Abnormal periods can happen at any time in a woman's reproductive years. This can be due to stress, illnesses, resumption of menses after childbirth or when a girl first begins menstruating. However, there are several medical conditions and disease that can also cause abnormal menstrual bleeding.
Hormonal Imbalance
In the menstrual cycle, the hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuate from lower levels in the beginning of the cycle to higher levels midway through the cycle, then decline back to lower levels. This fluctuation in hormone levels normally occurs over a period of 25 to 36 days, according to Merck Manuals.
When the levels are low in the beginning of the cycle, a woman will experience a three to seven day bleed known as menstruation. This bleed will be followed a week later by a process known as ovulation, in which the hormones surge, to aid in the release of a matured egg. If for any reason the hormone levels are disrupted, bleeding will become irregular along with a host of other symptoms. Things that may cause fluctuations in the hormone levels are diabetes (uncontrolled) stress and certain autoimmune deficiencies.
Reproductive Diseases
Reproductive diseases such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome can cause a shift in the levels of estrogen and progesterone released every month. Endometriosis is a condition that causes the endometrium to grow in other places outside of the uterine cavity. This tissue, just as the tissue inside of the uterine cavity, bleeds monthly, causing pelvic cramping, heavy menstrual periods, pain with intercourse, bleeding between periods and infertility.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that is caused by an over secretion of the luteinizing hormone. This hormone normally sends a signal to the ovaries to produce estrogen in a normal amount, but with polycystic ovary syndrome, estrogen levels fluctuate and over-stimulates the follicles within the ovary causing a 'polycystic' appearance. This condition causes lack of ovulation, ovarian cysts, irregular menstrual cycles, hair loss, male pattern hair growth and Type 2 diabetes.
Abnormal Uterine Growths
Abnormal growths such as uterine fibroids can cause abnormal bleeding, at any point in the menstrual cycle. Uterine fibroids are uterine growths that form in the uterine muscle, under the surface of the uterine lining, under the outside covering of the uterus and hanging from the uterine cavity. These fibroids are estrogen sensitive and as long as a woman menstruates, they will continue to grow larger.According to MedlinePlus, these fibroids can range in size from microscopic to the size of the uterus itself.
Menopause
Approaching the end of a woman's reproductive years, she will enter a transitional stage known as perimenopause. According to MayoClinic.com, this stage occurs in a woman's 40s, but may appear as early as her 30s.
Perimenopause is the only stage of menopause in which a woman will still have a menstrual cycle. The menstrual bleeding will be highly irregular due to the wildly fluctuating level of the hormone estrogen in this stage. Periods may be heavy, scattered, spotty or more painful than usual.
Warnings
Women who experience bleeding that is heavy enough to soak a pad an hour, or bleeding accompanied by pain or heavy blood clots should seek help immediately.
