Causes of irregular menstruation and Handling

Before stating your periods irregular, let us first agree on what is called irregular. Not all women are the same. There are women who have regular menstrual cycles, such as "life calendar", there is irregular. The most common cycle is 28 days, but can vary from 21 to 35 days. Beginning of the cycle forward or backward 1 to 3 days is normal. Menstrual bleeding generally lasts for 5 days, but the bleeding up to 7 days is still considered normal.

Irregular menstruation is called only when it does not follow the normal pattern of your cycle. Anovulation (do not release eggs) is a major cause of delay menstruation in many women. This condition is considered normal if it happens only once or twice a year. Menstruation is also irregular in a few months or years after the first menstruation (menarkhe). This is because the hormones that control the menstrual takes time to reach equilibrium.

According to obstetrician Gita Pratama, if irregular menstrual cycles means no disruption of ovulation in the female body. Ovulatory disorders can result in decreased fertility, and even lead to infertility or sterility.


Menstrual disorders can be triggered by several factors, among others stress, disruption of reproductive hormones, thyroid gland disorders, exercise too strenuous, and anorexia nervosa. One of the diseases caused by hormonal disorder polycystic ovary syndrome. This syndrome occurs when the body makes too much of the hormone testosterone so that the process of ovulation occurs irregularly or not at all.

This syndrome is characterized by the growth of fine hair more thicker around the mouth or nipple, easy facial acne, and obesity.

Menstrual irregularities caused by things related to lifestyle or health problems.

1. Lifestyle
Certain lifestyle can disrupt the menstrual cycle, including:

• Increased stress. It is the most common cause. When you experience stress because of too much work, pressure from friends or family demands, your periods may become irregular. When you're stressed, the adrenal glands secrete the hormone cortisol, which have a direct impact on some of the hormones involved in menstruation such as estrogen and progesterone.
• Extreme weight loss. Although the low weight is a common cause irregular menstruation, obesity can also cause menstrual problems. In this situation, the brain can not trigger hormones that are appropriate for follicle development, which is needed to make estrogen.
• Breastfeeding. Many women experience menstrual irregularities through breastfeeding.
• Contraception. Birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUD) / spiral can cause bleeding between menstrual periods. Mild bleeding is unusual when a new take contraceptive pills. IUD / spiral even can also cause severe bleeding.
• Poor nutrition, drugs, smoking, and caffeine in certain cases can disrupt the menstrual cycle.

2. Health Conditions
Some health conditions that can disrupt the menstrual cycle, among others:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS occurs when some very small cysts develop in the ovaries. The ovaries produce follicles that produce high levels of estrogen but never release an egg, resulting in irregular menstruation.
• Hormone imbalance associated with perimenopause. Perimenopause is the transition period before menopause hormonal. Technically, menopause occurs when menstruation you stopped for 12 consecutive months since last menses. However, there is rarely women who menstruate regularly until suddenly stops altogether. Much more common is changing the menstrual cycle for a few years or months before reaching menopause. This irregularity is caused by an imbalance of progesterone, the hormone that regulates the amount and duration of bleeding. Fluctuations in progesterone makes menstruation last longer or shorter.
• Androgen hormone imbalance. Some women experience irregular periods because it has too much androgen. The male hormone that is normally only slightly in a woman's body can cause hair growth on the face, chin, chest, and abdomen, and sometimes associated with excessive weight.
• Thyroid disorders. The thyroid gland produces hormones that keep the body's metabolism. Thyroid function is closely linked to all the hormones in your body. Thyroid hormones are not balanced as the hypothyroidism can lead to various symptoms such as irregular periods, fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
• Premature ovarian failure. This condition is when you stop menstruating before the age of 40. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy abdomen or pelvis may cause premature ovarian failure.
• Other conditions such as abnormalities of the uterus (fibroids, cysts, polyps, endometriosis), irritable bowel syndrome, tuberculosis, heart disease, and diabetes can also cause menstrual irregularities, though rare.

Tips for you

Menstrual irregularities stem from hormonal imbalance. Whatever you do to restore hormonal balance also will restore your menstrual cycle.

The following tips may help:

Reduce stress and improve your nutritional status. Try to relax and enjoy life. Enough rest at night. Change your diet to be more balanced by increasing the intake of complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables and water.
Exercise regularly, but moderate.
If you worry cause irregular menstruation is a disease or other condition, consult a physician. Ask your doctor the possible causes of your menstrual irregularities. You especially need to see a doctor if your periods are also accompanied by heavy or prolonged bleeding, pain after sex, abdominal pain, excessive hair growth, weight gain without cause, or smelling discharge.



Source: From Various Sources