Article

Periods of change: factors that affect your menstrual cycle

Dr. Robert Wool
July 2, 2024
Periods of change: factors that affect your menstrual cycle

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.

Related posts

Looking for more women's health insights?

Period Protection: Menstrual Cups and Period Underwear
Period Protection: Menstrual Cups and Period Underwear

When “Auntie Flo” comes calling, you now have more options than ever for how to respond. Most women are familiar with pads and tampons, but we’ve had questions from patients about two newer period protection options: menstrual cups and period underwear. Here, we break down the pros and cons of each.

Read More
Icon
 4 Health Risks that Increase with Menopause
4 Health Risks that Increase with Menopause

Often referred to as “going through the change,” perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, can last several years. You are officially “in” menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months. While this often comes as a relief, there are several health risks that increase with menopause, thanks to lower estrogen levels. Below, we discuss four common risks—heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and incontinence—and share steps you can take to reduce them.

Read More
Icon
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month: Help is available for this challenging condition
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month: Help is available for this challenging condition

Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of a woman’s uterus is found outside the uterus, most commonly in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the outside of the uterus, or other organs or ligaments.This tissue develops in the same way as the tissue inside the uterus each month: it builds up, breaks down and sheds

Read More
Icon