By the end of their teens, most women are well
acquainted with their own menstrual cycle. While some can fill their calendars
with a year’s worth of predictable 5-day blocks, others have learned to manage
some elements of surprise. Whatever a “normal” period is for you, you’ve probably
experienced something out of the norm from time to time—and wondered if you
should worry.
Your menstrual cycle: unique to you
Through
the decades that you’ll have a period, there are various factors that can and
will affect your usual cycle. Though
most irregularities are not a cause for serious concern, it’s important to
understand what might be going on when changes do occur.
The menstrual cycle is typically 21–35 days
long, counted from the first day of a period to the first day of the next one,
and bleeding typically lasts 3–7 days. Periods may be lighter or heavier, and
there may or may not be some cramping. While monthly
variation in all these aspects is part of many women’s “normal,” sometimes
there may be a specific cause behind the change.
What’s disrupting your pattern?
A number of things can throw off your personal
period pattern, from a lifestyle change to a reproductive disease that requires
treatment. Common culprits include:
·
Stress, excessive exercising or extreme weight loss. These can affect
hormones that regulate menstruation, causing late or even missed periods.
·
Contraceptives. Many women will experience lighter, more
regular and/or more comfortable periods when using birth control pills or other
hormonal contraceptives.
·
Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Periods generally stop
during pregnancy and may not return
while a woman is breastfeeding.
·
Age. Many women begin to experience menstrual changes, such as
longer, heavier or irregular periods, a few years before entering menopause.
·
Infection. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or another
infection of the reproductive organs may cause irregular bleeding and pain.
·
Uterine fibroids. Most common among women in their 30s, these
benign growths can cause heavier and/or more painful periods.
·
Endometriosis. Irregular bleeding, painful periods and
general pelvic pain could be due to endometriosis, a condition in which
tissue that lines the uterus begins to grow outside of it.
·
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This disorder of the
endocrine system affects ovulation, often causing infrequent or absent periods.
Rarely, menstrual irregularities or bleeding
between periods could signal a more serious problem, such as uterine cancer.
For this reason, as well as for general wellness, schedule an
appointment if you’re experiencing notable, bothersome or
ongoing changes in your periods. In most cases, we can successfully treat or
otherwise address the underlying issue—and provide some peace of mind.
