Dr. Ko Says: Symptoms and Causes of Irregular Periods

Irregular periods

(dysfunctional uterine bleeding)

The average woman cycles with her period about every 21-35 days. There are various reasons why a woman's cycle can be irregular—either more frequently or less frequently in an irregular pattern.

At the time of menarche, when a girl first has her period, the periods are often irregular for the first couple of years. This is normal, as the hormonal regulation is still immature. As a woman gets closer to menopause, her periods may become irregular again due to hormone dysregulation that occurs during this time of life. Menopause occurs when you are without a period for 12 months.

Some common causes of irregular periods are:

• Menarche
• Menopause (or perimenopause)
• Pregnancy
• Stress
• Illness
• Weight loss or weight gain (especially in a short period of time)
• Low body weight
• Increased/excessive exercise
• Breastfeeding

In these conditions your ovaries and uterus are working fine, but they are getting abnormal signals due to these conditions. Once these conditions have been corrected, then your periods should become regular again.

Other conditions that can affect your periods are:

• Thyroid disease
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Autoimmune disorder

If you are having irregular periods, first check a home pregnancy test. Also try to reduce stress, improve your eating habits and get to a healthy weight. If after you do this your period stays irregular, consult your primary health care provider for further evaluation.

Softcup can be helpful if you are experiencing irregular periods because it can be worn in anticipation of your period without interfering with your vaginal flora or pH. Softcup is a smart choice in period protection—especially if you are not sure when your period is going to come.

Dr. Christine Ko is a Board Certified Family Practice physician with more than 15 years of medical experience. Her interests and focus are in women's health, integrative medicine, and sports medicine, and her approach to clinical care centers on knowledge of the disease process as well as the individual. Dr. Ko is a champion of integrated and holistic medicine, and in addition to her traditional medical training, she is trained in both medical acupuncture and mesotherapy.