Causes Of Irregular Menstrual Periods

Oligomenorrhea is a medical term which generally refers to irregular or infrequent menstrual periods with intervals of more than 35 days – however, the duration may vary from one person to another.

Your menstrual cycle can be disturbed if you change your method of contraception or you have an imbalance of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

It is not unusual to have a hormone imbalance for a few years after puberty and before the menopause and this can cause your menstrual cycle to become longer or shorter. Your periods may also become lighter or heavier as well.

If your irregular menstrual periods are caused by these age-related factors mentioned above, you will not usually need to see your Doctor or take any medication to correct it.

Below are the likely causes of irregular menstrual periods;

Lifestyle

The following lifestyle factors can upset your balance of hormones and cause irregular bleeding:

extreme weight loss or weight gain
excessive exercise
stress ( click here to read about how stress affects women fertility)

Contraceptives

An intrauterine system (IUS) or contraceptive pill may cause spotting between periods.

An intrauterine device (IUD) doesn’t cause irregular periods, but can cause heavy bleeding or painful bleeding.

Small bleeds, known as breakthrough bleeds, are common when the contraceptive pill is first used. They are usually lighter and shorter than normal periods, and usually stop within the first few months.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic OvarianSyndrome (PCOS) occurs when very small cysts (small, fluid-filled sacs) develop in the ovaries.

The usual symptoms of PCOS are irregular or light periods, or no periods at all. This is because, in women with PCOS, ovulation (the release of an egg) may not take place as often as normal. Also, the production of hormones may be unbalanced, and you could have higher levels of testosterone than normal (this is a male hormone that women normally have a small amount of).

Gynaecological problems

Irregular bleeding can also be due to unsuspected pregnancy, early miscarriage or problems with the womb or ovaries. Your Doctor may refer you to a gynaecologist (specialist in diseases of the female reproductive system) if further investigation and treatment will be needed.

Thyroid disorders: Poor thyroid function may cause the menstrual cycle to stop. An overactive thyroid that produces too many thyroid hormones is called Hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid is underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormones. An absent menstrual cycle is a sign of hyperthyroidism, where irregular or heavy cycles may be a sign of hypothyroidism.

Premature Ovarian Failure

POF, also known as Ovarian Hypofunction, is defined as a loss of normal ovarian function before the age of 40. The menstrual cycle may cease before the age of 40, or become sporadic. There are a variety of reasons this may happen.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. As perimenopause progresses toward menopause, it is normal for menstrual cycles to become irregular and for hormone levels to fluctuate. The menstrual cycle may become absent for many cycles and then suddenly come back for a couple cycles, and then come back again, becoming sporadic for some years. As ovarian reserve diminishes and egg health declines, FSH levels rise, the menstrual cycle will become more and more irregular, until eventually it stops.

Menopause is defined as absent menstruation for a year or longer. Menopause may also be confirmed by elevated FSH levels between 60 to 100mL/L on two tests done at least 1 month apart, and/or LH level greater than 50mIU/L and estradiol less than 50pg/mL. Natural therapies cannot reverse the aging process, or bring back the menstrual cycles in a woman who has already gone through, or is going through menopause.

When To Seek Medical Help

If you have not had a menstrual period for 3 consecutive cycles or more, it is time to make an appointment with your healthcare practitioner.