Irregular periods: Causes, pregnancy, and more

It is normal for a person’s menstrual cycle to vary slightly in length, resulting in irregular periods. Other causes of irregular periods include stress, medications, and various health conditions.

If someone’s menstrual cycle is shorter than 24 days, more than 38 days long, or if the length varies significantly from month to month, they have irregular periods. Doctors call this oligomenorrhea.

It is normal for the menstrual cycle length to vary slightly from month to month, especially if someone is going through puberty, breastfeeding, or approaching menopause.

Many other factors can affect period regularity, too, such as stress, medications, and mental or physical health conditions.

In this article, learn more about irregular periods, including the causes and treatment.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Was this helpful?

Irregular periods, or oligomenorrhea, can occur for many reasons. Many relate to hormone levels.

Estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone are the main hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. If something disrupts or alters how these hormones rise and fall each cycle, it can cause irregular periods.

Occasional irregular periods are common and are not usually cause for concern. Factors that may contribute to irregular periods include:

• natural hormonal shifts
• hormonal birth control
• stress
• endurance exercise
• weight loss

More persistent irregularity may be a sign of an underlying condition.

The following sections look at some of the potential causes for irregular periods in more detail.

During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes. It can take several years for the hormones that regulate periods to fall into a reliable pattern. During this time, it is common to have irregular periods.

Oligomenorrhea can also occur after childbirth and while breastfeeding until the hormones return to normal after having a baby.

Breastfeeding, especially exclusive and frequent breastfeeding, can suppress ovulation, causing a person’s periods to stop. Doctors call this lactational amenorrhea.

Periods also become irregular during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. During this time, hormone levels begin to fall. Periods may get further and further apart until a person stops having them entirely.

Learn about premenopause and perimenopause here.

Hormonal birth control works by stopping ovulation. This means a person does not have a true period while they are using it. Instead, some people have no period at all, while others will have withdrawal bleeds that can seem similar to a period.

When a person first starts the pill, patch, implant, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), they may experience irregular bleeding during the first few months. This may become more regular as time goes on or stop entirely.

Similarly, when a person stops using hormonal birth control, this can also lead to irregular periods. It takes time for the body’s hormonal cycle to begin working as usual again.

Typically, people have a withdrawal bleed 2–4 weeks after stopping birth control pills. The next bleed is a period. It can take up to 3 months for the cycle to settle into a regular pattern.

People who had irregular periods before they began hormonal birth control may return to having an irregular cycle after they stop using it.

Irregular periods can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as:

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where small, fluid-filled sacs, known as cysts, develop in the ovaries. PCOS causes high testosterone levels, which can prevent or delay ovulation and a person’s period.

The other symptoms of PCOS include:

• acne
• excessive hair growth
• insulin resistance that may affect weight
• depression
• trouble getting or staying pregnant

Learn more about the symptoms of PCOS here.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can cause absent or irregular periods. This is more likely to occur if someone has experienced severe weight loss.

The signs of an eating disorder can include:

• extreme restriction of food or calorie intake
• cutting out whole food groups from the diet unnecessarily, such as carbohydrates
• fasting, followed by binge eating
• going to the bathroom immediately after meals
• eating large amounts of food when not hungry

People who exercise excessively may also experience irregular periods. When people find it hard to stop exercising, it is known as compulsive exercise.

Learn the signs of an eating disorder here.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that usually grow inside the uterus grow outside of it. These cells make up the uterine lining, which thickens and sheds with each menstrual cycle.

When the cells grow elsewhere, this cyclic thickening and shedding cause significant pain. Other symptoms include:

• heavy periods
• passing large blood clots
• bleeding between periods
• problems getting pregnant

Learn more about endometriosis and infertility here.

Thyroid disease

The thyroid produces hormones that affect metabolism, heart rate, and other basic functions. It also helps control the timing of ovulation and periods.

People with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone, while those with hypothyroidism do not produce enough.

