Introduction

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, the cause may be related to stress, illness or other health conditions. Irregular periods are a common condition that affects up to 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. When your period is irregular, it means that one month it doesn't come on time and another month it comes earlier than expected.

The most common cause of an abnormal menstrual cycle is stress or anxiety (which can affect many aspects of your life including diet and sleep). Hormonal changes caused by stress may also cause abnormal hormonal changes which can disrupt ovulation and prevent you from getting pregnant. Other factors such as certain medical conditions, medications or recent weight loss could all play a role in causing an abnormal menstrual cycle.

Absence of Menstruation

If you have no period for three or more months, or if you skip your period for two or more months in a row, you may be suffering from amenorrhea. Amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation (usually referring to the absence of menses). A variety of conditions can cause amenorrhea, including:

  • Hypothalamic dysfunction 
  • Pituitary problems 
  • Damage to the uterus and/or cervix 
  • Endometriosis 

Damage to the Uterus or Cervix

Damage to the uterus or cervix can cause irregular menstrual cycles. This is usually caused by trauma, infection, or cancer. Other symptoms include pain during sex and pain during urination. Bleeding between periods is also common.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus. This can happen on the ovaries, ligaments, and other areas of your pelvic cavity.

The most common symptoms of endometriosis are chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Other symptoms include heavy menstrual periods and painful bowel movements during your period.

Endometriosis can also cause severe pain during sex or light bladder leakage when you cough, jump or exercise hard.. Women with endometriosis have an increased risk of developing ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths), as well as certain kinds of cancers like uterine cancer

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of irregular menstrual cycles. It's also the most common cause of female infertility.

PCOS is a hormone disorder where your ovaries produce high levels of androgens, which are male hormones. PCOS symptoms include:

  • Irregular periods (missing or having more than one period in a month)
  • Acne and excess body hair growth on the face and chin, upper back, chest area, stomach area, thighs or buttocks

You can have PCOS even if you don't have these symptoms! Many women with this condition never know they have it because they don't get any symptoms at all.

Hormone Imbalance

There are many reasons why someone might experience an abnormal menstrual cycle, but one of the most common causes is hormone imbalance.

Hormone imbalances can be caused by several factors, including stress, diet and exercise. These imbalances may cause your body to produce too much or too little estrogen (a female sex hormone) or progesterone (a female reproductive hormone). In extreme cases, these imbalances can affect other hormones like testosterone or cortisol as well. Some of the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance include irregular periods and weight gain/loss.

Thyroid Problems

  • The thyroid gland is located in the neck and it produces hormones that help regulate metabolism.
  • When your thyroid becomes underactive, it can lead to weight gain and fatigue, as well as depression.
  • If you suspect that you may have a thyroid problem, talk to your doctor about blood tests that can help determine whether or not this is the cause of your irregular menstrual cycle.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can be caused by bacteria that enter the reproductive tract during sex. PID may lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy, which is a life-threatening condition where a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus (such as in your fallopian tube). PID is serious and requires immediate treatment.

There are several possible causes of an abnormal menstrual cycle.

A menstrual cycle is a process that prepares the uterus for pregnancy. A woman gets her period about two weeks after ovulation, which happens when an egg is released from one of her ovaries and moves into her fallopian tube. If you don't get pregnant and you're not breastfeeding, this whole thing happens again about every 28 days until you go through menopause (which means no more periods).

The hormonal system that regulates this process is called the endocrine system—a network of glands throughout your body that produce hormones to control everything from moods to growth spurts during puberty to blood sugar levels. The main hormones involved in regulating the menstrual cycle are estrogen and progesterone; they're made by several different organs in your body, including:

  • The pituitary gland (located at the base of your brain)
  • Ovaries (located on either side of where a woman's bladder empties)

When these organs release certain amounts of estrogen and progesterone over time, they send signals to other parts of your body so they know when it's time to start making eggs or getting ready for pregnancy.

Conclusion

If you have any questions or concerns about your menstrual cycle, don't hesitate to speak with a doctor

or book Online Gynecologist Consultation.