Irregular Periods
Irregular periods occur when an individual’s menstrual cycle is shorter or longer than the average length. Refers to changes in the timing, duration, or flow of your menstrual cycle.Menstrual periods typically last four to seven days and occur roughly every 28 days. Examples of irregular periods include periods that occur fewer than 21 days or more than 35 days apart, missing three or more periods in row, and menstrual flow that’s much heavier or lighter than usual.
Types :
Common types of irregular periods include:
- Amenorrhea: Periods stop completely
- Oligomenorrhea: Period occurs infrequently
- Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods
- Heavy menstrual bleeding: Excessive period bleeding
- Abnormal uterine bleeding: Bleeding between periods
- Polymenorrhea: Frequent periods
Reason For Irregular Periods
Several possible causes of irregular periods include pregnancy, stress, uncontrolled diabetes, uterine cancer, and more. The most common causes of irregular periods are
Hormonal Imbalance:Changes in hormone levels, especially oestrogen and progesterone, often cause irregular menstruation. Hormonal imbalance is common during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a common condition where small cysts form on the ovaries. It can disrupt ovulation, leading to irregular bleeding or skipped periods.
- Stress: Emotional or physical stress can impact your hormones, which may delay or interrupt your cycle.
- Endometriosis: This condition causes endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus. It can cause abnormal bleeding and significant pain with periods.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): An infection (typically a sexually transmitted infection) in the reproductive organs that leads to inflammation and irregular periods.
- Excessive Exercise or Weight Changes: Sudden weight gain, weight loss, or over-exercising can affect your menstrual cycle.
- Thyroid Disorders: An overactive or underactive thyroid can impact your menstrual cycle, leading to irregular periods.
- Uterine Fibroids or Polyps: Growths in the uterus can cause heavy bleeding or irregular menstruation.
- Birth Control Methods: Hormonal contraceptives, like pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), or injections, may initially cause irregular periods.
- Peri menopause: Women approaching menopause may notice irregular cycles as hormone levels fluctuate.
- Medications or Health Conditions: Certain medications, diabetes, or other medical issues can influence your period cycle.
- Poor Lifestyle Choices: Lack of sleep, unhealthy eating habits, and smoking can contribute to irregular menstruation.
Symptoms :
- Menstrual cycle shorter than 24 days
- Menstrual cycle longer than 38 days
- A menstrual cycle that changes by more than 20 days each month
- Heavy bleeding
- Light bleeding
- Painful periods
Recognising these signs is key to addressing potential concerns and maintaining reproductive health:
- Inconsistent cycle lengths: The time between periods keeps changing.
- Missed periods: Skipping a period without pregnancy.
- Unusually heavy or light flow: Noticeable changes in the amount of bleeding.
- Spotting or irregular bleeding: Bleeding occurs between periods.
- Long gaps between periods: Cycles longer than 35 days.
- Shortened cycles: Periods arriving too soon, less than 21 days apart.
These symptoms can vary for each person, and it is important to observe your cycle over time to spot any changes.
Treatment :
The goal of Ayurvedic treatment for irregular menses is to restore the hormonal balance and
fertility.Irregular periods treatment in Ayurveda involves Ayurvedic medicines, herbal
remedies, diet, yoga and lifestyle changes. This holistic approach helps to detox, ignite
digestive fire for balanced nutrition, regulate menstrual cycle for regular ovulation and
fertility, and reduce stress for mental wellness and hormonal balance.
Here are the steps involved in Ayurvedic treatment for irregular menses:
- Detoxification to get rid of toxins and inflammation in the body.
- Ignite digestive fire to promote digestion and nutritional sufficiency.
- Hormone Balance to support regular ovulation & boost fertility.
- Promote Mental wellness & stress reduction through ayurvedic remedies, yoga, pranayama & meditation.
- Rejuvenation with rasayana to boost immunity & raise energy level.
- Balanced Nutrition with individual specific diet to nurture body tissues.