Thyroid disease can make periods heavy or light and can make them more or less frequent. It can also cause ovulation to stop in some people.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• anxiety
• racing heart
• trouble sleeping
• irregular periods
• feeling hot
• unexplained weight loss, or sometimes, weight gain

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• fatigue
• unexplained weight gain or sometimes, weight loss
• irregular periods or infertility
• dry skin
• cold sensitivity
• depression
• hair loss

Thyroid disease is treatable. An underactive thyroid may require thyroid hormone, while radioactive iodine may help with hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid dysfunction require the removal of the thyroid.

Other conditions

Other health conditions associated with irregular periods include:

• type 1 diabetes
• Cushing’s syndrome
• primary ovarian insufficiency
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• hormone-secreting tumors

Irregular periods are usually not harmful. However, persistent or long-term irregularity may raise the risk of other conditions, such as:

• Iron deficiency anemia: Blood contains iron. If periods are heavy or frequent, a person may lose enough blood to cause an iron deficiency.
• Infertility: Irregular periods can result from anovulation, which is when the body does not release an egg. This can mean a person has difficulty getting pregnant.
• Osteoporosis: Ovulation is a source of estrogen, which helps to keep the bones strong. If a person often does not ovulate, they may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to having less estrogen.
• Cardiovascular disease: Similarly, a lack of estrogen can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Endometrial hyperplasia: If a person has irregular periods for a long time without treatment, it may raise the risk for endometrial hyperplasia, which is when the uterus lining becomes unusually thick. This increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Learn more about the importance of period symptoms here.

Having irregular periods from time to time is common and does not require treatment. Irregularity due to puberty, perimenopause, or contraception also does not typically require treatment.

However, someone may want to speak with a doctor if:

• the irregularity is persistent and has no apparent cause
• irregular periods could be related to a medication or health condition
• irregular periods occur alongside other symptoms, such as pelvic pain
• the person wants to get pregnant

If there is an underlying cause, a doctor will be able to diagnose it. Treatment will depend on what is causing the irregularity.

The potential treatment recommendations may include:

• Hormone therapy: Birth control that contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone can help raise hormone levels, which can counteract the effects of not ovulating. It can also make bleeds regular and easier to manage or reduce the symptoms of conditions such as PCOS, which may improve quality of life.
• Reaching a moderate weight: Both a lack of body fat and having excess body fat can impact menstruation. For those with PCOS who have higher body weight, maintaining a healthy weight can lower insulin levels. This leads to lower testosterone levels and an increased chance of ovulating.
• Nutritional therapy: If a person wants to lose or gain weight or has an underlying condition that affects their nutrition, they may benefit from help from a dietitian. They can help a person understand the type of diet that will help with their unique circumstances and support hormone health.
• Mental health treatment: If irregular periods are related to stress, anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, a doctor may recommend psychological support. For many, this usually involves talk therapy with a psychologist. A multidisciplinary team will help with regular therapy, nutritional counseling, and support groups for those with eating disorders. People with severe underweight may need treatment in the hospital.
• Additional medications: Depending on the underlying cause, people with irregular periods may benefit from certain medications. For example, a doctor may prescribe metformin for people with PCOS. This is an insulin-lowering oral drug for type 2 diabetes, which can help ensure ovulation and regular periods.

Learn whether home remedies can help regulate periods here.

Irregular periods can sometimes make it more difficult to get pregnant, as the times a person is ovulating may also be irregular. People who skip periods may also have months where they do not ovulate.

However, this does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. Tracking when someone is ovulating can help. Try:

• Tracking periods: Mark any periods on a calendar, and look for patterns. Period tracking apps can help with pinpointing the time of likely ovulation. Ovulation almost always occurs about 2 weeks before a person’s period. However, the length of time between the start of the period and the next time a person ovulates can vary.
• Monitoring cervical mucus: As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus will be more plentiful, slippery, clear, and stretchy.
• Measuring body temperature: Use a thermometer to measure body temperature first thing each morning and note when it spikes. This can indicate that someone has ovulated.
• Using ovulation predictor kits: These products test for a surge in luteinizing hormone, which suggests ovulation is imminent. A person has likely ovulated if there is a prolonged increase in morning body temperature after a positive ovulation test.

