Managing Irregular Periods

One of the first symptoms of entering a menopause phase is irregular periods. Before the periods stop completely, all women start having irregular periods that last for a period of 3 to 10 years. However, it is also true that around 10% of women pass the menopause stage without irregular periods. To know what irregular periods are, one must know what a normal period is. Let me tell you that even the definition of normal periods tend to be different. But, a typical description is – period that comes after an interval of 25 to 31 days and lasts around for five days with the average blood loss of two to eight tablespoons. In short, irregular periods refer to an unusual or abnormal change in the normal pattern of a woman’s typical menstrual cycle that might lasts for many months.
 

• Symptoms of Irregular PeriodsListed below are the specific symptoms that can help you in identifying irregular periods.
• Infrequent or too frequent periods
• Missed periods
• Painful cramping
• Unusual duration of bleeding
• Changes in blood flow
• Blood clots

There are certain symptoms that alert you to call a doctor. These are as follows:

• Heavy bleeding
• Extended bleeding – beyond 7 days
• Bleeding after interaction
• Spotting
• Abdominal pain
• Excess hair growth
• Unusual weight gain
• Stinking discharge
• Causes of Irregular PeriodsThere are many factors that are responsible for irregular periods. However, in case of women approaching the menopause stage, the most common cause is the reducing hormonal levels, which takes place between the ages of 45 and 55. A woman’s menstrual cycle is not at all separate from her hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone, which leads the process. So, this common cause is really an obvious one.
  
  Estrogen thickens the uterine lining prior to ovulation. However, due to low or unpredictable levels of estrogen in menopause, the lining is dropped very often, which can result in heavy bleeding. Progesterone triggers the drop of the uterine contents after ovulation, but before fertilization; and also controls the intensity and duration of menstrual bleeding. If its level goes down, it is understood that irregular periods are inevitable.
  
  Besides hormonal imbalance, there are many other causes of irregular periods. These are related to some health conditions and lifestyle triggers.

  Health conditions are:

• Eating disorders
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Uterine abnormalities (Fibroids, cysts, polyps, and endometriosis)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Tuberculosis
• Recent birth, miscarriage, or D&C
• Liver disease
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Anemia
• Thyroid dysfunction

Lifestyle triggers are:

• Reasonable weight gain/loss
• Over-exercise
• Poor nutrition
• Smoking
• Drug addiction
• Caffeine
• Too much intake of alcohol
• Increased stress
• Medication usage
• Breast feeding
• Treatments of Irregular PeriodsA triple approach is most recommended to tackle this problematic symptom. Herein, first the focus is on the least risky option, that if does not prove effective, shifts the emphasis on more severe measures.
• Lifestyle Changes:This is the starting point in the treatment. It involves a few easy lifestyle tips to control irregular periods. Avoid living a deskbound life and taking in too much caffeine or alcohol, which if not avoided can make the condition worse. Do not allow stress to rule over you due to work pressure or family duties. For this, you need to practice stress-relieving methods like yoga or meditation that can effectively deal with the irregular periods. Further, ensure that you have good amount of sleep at night. A few easy dietary changes are also useful – increase the quantity of complex carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, and water so that you can have smoother cycle.
• Drugs and Surgery:This is only undertaken if your case is severe regarding irregular periods. Do so only under the guidance of a medical expert and follow up after the surgery regularly, as you are more prone to longing side effects