to bleed more than normal. Woman may also have period for longer than the average of five to 7 days.Menorrhagia is mostly caused by imbalances in hormone levels, especialy estrogen and progesterone.Other causes of heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding include:inflammation of the cervixunderactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)pubertyvaginal infectionsnoncancerous uterus tumorschanges in diet or exerciseNot only can your period be heavier or lighter than normal, but it can also be painful. Cramps are normal during PMS and they also occur when your uterus contracts as your period begins. However, some women experience excruciating pain. Also called dysmenorrhea, extremely painful menstruation is likely linked to an underlying medical problem, such as: fibroids, abnormal tissue growth outside of the uterus,and pelvic inflammatory diseaseAlthough an occasional irregular period is common, a consistently irregular period may make it harder to get pregnant.To getting pregnant is to have sex before and during ovulation, which is your most fertile window. An irregular monthly cycle makes it difficult to determine when you are, or will be, ovulating.In some cases, an irregular period may be caused by another condition that affects fertility, such as PCOS or a loss of ovary function. If your periods are irregular and you’re looking to conceive, consider setting up a preconception appointment with a doctor.Mugwort goes way, way back. In ancient texts, it’s suggested as an herb to kickstart missed or late periods. That means it’s potent, so don’t use it if there’s any chance you have a bun in the oven.Most mugwort fans dose up through tea or supplements, so the optimal dose isn’t a precise science.Get plenty of sleep. Life will seem a lot less grim after you get adequate shut-eye. Also work on losing the stress. Meditate, practise mind-ful breathing and work towards a calmer you.Changes in your weight can affect your periods. If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight could help regulate your periods.Alternatively, extreme weight loss or being underweight can cause irregular menstruation. That’s why it’s important to maintain a healthy weight.Women who are overweight are also more likely to have irregular periods, and experience heavier bleeding and pain than women who are at a healthy weight. This is due to the impact that fat cells have on hormones and insulin.If you suspect your weight may be affecting your menstrual periods, talk to your doctor. They can help you identify a healthy target weight, and come up with a weight loss or gain strategy.One way to regulate your periods is to consume a healthy and nutritious diet. The processed food and junk food you eat affects your hormone levels, thus disrupting your menstrual cycle. Make sure that your diet includes green vegetables, fruits, dry fruits, red meat, fish and foods that give you complete nutrients regularly. Soy products, legumes, flaxseed, sesame seeds, olive oil, kale, celery and dry fruits are some of the best food sources to get estrogen for women. Maintaining a diet that has all such food products ensure that your hormone levels are in check.PMS symptoms can be alleviated by a healthy diet. Avoid fried foods and stock up on vegetables and fishes, fruits, poultry, whole grains like oatmeal that metabolise slowly, nuts and raw seeds instead. Get enough calcium from sources like green leafy vegetables, dairy,and salmon. These high-nutrient foods will keep your PMS symptoms at bay. Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like olive oil, fish, spinach, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.Exercise and health go together like toast and avocado . Cardiovascular movements — the kinds that get your heart racing — are great for improving PMS, cramps, and heavy bleeding.In a small clinical trial, women who did 30 minutes of cardio three times per week for 8 weeks reported less intense period pain. What’s not to love?There are a few reasons why it works to run, dance, or cycle your way to less painful periods:Improving blood flow relieves cramps.Exercise releases endorphins (hello, runner’s high!).Getting your blood pumping during your period literally speeds up the flow of blood from your uterus (periods, be gone!).Work in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day in the form of walks or yoga or any other activity that you enjoy. Do note that a lack of activity has been shown to make PMS symptoms worse. Aerobic exercises have been shown to be most effective in reducing PMS symptoms. These exercises make you release feel-good endorphins, help you release stress and anxiety and get the blood circulation going your body thereby helping you eliminate toxins. Do not indulge in heavy physical exercise during your periods.Cut down on those food products in your diet that contain too much of added salt. Avoid knocking back too many cups of coffee and tanking up on the alcohol. All of these products are known to make PMS symptoms worse. If you are a smoker, this is a good time to kick the butt.Many herbal teas have been shown to offer some relief for PMS symptoms. For relaxation and anxiety relief, sip on some chamomile or cinnamon tea.Drink an infusion of ginger for cramps and nausea.Peppermint tea is great at dealing with bloating, indigestion and intestinal gas.Chamomile will also help you sleep better so drink some before you go to bed.Dandelion tea helps soothe breast tenderness so replace your regular tea and coffee with this variety for best results. Dandelion tea’s diuretic properties will help reduce water retention as well.Your regular green tea is great for skin and will help reduce pimple breakouts during this time.Serotonin is an important chemical and neurotransmitter that contributes to our feelings of well being and happiness. Serotonin levels can dip during premenstrual syndrome so you need to up your levels by eating foods rich in serotonin like avocados, date palms, papayas, eggplants, pineapples, and plantains. Upping your serotonin levels will help beat symptoms like depression, anxiety and sadness.Do not forget to check your vitamin levels during your routine body checkups, as the lack of some vitamins can hamper your menstrual cycle. Deficiency of Vitamin D causes irregularities in periods. Doing your workout in sunlight can help you in this regard. Foods rich in Vitamin B, like dark leafy vegetables, meat, eggs, legumes and beans can help in overcoming menstrual issues. Apart from these natural sources, you may go for vitamin supplements or boosters to get rid of vitamin deficiencies.Get enough Vitamin B6. This vitamin that often gets depleted when you are undergoing PMS will give you relief from depression, mood swings, and low serotonin levels. Get vitamin B6 from supplements or food sources like milk, chicken, fish, whole grains, beans, green leafy vegetables, walnuts, and soybeans.Potassium helps keep inflammation, bloating, retention of water and other symptoms of PMS in check. Eat foods rich in potassium like black currants, figs, bananas, potatoes, broccoli, onions, and tomatoes.Periods can be a difficult time of the month and irregular periods can be quite bad. Starting from bad mood swings and bloating on pre-menstrual days to stomach cramps and heavy bleeding during those five days, there’s little to cheer about. Irregular periods take a toll on your body not just physically but mentally as well. Waiting for the period to occur can cause a lot of stress, affecting your performance in your daily life. Therefore, it is important to get your periods on time and make your menstrual cycle pain free and pleasant. The simple home remedies listed above will help you to make your periods regular. You don’t have to suffer your menstruation in a grumpy, pain-stricken haze. Home remedies above are effective in dealing with assorted menstrual problems. All remedies to be taken only on the advice of a medical practitioner.