If these methods do not help, speak with a fertility doctor about irregular periods. They will be able to provide advice on what to do next.

Learn more about irregular periods and pregnancy here.

Irregular periods and occasional variations in cycle length are normal. However, if a person regularly has very short or long cycles, something may be affecting their menstrual cycle.

Temporary causes for irregularity can include stress, natural hormonal changes, and starting or stopping birth control.

Certain medications and health conditions can also cause irregular periods. If this is the case, a doctor will be able to diagnose it and provide treatment recommendations.

People with irregular periods who want to get pregnant may benefit from tracking when they ovulate or speaking with a fertility specialist.

Irregular periods: Causes, pregnancy, and more

It is normal for a person’s menstrual cycle to vary slightly in length, resulting in irregular periods. Other causes of irregular periods include stress, medications, and various health conditions.

If someone’s menstrual cycle is shorter than 24 days, more than 38 days long, or if the length varies significantly from month to month, they have irregular periods. Doctors call this oligomenorrhea.

It is normal for the menstrual cycle length to vary slightly from month to month, especially if someone is going through puberty, breastfeeding, or approaching menopause.

Many other factors can affect period regularity, too, such as stress, medications, and mental or physical health conditions.

In this article, learn more about irregular periods, including the causes and treatment.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Was this helpful?

Irregular periods, or oligomenorrhea, can occur for many reasons. Many relate to hormone levels.

Estrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone are the main hormones responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. If something disrupts or alters how these hormones rise and fall each cycle, it can cause irregular periods.

Occasional irregular periods are common and are not usually cause for concern. Factors that may contribute to irregular periods include:

• natural hormonal shifts
• hormonal birth control
• stress
• endurance exercise
• weight loss

More persistent irregularity may be a sign of an underlying condition.

The following sections look at some of the potential causes for irregular periods in more detail.

During puberty, the body undergoes significant changes. It can take several years for the hormones that regulate periods to fall into a reliable pattern. During this time, it is common to have irregular periods.

Oligomenorrhea can also occur after childbirth and while breastfeeding until the hormones return to normal after having a baby.

Breastfeeding, especially exclusive and frequent breastfeeding, can suppress ovulation, causing a person’s periods to stop. Doctors call this lactational amenorrhea.

Periods also become irregular during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. During this time, hormone levels begin to fall. Periods may get further and further apart until a person stops having them entirely.

Learn about premenopause and perimenopause here.

Hormonal birth control works by stopping ovulation. This means a person does not have a true period while they are using it. Instead, some people have no period at all, while others will have withdrawal bleeds that can seem similar to a period.

When a person first starts the pill, patch, implant, or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), they may experience irregular bleeding during the first few months. This may become more regular as time goes on or stop entirely.

Similarly, when a person stops using hormonal birth control, this can also lead to irregular periods. It takes time for the body’s hormonal cycle to begin working as usual again.

Typically, people have a withdrawal bleed 2–4 weeks after stopping birth control pills. The next bleed is a period. It can take up to 3 months for the cycle to settle into a regular pattern.

People who had irregular periods before they began hormonal birth control may return to having an irregular cycle after they stop using it.

Irregular periods can sometimes indicate a health condition, such as:

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where small, fluid-filled sacs, known as cysts, develop in the ovaries. PCOS causes high testosterone levels, which can prevent or delay ovulation and a person’s period.

The other symptoms of PCOS include:

• acne
• excessive hair growth
• insulin resistance that may affect weight
• depression
• trouble getting or staying pregnant

Learn more about the symptoms of PCOS here.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, can cause absent or irregular periods. This is more likely to occur if someone has experienced severe weight loss.

The signs of an eating disorder can include:

• extreme restriction of food or calorie intake
• cutting out whole food groups from the diet unnecessarily, such as carbohydrates
• fasting, followed by binge eating
• going to the bathroom immediately after meals
• eating large amounts of food when not hungry

People who exercise excessively may also experience irregular periods. When people find it hard to stop exercising, it is known as compulsive exercise.

Learn the signs of an eating disorder here.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that usually grow inside the uterus grow outside of it. These cells make up the uterine lining, which thickens and sheds with each menstrual cycle.

