Irregular Menstrual Periods: What Should You Do?

Irregular menstrual cycles usually cause women some concern. In this article you'll find helpful advice on finding out why your periods are irregular and how to regulate them. 

A regular menstrual period occurs every 28 days on average and it lasts for the same duration each time. Nonetheless, some women can experience irregular menstrual periods with cycles that are longer or shorter than the average. What should you do if you have irregular menstrual periods?

Experiencing irregular menstrual periods means the interval between your periods varies from month-to-month. There may be several potential causes. The reasons can range from something relatively insignificant to problems that may require medical treatment.

For example, external factors can affect the regularity of your periods. You may find your cycle becomes irregular due to rigorous exercise, stress, hormonal medications, strong emotions, lack of sleep, or even jet lag.

What to do to regulate your menstrual periods?

There are many reasons why your menstrual periods may become irregular. Nonetheless, we’ve listed some of the most common reasons for irregular menstrual periods, along with helpful advice, in the article below.

1. Seek medical treatment

If you have irregular menstrual periods, the first step is to talk with your gynecologist so they can order some tests and determine the specific cause for the irregularity. They’ll help you to treat the root of the problem. Consequently, the right course of treatment depends on the cause of your irregular menstrual periods.

Depending on the problem, you might need medical treatment or surgery. If no physical reason for the irregularities is detected, you should follow a hormonal treatment meant to regulate the menstrual cycle. In the case of an irregular menstrual period caused by a progesterone deficiency, it’s possible to treat this by taking birth control pills with progesterone.

2. Use medicinal plants

There are also solutions based in herbal medicines that can help regulate your menstrual periods naturally. Among those plants that can regulate hormonal levels in women are sage, parsley, chaste tree, ginger, camomile, or rosemary.

Furthermore, it’s advisable to use the natural herbs and plants listed above in the form of a tea or infusion or to include them in your favorite dishes. They can help bring equilibrium to the menstrual cycle.

3. Avoid stress

Stress can take a great toll on your overall health. In the case of your menstrual period, experiencing a lot of tension and anxiety can prevent ovulation. It can also lead to a progesterone deficiency, as well as make your cycles irregular.

The easiest way to combat stress is to breathe deeply. Abdominal breathing is the basis of all relaxation. For this reason, yoga sessions and meditation are highly recommended. They’ll teach you how to relax by breathing and helping you to regenerate.

4. Irregular menstrual periods: maintain a balanced diet

Normally, if you follow a diet that is varied and balanced in terms of nutrition, the body will be receiving all that it needs to function optimally. Moreover, a good diet can also have a positive effect on the regularity of your menstrual periods.

It’s advisable that you include fruits and vegetables that are very high in vitamins and fiber. It’s also good to avoid sugar and fats, and it’s best to opt for healthy fats like vegetable fats or fish that is high in omega 3, like sardines.

“Excessive participation in sports, stress, and hormonal medications, strong emotions, lack of sleep and even jet lag can cause you to have irregular menstrual periods.”

5. Give your body the rest it needs

An irregular sleep rhythm can also affect your menstrual cycle directly, and it can have an impact on hormone levels. Indeed, a lack of sleep can interrupt the production of melatonin and deteriorate the reproductive hormones that affect ovulation and menstruation.

In addition, frequent travel and changing time zones can also affect the production of melatonin. This can cause irregularities in menstrual cycles. To avoid this, it’s important to go to sleep and to wake up at regular hours to assure sufficient sleep.

6. Regulate hormonal problems

Irregular menstrual periods are often caused by a hormonal imbalance and more specifically because of a deficiency in progesterone. In the same way, the production of male hormones in excessive quantities impedes regularity as well.

On the other hand, irregular periods can also have organic causes like an infection, the presence of a tumor, polyps, and endometriosis. In these cases, it’s necessary to consult your gynecologist to detect the problem and to address it with the right course of treatment.

7. Irregular menstrual periods: control your weight

Gaining an excessive amount of weight or losing an excessive amount of weight can cause irregularities or even stop you from getting your period altogether. Certainly, weight fluctuations have a negative impact on the pituitary gland and cause a hormonal imbalance.

Finally, don’t forget to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It can have a positive effect on your general health and in the case of your menstrual cycle. In any case, any irregularity in your menstrual periods needs to be assessed by your gynecologist to determine the cause and to choose the right treatment.