Periods come every month for 4 to 7 days with a gap of 21 to 35 days. But when do periods start becoming irregular? It’s when periods aren’t regular every month and have a gap of fewer than 21 days or more than 35 days, with heavy or light menstrual bleeding. Irregular Periods can be reversed with a change in lifestyle and other medical treatments. 

Let’s have a detailed outlook on irregular periods, their causes, symptoms, and how it’s treated. 

What is an Irregular Period?

If a woman’s period does not occur every month and has a gap of more than 35 days or less than 21 days or comes after 2 or three months, is considered as irregular periods. It is due to lifestyle changes but can also be affected by infections or diseases causing it.

Symptoms of Irregular Periods 

• Menstrual flow is lighter or heavier than your usual periods
• Might skip a whole month or a two 
• Severe pain or cramps 
• Spotting or bleeding in between your periods 
• Your periods last for less than 4 days or more than 7 days 
• Sometimes accompanied with other symptoms 
• Bleeding after you have reached menopause 
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse

What’s Causing Irregular Periods

Irregular periods are caused by

• Stress or lifestyle changes 
• Unhealthy eating habits 
• Hormonal birth control 
• Uterine Polyps/ Fibroids 
• Endometriosis 
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 
• Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases 
• Pregnancy 
• Breastfeeding 
• Extreme changes in your weight 
• Certain Medications 
• Cancer 
• Excessive exercise

Treatment for irregular Periods 

Irregular Periods are treated depending upon the condition and the disease-causing it. Here are various ways how it’s treated.

• You can start managing your stress levels by doing meditation exercises or yoga can help you calm down. With an active lifestyle, your periods will start normally as usual. 
• Your diet should include high fiber foods and intake of supplements to improve vitamin levels in your body. 
• Various treatments like medications or surgically removing the abnormal growth can help your normal periods to start again. 
• While breastfeeding a small number of women might experience irregular periods, but your periods will return after you stop breastfeeding. 
• During Pregnancy, you might have light bleeding, your periods might stop. Once you give birth, your periods will come back. 
• Do not exercise excessively as these might cause irregular periods with various treatments and medications.

It’s better to visit a doctor in case of severe pain or bleeding accompanied by other symptoms like fever, nausea, etc, for early diagnosis and treatment.

How to avoid the risk of Irregular Periods 

• An active lifestyle with moderate exercise with a high fiber diet. 
• Take supplements or foods rich in vitamins as prescribed by your doctor 
• Take enough rest and a good amount of sleep 
• Manage your stress levels 
• Visit your doctor for routine checkups

Irregular periods might be irritating, but with your healthy routine and proper medications or other surgical procedures can be treated. For more queries regarding irregular periods, Visit Life Plus Hospital, best known for gynecology treatment in Indiranagar, Bangalore.