When the cells grow elsewhere, this cyclic thickening and shedding cause significant pain. Other symptoms include:

• heavy periods
• passing large blood clots
• bleeding between periods
• problems getting pregnant

Learn more about endometriosis and infertility here.

Thyroid disease

The thyroid produces hormones that affect metabolism, heart rate, and other basic functions. It also helps control the timing of ovulation and periods.

People with hyperthyroidism produce too much thyroid hormone, while those with hypothyroidism do not produce enough.

Thyroid disease can make periods heavy or light and can make them more or less frequent. It can also cause ovulation to stop in some people.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• anxiety
• racing heart
• trouble sleeping
• irregular periods
• feeling hot
• unexplained weight loss, or sometimes, weight gain

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• fatigue
• unexplained weight gain or sometimes, weight loss
• irregular periods or infertility
• dry skin
• cold sensitivity
• depression
• hair loss

Thyroid disease is treatable. An underactive thyroid may require thyroid hormone, while radioactive iodine may help with hyperthyroidism. Some types of thyroid dysfunction require the removal of the thyroid.

Other conditions

Other health conditions associated with irregular periods include:

• type 1 diabetes
• Cushing’s syndrome
• primary ovarian insufficiency
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• hormone-secreting tumors

Irregular periods are usually not harmful. However, persistent or long-term irregularity may raise the risk of other conditions, such as:

• Iron deficiency anemia: Blood contains iron. If periods are heavy or frequent, a person may lose enough blood to cause an iron deficiency.
• Infertility: Irregular periods can result from anovulation, which is when the body does not release an egg. This can mean a person has difficulty getting pregnant.
• Osteoporosis: Ovulation is a source of estrogen, which helps to keep the bones strong. If a person often does not ovulate, they may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis due to having less estrogen.
• Cardiovascular disease: Similarly, a lack of estrogen can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Endometrial hyperplasia: If a person has irregular periods for a long time without treatment, it may raise the risk for endometrial hyperplasia, which is when the uterus lining becomes unusually thick. This increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Learn more about the importance of period symptoms here.

Having irregular periods from time to time is common and does not require treatment. Irregularity due to puberty, perimenopause, or contraception also does not typically require treatment.

However, someone may want to speak with a doctor if:

• the irregularity is persistent and has no apparent cause
• irregular periods could be related to a medication or health condition
• irregular periods occur alongside other symptoms, such as pelvic pain
• the person wants to get pregnant

If there is an underlying cause, a doctor will be able to diagnose it. Treatment will depend on what is causing the irregularity.

The potential treatment recommendations may include:

• Hormone therapy: Birth control that contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone can help raise hormone levels, which can counteract the effects of not ovulating. It can also make bleeds regular and easier to manage or reduce the symptoms of conditions such as PCOS, which may improve quality of life.
• Reaching a moderate weight: Both a lack of body fat and having excess body fat can impact menstruation. For those with PCOS who have higher body weight, maintaining a healthy weight can lower insulin levels. This leads to lower testosterone levels and an increased chance of ovulating.
• Nutritional therapy: If a person wants to lose or gain weight or has an underlying condition that affects their nutrition, they may benefit from help from a dietitian. They can help a person understand the type of diet that will help with their unique circumstances and support hormone health.
• Mental health treatment: If irregular periods are related to stress, anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, a doctor may recommend psychological support. For many, this usually involves talk therapy with a psychologist. A multidisciplinary team will help with regular therapy, nutritional counseling, and support groups for those with eating disorders. People with severe underweight may need treatment in the hospital.
• Additional medications: Depending on the underlying cause, people with irregular periods may benefit from certain medications. For example, a doctor may prescribe metformin for people with PCOS. This is an insulin-lowering oral drug for type 2 diabetes, which can help ensure ovulation and regular periods.

Learn whether home remedies can help regulate periods here.

Irregular periods can sometimes make it more difficult to get pregnant, as the times a person is ovulating may also be irregular. People who skip periods may also have months where they do not ovulate.

