A woman's menstrual cycle---whether in the long or short-term---can be affected by many things. Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, says missing periods, having overly frequent periods or experiencing clotting or spotting is not uncommon and may be able to be treated with medicine. According to WomenToWomen.com, an average period occurs every 24 to 29 days, while McKinley Health Center adds cycles between 26 and 35 days are considered normal.
Common Causes
Being under stress---for any reason---causes the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, which affects hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and DHEA and can lead to irregular periods, notes Pick. Other common contributors include eating disorders, significant weight loss or gain, exercising too much, improper nutrition---especially eating a diet that's high in carbs---and taking certain medications. A woman's menstrual cycle also can become irregular after giving birth, following a miscarriage or after a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause refers to the stage when a woman enters the transition to menopause. According to Pick, perimenopause leads to a disruption in the hormones that regulate menstruation, progesterone in particular, leading to irregular periods. Progesterone is tied to the length and amount of bleeding a woman experiences, too.
Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle choices can play a role in your menstrual cycle, according to WomenToWomen.com. That includes drug use and excessive alcohol use, the latter of which causes the liver to metabolize progesterone and estrogen differently. Ingesting too much caffeine and smoking, likewise, can lead to an irregular cycle.
Diseases
A prolonged, irregular menstrual cycle can be indicative of a larger medical issue, so getting checked out by a doctor is wise, according to Pick. Examples include fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, polyps, polycystic ovarian syndrome and estrogen dominance. Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities and abnormalities of the reproductive organs may be present at birth and thus contribute to irregular menstruation, says UpToDate.com, which also notes low body weight can lead to hypothalamic amenorrhea, a condition in which the hypothalamus no longer releases the hormone GnRH.
