Periods are a natural part of life for many people, but they don't always follow a predictable schedule. If you find yourself wondering why your period seems to have a mind of its own, you’re not alone. Irregular periods are common and can be influenced by a variety of factors. Let’s dive into what irregular periods are, what causes them, and how to manage them.
How to know if my period is irregular?
An "irregular period" is any menstrual cycle that deviates from the typical cycle length of 21 to 35 days - and most importantly is irregular for you. This can include periods that come too often, too infrequently, last longer than usual or are unexpectedly heavy or light.
Certain apps like Clue and Flo can make your life easier by being able to track not just when you come on but what symptoms you’re having and will alert you when things aren’t quite within your usual. They’re also great for helping you understand you and your cycle better. As we say, knowledge is power!
Common causes of irregular periods
Let’s talk about why this might be happening.
Stress
Firstly, stress… we all experience it from time to time and unfortunately it can really mess with our cycles. You can watch a video all about it here, but to sum up, an increase in stress levels can cause hormone fluctuations which mess with your menstrual cycle. In science terms, it’s when the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis (your reproductive axis) and your hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are ineffective at adjusting the balance of hormones in response to stress. Stress can also delay ovulation, which can in turn delay your period - if you think about it, your body doesn’t want to get pregnant if there is a perceived threat.
PCOS
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is another common cause of period irregularity. It causes small cysts to form on the ovaries and can affect when and how we ovulate. If we don’t ovulate - or ovulation is delayed - then this will effect the timing of our period too.
Perimenopause
Menopause itself is a one-day event - the anniversary of your last period. The time leading up to menopause when your hormones start to change is called perimenopause. Starting around the age of 40 but sometimes as early as your 30s, it’s often accompanied with symptoms of vaginal dryness, hot flushes and changes in your menstrual cycle. It’s not uncommon for women moving through perimenopause to miss periods, sudden heavy periods, or changes in how often their period arrives!
Intense Exercise
Though exercise is undoubtedly good for us, too much of it can throw your hormones off balance and you might experience breakthrough bleeding (spotting). More common in athletes, it can also be inconvenient and unnerving when your only focus should be performance and progress. If your period goes AWOL and you think it could be down to your training regime, this is not normal and is something you should discuss with your coach and doctor.
Postpartum Irregularity
After having a baby, you will, unsurprisingly, experience irregular bleeding. Your body will be adjusting to an entirely different state which can bring upon its own set of symptoms. The hormone, Prolactin, is responsible for preventing menstruation if you are breastfeeding. You can read lots more about the impact of breastfeeding on your periods in our blog piece here.
How can I effectively manage irregular periods?
Having the right protection is crucial, but so is your health to keep your body working in a natural rhythm. Aiming for a balanced diet is a good way to avoid sudden weight fluctuations which can impact your hormones. See the NHS’s advice for eating a healthy balanced diet here.
Keep exercise in check by agreeing to a regular moderate exercise routine and pay attention to when you’re not feeling too good, rest can be productive to ensure the rest of the time you’re performing at optimum.
It’s no secret that sleep is another vital aspect of wellbeing. Aim for 8 hours a night if possible but if you struggle, practise good sleep hygiene to create the best environment for sleep. This looks like:
- A bedtime routine.
- A good sleep schedule.
- Forming healthy habits e.g. no screen time past 9pm.
- Optimising your sleep ‘environment’ e.g. use of sleep aids like a calming lavender spray.
As always, it’s important to get in touch with any healthcare provider before making any sudden changes and consult with your doctor about medications/ issues of concern. Nonetheless, hopefully you have a better understanding of what irregular periods are, how they can be affected by hormones and a few lifestyle changes you can make to help.
Let’s remind us of an age old saying that rings true to this day… fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Not at NIXI. We’ve got your protection covered for every eventuality; slow flows, no shows, on the go flows, show and go’s… we’re here, we see you, we’re NIXI. Gone are the days of wearing bulky or uncomfortable pads or liners for when you’re trying to pre-empt the onset of a bleed in whichever form that may take. Now you can wear comfy, flattering and durable pieces like the Sarah Sporty Knickers and the Gracie Thong to ensure you’re never caught off guard.