12 Causes of Irregular Periods
Introduction
Women are usually very aware of their periods. An irregular period can be an indication of health issues and should be looked at by a professional. Although most women experience this as a normal part of life, there are certain factors that can disrupt the flow of blood to your uterus, causing your period to stop or become irregular.
Irregular Periods: What Is the Cause?
There are many factors that may lead to irregular periods, including:
- Obesity or excessive weight loss.
- Endometriosis.
- Uterine fibroids.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Irregular Periods And Effective DIET Plan
- Diet Plan For Irregular Periods
Women who experience irregular periods are often confused about what they should do to manage their cycles. However, there are lots of ways to help you get on track and start having regular menstrual cycles again. Here’s what you can do:
Why is My Period Late?
There are a number of reasons for this, including stress, excessive exercise, illness and weight loss. Other possible causes include medication and changes in diet or alcohol consumption.
How Food Can Help Regularize Periods
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Limit your caffeine intake (no more than two cups of coffee per day).
- Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid processed foods.
- Include soy in your diet (edamame or tofu). You can also take a daily multivitamin to make sure that you’re getting enough iron, which is essential for the proper function of red blood cells and iron deficiency is one cause of irregular periods.
#1 Obesity:
Obesity is an important cause of menstrual irregularities. If you are overweight, your endocrine system may not be functioning properly. This can lead to irregular periods or amenorrhea (absence of a period).
In addition, obesity may also increase your risk for developing endometrial cancer, the most common form of uterine cancer and the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide.
#2 Excessive Weight Loss:
If your BMI (body mass index) is above 25, you may have an irregular period. Weight loss can also cause irregular periods. This is because body fat stores estrogen and progesterone, which are hormones that help regulate the menstrual cycle.
When a woman loses weight rapidly or extremely quickly, her body does not have time to adjust to the change in hormone levels and therefore experiences a delay in the menstrual cycle. In addition, when people lose weight too fast they lose fat from their bodies but not necessarily from their organs such as the liver or kidneys – this results in those organs becoming smaller which disrupts hormonal production even further.
#3 Endometriosis:
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. The displaced tissues may attach to other organs in your pelvis such as your ovaries, bowel or bladder. This can cause symptoms such as severe menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding between periods (notably during intercourse). In addition, if you are pregnant with endometrial tissue on your ovaries you may have difficulty becoming pregnant. Endometriosis is most common among women aged 25–40 years old; however it can affect women at any age.
#4 Uterine Fibroids:
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow on the uterus. They’re common in women of reproductive age, and can cause pain, heavy bleeding and infertility. Some cancers are caused by uterine fibroids, but these are rare.
If you have uterine fibroids, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove them if they cause symptoms or become large enough to interfere with the ability to get pregnant or maintain a healthy pregnancy if you want children (pregnancy).
#5 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of irregular periods. It’s a hormone imbalance, but it can also have an effect on your weight and fertility.
If you have PCOS, you might notice that:
- Your periods are unpredictable or absent
- You get acne on your face and chest area
- You don’t start to develop body hair until later in life than normal
- You gain weight easily, especially around the waistline
Women with PCOS are more likely to be overweight than other women. If you think that you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), tell your doctor about any symptoms so he or she can diagnose it properly and find the best treatment for you.
#6 Perimenopause:
- Perimenopause is the period of time before menopause when a woman’s menstrual cycle becomes irregular or stops completely for a period of time.
- It can last for several years, but the average length is around four years.
#7 Prolactin:
Prolactin is a hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland. It is responsible for producing breast milk and lactation. The levels of prolactin are high during pregnancy, which means that it can interfere with menstruation. To avoid this, you should eat foods rich in vitamin B6 (pork, whole grains, bananas) and magnesium (dark chocolate).
#8 Birth Control Pills:
Birth control pills can also cause irregular periods. Birth control pills are a form of medication, so it’s important to speak with your doctor about any side effects you experience like weight gain, headaches and mood changes.
Birth Control Pills:
- Are Hormonal Medications
- Can Cause Irregular Periods
- Could Impact Your Body Image (e.g., Weight Gain)
#9 Thyroid:
Thyroid problems affect millions of people worldwide. It is the most common hormone disorder and affects 1 out of every 8 women in the United States alone, according to the American Thyroid Association.
Thyroid problems can lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, both of which are conditions that influence your body’s production and use of hormones. Here are a few things to know about thyroid issues:
- Hyperthyroidism – High levels of active thyroid hormone (T3) causes this condition. Symptoms include weight loss, increased heart rate and shakiness due to low levels of potassium in your blood stream. This condition can be dangerous if left untreated for an extended period of time because it raises your risk for heart disease as well as stroke
#10 Heavy Exercise:
Exercise is a great way to keep your weight down and stay healthy, but it can also cause irregular periods. If you’re feeling tired because of exercise, take a break from it for a few days. Exercise can help you sleep better and manage stress, so if your period doesn’t come back after taking a break from exercising, try that first!
#11 Cancer:
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body start to grow out of control. Cancer cells can spread from one part of the body to another through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. The abnormal cells may even break away and spread to other parts of your body, which is called metastasis.
Cancer happens when something goes wrong with genes, proteins, or other substances that control cell growth.
#12 Mental Pressure
Mental pressure can also cause irregular periods. Stress and anxiety are known to cause an imbalance in the body, and this can affect your menstrual cycle. If you’re stressed out about something, it’s likely that your period will be delayed or missed until you feel more relaxed. This is because stress affects hormone levels in the body, which may make it difficult for an egg to meet up with sperm during ovulation (the release of eggs from a woman’s ovaries).
- Irregular periods are more common among women who experience heavy stress levels.
- Stress may also lead to irregular periods by causing changes in hormone levels that disrupt regular ovulation patterns.
- For example: if you’re very stressed out one month and have some difficulty getting pregnant because of this situation (i.e., low arousal), it might make sense why this could happen during times when there are higher levels of stress in general rather than just now being under particular pressure from work deadlines coming up soon or some other source outside yourself (such as family issues).
Conclusion
It is important to remember that irregular periods are not something to be embarrassed about. They can happen for many reasons, and it’s important to talk about them with your doctor so you can get the help you need.
