A woman's menstrual period represents the shedding of her uterine lining. Generally, women have periods lasting anywhere from four to 10 days long approximately once every four to five weeks. While most women are quite regular, meaning that their periods arrive within a day or two of the expected date each cycle, others have very irregular periods. This can be frustrating and lead to a variety of inconveniences.
Health Issues
While many women have irregular periods as a matter of course, for others, irregular periods are problematic because they indicate one of a variety of health problems. According to the American Association of Family Physicians, or AAFP, women can have irregular periods because of sudden weight loss or gain, uterine fibroids, hormone problems, and as a result of infectious processes. The AAFP recommends seeing a physician if periods become irregular suddenly after years of routine cycles, or if irregular periods are accompanied by pain or a foul-smelling discharge. While the irregularity of the period in itself isn't necessarily a problem, it nevertheless indicates that something may be amiss in the reproductive system.
Family Planning
Another problem associated with irregular periods is that they can make it difficult to utilize natural family planning as a form of birth control. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, natural family planning involves charting the menstrual cycle from month to month in order to prevent conception. Since ovulation typically occurs 10-14 days prior to the first day of the menstrual period, women who regularly chart their menstrual cycles can learn to predict ovulation and avoid sex at that time. Irregular periods make it difficult to predict the next menstrual period, and as such, may decrease the effectiveness of natural family planning techniques.
Conception
Finally, women hoping to conceive a child may be thwarted by irregular periods. Because fertilization occurs most predictably when a couple has intercourse within a day of ovulation, women hoping to get pregnant often predict their ovulation dates in order to time intercourse in order to achieve conception. Unfortunately, irregular periods make this quite difficult. Further, note Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel in their book, "What To Expect When You're Expecting," some women have irregular periods because they're anovulatory, meaning they aren't ripening and releasing eggs each month. Without a ripe, viable egg, fertilization can't take place, which precludes the possibility of pregnancy. Women who have difficulty getting pregnant and experience irregular periods should consult with a physician to rule out anovulation.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Irregular Periods
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Irregular Periods
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