However, this does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. Tracking when someone is ovulating can help. Try:

• Tracking periods: Mark any periods on a calendar, and look for patterns. Period tracking apps can help with pinpointing the time of likely ovulation. Ovulation almost always occurs about 2 weeks before a person’s period. However, the length of time between the start of the period and the next time a person ovulates can vary.
• Monitoring cervical mucus: As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus will be more plentiful, slippery, clear, and stretchy.
• Measuring body temperature: Use a thermometer to measure body temperature first thing each morning and note when it spikes. This can indicate that someone has ovulated.
• Using ovulation predictor kits: These products test for a surge in luteinizing hormone, which suggests ovulation is imminent. A person has likely ovulated if there is a prolonged increase in morning body temperature after a positive ovulation test.

If these methods do not help, speak with a fertility doctor about irregular periods. They will be able to provide advice on what to do next.

Learn more about irregular periods and pregnancy here.

Irregular periods and occasional variations in cycle length are normal. However, if a person regularly has very short or long cycles, something may be affecting their menstrual cycle.

Temporary causes for irregularity can include stress, natural hormonal changes, and starting or stopping birth control.

Certain medications and health conditions can also cause irregular periods. If this is the case, a doctor will be able to diagnose it and provide treatment recommendations.

People with irregular periods who want to get pregnant may benefit from tracking when they ovulate or speaking with a fertility specialist.

Which periods are considered irregular? Women’s Health Education Portal Women First

The menstrual cycle is considered to be a kind of biological clock of the body. The regularity of menstruation is the most noticeable external manifestation of a normal menstrual cycle. In the absence of fertilization and attachment of the fetal egg, the endometrium is rejected, which is manifested by the onset of menstruation. It begins as a result of changes in the concentrations of steroid hormones in the ovaries, which are under the control of the pituitary and hypothalamus.

Irregular periods may indicate a deterioration in the psychological, physical condition of a woman, and even the presence of various diseases. Violation of the cycle is a good reason to see a doctor.

In order to understand the various disorders of the menstrual cycle, it is necessary to first understand the basic concepts of the physiology of the menstrual cycle.

physiology of the menstrual cycle

Irregular periods may indicate a deterioration in the psychological, physical condition of a woman, and even the presence of various diseases. Violation of the cycle is a good reason to see a doctor.

In order to understand the various disorders of the menstrual cycle, it is necessary to first understand the basic concepts of the physiology of the menstrual cycle.

The essence of normal menstruation is the monthly rejection and subsequent restoration of the structure of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). This is the so-called uterine cycle. It consists of 3 phases and includes menstruation itself, the proliferative phase, in which the growth and thickening of the functional layer of the endometrium occurs within 14 days, and the secretory phase, which coincides with the development of the corpus luteum in the ovary and prepares the endometrium for implantation of the ovum in the event of fertilization of the egg , continues until the 28th day. Such changes in the uterus occur in synchrony with the ovarian cycle, which includes the processes of maturation of the dominant follicle, ovulation (release of the egg) and the formation of the corpus luteum, which helps maintain the appropriate hormonal levels in the event of pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum undergoes a reverse development and menstruation appears, which heralds the end of one menstrual cycle and the beginning of the next. All links of these chains are controlled by hormones.

A normal menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and menstrual bleeding usually lasts 4-6 days.

In fact, only 15% of women have a cycle that lasts exactly 28 days. Any cycle lasting from 21 to 35 days is considered normal, and its length is individual and may not be the same for different women.

The longest menstrual cycles are observed immediately after puberty and within 5 years before menopause, since during these periods the probability of not ovulating is highest.

The following cycle fluctuations are considered acceptable:

First year after menarche 23-90 days

Fourth year 24-50 days

Seventh year 27-38 days

9000 2
A regular menstrual cycle is established not earlier than 19-20 years, while the period of formation of the reproductive function and the establishment of the ovulation process are in progress.

Normally, the menstrual cycle is biphasic and between the two phases (approximately on day 14 with a 28-day cycle) the dominant follicle ruptures with the release of an egg ready for fertilization. Many women feel this event with discomfort or short-term pain in the lower abdomen on the left or right in the middle of the cycle. The nature of vaginal discharge in the middle of the cycle also changes – they become transparent, more plentiful and “viscous”. Before the start of the next menstruation, there may be a feeling of engorgement and fullness in the mammary glands.

