The menstrual cycle is typically 21 to 28 days; however, the amount of days in the menstrual cycle can change due to medical conditions, stress, illness, medication and lifestyle changes with exercising and dieting. Exercising excessively or participating in strenuous sports can delay your period.
Normal Menses
Menstrual cycle lengths vary from woman to woman; however, the average menstrual cycle occurs every 28 days with between four and seven days of bleeding. The menstrual cycle can change lengths because of stress, hormonal changes and medication side effects or from having reproductive diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome or uterine fibroids. Exercise can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles.
Absent Menstrual Cycle
Absent menstrual cycles that occur after a woman previously had regular menstrual cycles comprise secondary amenorrhea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Symptoms that may accompany a period's absence are headache, vaginal dryness, weight gain, weight loss and voice changes. Significant weight gain or loss and too much exercise can result in absent menstrual cycles, according to the university.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Bleeding between periods, bleeding after having sex, and menstrual cycles that are less than 28 days or more than 35 days apart are all considered abnormal conditions. Some women experience abnormal menstrual cycles while taking birth control pills, after pregnancy or from changes in diet or exercise routine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although exercise is prescribed for women with irregular menstrual cycles, suddenly adding exercise to your lifestyle to lose weight, or exercising too much, can cause menstrual irregularities, which may be temporary.
Considerations
Reducing physical activity, in some cases, may be enough to restore menses; however, address prolonged cases to your physician. Your physician may prescribe birth control pills or hormone pills to reinstate the menstrual cycle.
