10 reasons why your menstrual cycle is irregular
An irregular menstrual cycle can be a source of worry for the woman or the girl. This can prevent the woman from knowing when her chances of getting pregnant are optimal. Here are 10 reasons why your cycle is irregular.
1) Birth control
Birth control pills contain oestrogen and progestin hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. It can take up to 6 months for your cycle to become regular after stopping the pill. Other types of contraceptives that are implanted or injected may also result in an irregular cycle.
2) Obesity
Just as low body weight can cause hormonal changes, overweight can result in irregular cycles. Your doctor will recommend a diet and exercise plan if he determine that obesity is a factor in your late or missed periods.
3) Age
When teens start having periods, their menstrual cycles may not always be regular each month. It can take several years to settle into a model. In addition, missed periods and lighter or heavier periods are common in women near menopause.
4) Stress
Stress can eliminate your hormones, change your daily routine, and even affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating your cycle – your hypothalamus. Over time, stress can lead to illness or sudden weight gain or loss, which can impact your cycle. If you think stress can affect your cycle, try practicing relaxation techniques and making changes in your lifestyle. Adding more exercise to your board can help you get back on track.
5) Low body weight
Women with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, may experience missed periods. Weighing 10% below what is considered a normal weight for your height can change the way your body works and stop ovulation.
Getting treatment for your eating disorder and gaining weight in a healthy way can bring your cycle back to normal. Women who participate extreme exercises such as marathons can also experience missed periods.
6) Alcohol
Drinking party could leave you with very lasting effects. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking even in amounts that do not harm your liver or other organs, can cause irregular menstrual cycles.
Alcohol can temporarily increase estrogen and testosterone levels, which can disrupt normal hormonal fluctuations necessary for ovulation. As a result, your cycle may become irregular.
7) Early perimenopause
Most women start menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Women who develop symptoms at about 40 years of age or older are considered to have early perimenopause. This means that your egg supply is decreasing, and the result will be missed periods and possibly the end of menstruation.
8) Other diseases
Thyroid disorders can cause irregular periods if blood levels of thyroid hormone are too low or too high. Other health problems that can cause an irregular cycle include sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, fibroids, eating disorders and endometriosis.
9) Excessive smoking
According to researchers, smoking can alter the levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones involved in a disorder of your menstrual cycle. Women who smoke also have shorter and more irregular menstrual cycles than nonsmokers.
10) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that makes your body produce more of the male androgen hormone. Cysts form on the ovaries as a result of this hormonal imbalance. This can make ovulation irregular or stop it completely.
