{"id":40468,"date":"2024-09-30T12:06:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=40468"},"modified":"2024-09-30T12:06:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:06:12","slug":"irregular-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/irregular-period\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Period Suddenly Irregular? Here\u2019s What Is and Isn\u2019t Normal Enough, According to an OB-GYN"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many joys of being a woman\u2026 but, for many, menstrual cycles don\u2019t exactly top the list. Before your period<\/a> comes, you might be among the estimated 75 percent of women<\/a> who experience PMS<\/a> symptoms like bloating<\/a> and irritability. When it arrives, you might bleed heavily through your tampon or pad, scurrying to do damage control before your clothes show signs of leakage. And in the midst of it all, you might even experience irregularities that can have you scratching your head as to what the heck is going on inside your body\u2014and if these newfound changes may be cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n

We asked Cynthia Abraham, MD, FACOG<\/a>, a board-certified OB-GYN with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, to walk us through the what\u2019s and why\u2019s of irregular menstrual cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Is a Normal Period?<\/h2>\n\n\n

\u201cNormal menses typically occur every 21 to 35 days and last 4 to 7 days,\u201d says Dr. Abraham. Per the Mayo Clinic<\/a>, longer cycles are more common in the years closer to when you first start menstruating, and they tend to become shorter as the years go on.<\/p>\n\n\n

Normality, however, can also vary from one individual to the next. For instance, you might typically have a cycle that lasts 30 days with 6 days of bleeding\u2014while your bestie has a 21-day cycle with 4 days of bleeding. In either case (both of which are considered \u2018normal\u2019 in and of themselves), any changes that notably stray from your norm can be considered irregular. This applies not only to how long your cycles and period last, but also how heavy they are and any new (or more intense) symptoms that arise.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"irregular<\/figure>\n\n\n

Any number of factors\u2014both short-term and more medically significant\u2014may trigger menstrual irregularities.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cStress and excess weight gain or loss<\/a>\u2014especially in those engaging strenuous workouts that lead to very low body fat\u2014are very common lifestyle factors that contribute to irregular menses,\u201d Dr. Abraham shares. You might also notice a temporary shift in your menstrual patterns if you\u2019ve recently recovered from a viral infection or another stress-inducing illness, she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n

Hormonal birth control<\/a> (including the pill) and IUDs can also affect your period, as can certain medications.<\/p>\n\n\n

Per the US Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>, medical and health issues that can cause irregular periods include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n