Irregular menstrual cycle: symptoms and causes

No clear cycle — one of the most frequent reasons for visiting a gynecologist.

And at doctor reception it often turns out that other women health problems (infertility, metabolic syndrome, and others) originate from an irregular menstrual cycle. And, what is even more unpleasant, in almost half of the cases, such negative changes on the part of the reproductive system could be eliminated without any problems and remain without complications with an early visit to doctor.

Therefore, it is important to know what causes of menstrual irregularitiesand when to consult a specialist.

• Causes of irregular menstruation
• Natural changes in hormonal background
• Pathological causes of cycle disorders
• Irregular menstrual cycle: when to see a doctor

Causes of irregular menstruation

If you sort all the causes by their frequency — from less to more common — the list will look like this.

Wrong count of the days of the menstrual cycle.

Even today, with the ubiquity of information, many women keep records starting from the last day of menstruation, or focusing on a calendar date. This leads to the fact that even a perfectly clear cycle looks "lost" — the first day of menstruation is not able to constantly fall on the same date, and the duration of menstruation, which can fluctuate within physiological limits from 3 to 7 days, constantly shifts the date of the last day of menstruation.

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Therefore, it is important to count the cycle correctly: from the first day of one menstruation, to the first day of the next.

Natural  hormonal changes

At puberty, during breastfeeding, when entering the menopausal age, the cycle of menstruation can vary greatly in a natural way. This is included in the list of physiological, healthy phenomena: in a teenage girl, the formation of a cycle occurs, in a nursing mother, the cycle can be shifted due to a large amount of lactation hormones, and when reproductive functions decline, the production of female sex hormones decreases.

Conditionally normal reasons can also include taking oral contraceptives: an unstable cycle can be observed for several months from the start of taking the pills.

Pathological causes of cycle disorders

 This list includes:

• Compliance with extremely low-calorie diets or a strong decrease in body weight for other reasons. At the same time, the percentage of subcutaneous adipose tissue is critically reduced, without which the chain of biochemical reactions that ensure the synthesis of sex hormones is broken.

• Excessive physical or psycho-emotional stress. In this case, the cycle may be disrupted due to the production of a large amount of stress hormones that block the synthesis of female sex hormones.

• Diseases of the organs of the reproductive system. These can be inflammatory or infectious processes in the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, ovarian neoplasms (benign or malignant tumors).

• Endocrine disorders of a general nature. The thyroid gland, pituitary gland and hypothalamus play an important role in the chain of sex hormone synthesis. In diseases of these endocrine glands, the reactions necessary for the regulation of the menstrual cycle may be interrupted.

Read also: Early menopause: the clues your body gives

The listed reasons make it clear that menstrual irregularities can occur under a variety of circumstances. But why you have developed such disorders, only a doctor can determine.

Irregular menstrual cycle: when to see a doctor

Irregular menstrual cycle itself reveals itself with all evidence: menstruation comes a few days earlier or later than usual.

But this condition indicates an already developed (and sometimes —— already advanced) disease that needs long-term treatment.Therefore, gynecologists recommend making an appointment with doctor, without waiting for such a development of events, and  ;advise to pay attention to the following symptoms of incipient disorders:

• Painful periods

• Pronounced PMS (headache, abdominal pain, mood swings, nausea, apathy)

• Uncomfortable or painful sensations in the chest that occur during any period of the cycle

• Appearance of spotting or spotting in the middle of the cycle

• Change in the nature of menstrual flow (too much or too little of them quantity, unpleasant odor, heterogeneity of discharge)

• Change in the duration of menstruation (discharge continues longer than usual or, conversely, menstruation ends too quickly)

• Pain during or immediately after intercourse

• Excessive vaginal discharge outside of menstruation or, conversely, vaginal dryness

• Unexplained weight gain or loss

Read also: Where does the pain come from during menstruation

The listed reasons require a mandatory consultation with a gynecologist, who will conduct an appropriate examination to identify the causes of violations. Based on the results of the examination, treatment is prescribed, which may include hormonal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory therapy, surgical methods, nutrition and image correction life and other destinations.

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Be attentive to women's health: it — the basis of your motherhood, longevity and youth.

Read also: How to conceive a child with irregular periods