What are irregular periods?
Irregular periods can signal an underlying medical condition.
Typically, a woman’s menstruation (also called a period) occurs roughly every 28 days — or somewhere between 21 and 35 days. It usually lasts anywhere between four and seven days. For most women, their menstrual flow fluctuates throughout their period, but the pattern is mostly the same from month to month.
However, many women experience irregular periods, which can be unpredictable. For example, an irregular period might mean having a period that occurs more frequently than every 21 days or having a period that occurs less frequently than every 35 days — both of which are outside the normal range for a menstrual cycle.
An irregular period might mean missing multiple periods in a row or missing your period indefinitely. Women with irregular periods also sometimes experience drastic or unpredictable fluctuations in their flow.
Irregular periods often occur with many other symptoms. Side effects of irregular periods might include:
- Heavy bleeding
- Light bleeding
- Intense pain or cramping
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bleeding or spotting between menstruation
- Bleeding or spotting after sex
If you experience irregular periods or any of their side effects, it is important to see your doctor.
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Diagnosing irregular periods
To diagnose irregular periods and determine their underlying cause, your doctor will ask you about your last period and any symptoms you are experiencing. After reviewing your medical history and any record you have kept of your menstrual cycle, your doctor may run additional tests to pinpoint the cause.
These tests might include:
- Blood tests
- Pelvic ultrasounds
- Pap smears
- Pregnancy tests
- Urine collection
Treatments for irregular periods
Because irregular periods can be triggered by a range of underlying causes, there are several treatment options your doctor might recommend. Depending on your symptoms, these treatments might include:
- Hormone therapy
- Hormonal birth control
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Surgery
- Exercise
- Stress relief and stress management
- Dietary changes
Research shows that, with treatment or appropriate lifestyle changes, women can often regain regularity of their periods.