Menstruation is different for every woman. Some women have heavy blood flow, while some don’t. Similarly, some have bad menstrual cramps, and for some, it’s just a matter of few smooth days. On average, a woman gets regular periods every 24 to 38 days and the bleeding lasts for mostly 4 to 7 days of cycle length. Sometimes, there can be an instance of an irregular menstruation cycle or abnormal menstruation for various reasons.
So, what is irregular periods or irregular bleeding?
Abnormal Menstruation
There can be problems occurring with the normal cycle length which leads to menstrual irregularities. When a woman gets her periods in less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, it’s an alarming sign. Moreover, missing three or more periods consecutively or having heavier or lighter blood flow than usual, or the continued bleeding for 7 days indicate abnormal menstruation.
It is important to carefully monitor your period cycle to be able to find any abnormality. However, in some cases it is considered normal for a woman to have a slight irregular menstrual cycle especially when she is going through puberty, approaching menopause, or breastfeeding. Many other factors also add to the irregular bleeding such as medical conditions, stress, mental health, lifestyle, medications, and more.
When you experience more cramps than usual accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms followed by the continuation of the pattern for a long time, you must get checked by a health professional. For women who have reached menopause, if they notice bleeding or spotting, it is a problem.
What are the Causes of Irregular Menstrual Cycle?
Abnormal menstruation may have many causes such as
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills have a combination of hormones estrogen and progestin which are used to prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs. These are hormonal pills can have an impact on menstruation. When you discontinue the use of these hormonal birth control pills, you may witness irregular bleeding or missed periods for up to six months. This is one of the many reasons why women shouldn’t start consuming birth control pills without a gynecologist consultation.
Endometriosis
Other complications for menstrual irregularities may also include Endometriosis. But what is Endometriosis?
Women have endometrial tissue around the uterus that breaks down every month they have their periods and discharges in the blood flow. When this tissue starts growing outside the uterus or attaches itself to the ovaries or fallopian tubes, it creates multiple problems including abnormal menstruation. This is known as Endometriosis. It can be a very painful condition and must immediately be consulted by to doctor.
Stress
Many of us do not realize the impact of stress on our overall health. Stress doesn’t only affect the mental health or cause headaches or high blood pressure, it also has an impact on the regular period cycle. If you have a history of anxiety and stress, you may experience menstrual irregularities.
Lifestyle Changes
Your lifestyle majorly contributes to a lot of health factors including your period cycle. If you drastically gain or lose a lot of weight, or start a rigorous workout, this may disrupt the daily routine and can cause irregular bleeding.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common disorders in women where the ovaries tend to produce a large number of androgens, also known as male hormones. This result is cyst development in ovaries which can be seen via imaging tests such as ultrasound. The condition causes obesity, infertility, hirsutism, and irregular bleeding (or no bleeding at all) due to hormonal imbalance as eggs do not mature and ovulation may or may not take place consistently. The cause of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is unknown; however, the treatment can regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Miscarriages
When a woman bleeds during pregnancy, it is an alarming sign as at times it is a sign of miscarriage. There are complications associated with a miscarriage which is why post-care is very important. After undergoing a miscarriage, it may take some time for a woman’s menstrual functions to get back to normal followed by frequent irregular bleeding.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a condition where a fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, at times, in the fallopian tube. Such pregnancies can’t survive and must be terminated immediately before the fallopian tube bursts. Ectopic pregnancy may also disrupt regular periods and affect the cycle length for some time.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids are the growths that take place in the uterus wall. Mostly, fibroids are not cancerous and have variation in sizes; however, they can cause irregular menstrual cycles accompanied by severe pain and heavy flow that may cause anemia.
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones can also affect the menstrual cycle. How? In a condition known as hypothyroidism, there are not sufficient thyroid hormones produced which causes heavier and longer periods.
Treatment of Abnormal Menstruation
Since abnormal menstruation is caused by several reasons, there is no generic treatment that can work for all the underlying causes.
If a woman has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a doctor may prescribe her hormonal birth control pills to start her periods. If thyroid disorder is triggering irregular bleeding, doctors suggest the intake of thyroid hormones.
Uterine fibroids can be treated medically or surgically depending on the case. If there are mild symptoms, your doctor may suggest some over-the-counter pain killers. However, if there is heavy bleeding, you may need to take iron supplements to make up for the blood loss.
Similarly, the treatment of irregular bleeding due to endometriosis may have different cures which vary from case to case. In severe cases, surgery is required to treat the condition which ultimately makes the period cycle better.
The Bottom Line
It is important to understand that an irregular menstrual cycle is normal occasionally. However, if it gets frequent or becomes a pattern every month, you must go to a healthcare professional. You can treat the temporary causes of irregular bleeding such as stress, stopping birth control pills, or making lifestyle changes. Most of the causes of menstrual irregularities are not harmful, but some are, which is why you must not take them lightly. Now, you can easily buy sanitary pads online that too in the best prices in Pakistan.
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