Why do Menstrual Cycles Vary?

Menstrual cycles seem pretty standard, it’s a monthly affair leaving you with the feelings of bloating, hunger and minor emotional ups and downs. Every women’s cycle may differ depending upon the age and hormones, periods can change throughout the lifetime, the timing duration and flow of periods can vary greatly which makes it difficult to determine what’s normal and abnormal.

The cycles can be categorized in two ways, either regular or irregular. This refers to how much a cycle varies, how many days a cycle lasts and how long is the duration changes over time. The irregularity may also refer to the level of pain and menstrual bleeding. Irregularity for a long time can be a reason to worry, always use a periods and fertility tracker for keeping your menses record safe.

Regular Variations

A menstrual cycle usually falls between 24-38 days in adults but, cycles will often have variations. For instance, if you’re stressed during the first half of your cycle, your ovulation may happen later than usual. The progesterone may take longer to peak itself causing certain symptoms to happen later, your period may be a couple of days later. They are quite common variations which can happen depending on the factors like diet, sleep, jet lag or regular smoking.

Irregular Variations

The date fluctuations are pretty normal but, if periods fluctuate for more than 7-9 days, they are considered as irregular variations! You can experience temporary irregularity due to stress or hormonal imbalances but, major changes in the cycle including a period skip, durations more than 40 days and lighter or heavier period for a prolonged time can be a matter to think twice and mark a visit to the doctor.

Possible causes of irregular cycles may be :-

• Working in odd hours
• High-intensity exercise
• PCOD
• Chronic illness medications

Severe condition behind irregularity can be endometriosis, a lady experiences severe pain and heavy bleeding which can be too dangerous to handle after a point of time.

What can be done?

Before checking out a solution, you must drill the roots! Find out what’s the reason behind it and try to work on same. If you’re not able to find the reason, visit your medical practitioner. Probably, you could be asked for a hormonal test, keep a prior record of your menses dates, use a menstrual cycle tracker for accurate dates and data, you can be asked to draw some blood on your cycle and let them get lab tested for irregularity reasons.
 
The treatment may depend upon the type of your irregularity. It may include anything from hormonal medication and behavioral or dietary changes to supplements that promote ovulation.
 
Keep complete care during your menstrual cycle and stay healthy.

Report this Page