If you previously experienced such sensations and noticed changes in the vaginal secretion and the general condition of the body depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, and then stopped noticing such manifestations, you should pay attention to this.

The duration of menstrual bleeding can also vary from 2 to 7 days. The most abundant bleeding occurs on the 1st or 2nd day of menstruation. The normal volume of menstrual blood loss is on average 30 ml. Blood loss exceeding 80 ml is considered excessive. This volume is set arbitrarily – this is the threshold value at which, in the absence of treatment, iron deficiency anemia can develop.

The nature of menstruation is actually individual for each woman. It can change throughout life. After the establishment of menstruation before the first pregnancy, the cycle may have the same length and duration of menstrual bleeding. With the onset of sexual activity or after childbirth, these parameters may change.

To understand if changes in the menstrual cycle are normal, you should observe it for at least 3 months and note all changes in a special calendar. In addition, when new cycle parameters arise, it is necessary to remember whether the woman has recently taken any medications, whether she has endured stress, a long flight with acclimatization, and take into account all possible factors that could affect the change in the cycle.

How to understand that the cycle has become irregular?

Usually, the appearance of menstrual cycle failures or the addition of additional new symptoms with stably regular periods does not go unnoticed by a woman. What should you pay special attention to? Warning signs that indicate problems with the cycle:

• No cycle phase separation
• Duration less than 21 or more than 35 days
• Duration of menstrual bleeding less than 2 or more than 7 days
• Blood loss less than 50 or more than 150 ml for the entire cycle
• Volume of blood loss per day of menstruation more than 80 ml
• Onset of pain or other symptoms
• Deterioration of general condition

Establishment of the cycle in adolescents: what to expect?

Expert comment
Gynecologist Anastasia Degteva

“In the first 1-2 years, the cycle may be irregular. And this is absolutely normal! Your body is just learning to regulate the work of the ovaries. However, if menstruation has not become regular after 2 years, then it is important to conduct an examination.

It doesn’t matter if your cycle is regular or not, in any case, mark the beginning and end of your period in a special application: it will be easier for the doctor to understand if everything is in order with your cycle. ”

How long should menstruation last in the early years of adolescents?

Unfortunately, many adolescent girls and parents have difficulty assessing the normality of their menstrual bleeding and menstrual cycle.

The fact that the topic is considered closed for free discussion in society only contributes to the fact that girls are embarrassed to discuss their periods, not only with their parents, but even with gynecologists.

Many girls do not know what is normal and what is not normal for the menstrual cycle, and because of this they can either worry too much or not notice the moment when something in the body went wrong and they need to see a doctor. Therefore, in the article we will help you figure out how many days menstruation lasts normally, after how many days menstruation should go.

The menstrual cycle is considered by modern medicine to be one of the most important indicators of general health, since irregularities in this process can help diagnose various medical conditions, and the detection of such problems in adolescence will help more effective treatment or prevention later.

What are the periods in the early years of teenagers like?

• Menarche (mean age of first menses): 12-13 years

• Average length of the menstrual cycle in the first year after the onset of menstruation: 21-35 days in the first year after the onset of menstruation

• Average duration of menstruation: 3-7 days

• Average interval between periods: 21-45 days

• Use of hygiene products: 3-6 swabs or
  pads per day

When does the first period usually start?

The average age of onset of menstruation in adolescent girls is 12-13 years.

By the age of 15, 98% of girls have already had their period.

When should I see a doctor?

• If the girl is 9 years old or younger and her period has started

• If a girl is 13 and her breasts have not started to develop

• If the girl is 15 and has not had her period yet

• If 3 years have passed since the onset of breast development, and there is no menstruation

Why do teenagers have delays?

An irregular menstrual cycle is a menstrual cycle in which there is no definite repetitive sequence between periods, i. e. the number of days between one menstruation and the next can vary, and delayed periods are not uncommon in adolescents.

These irregular cycles can last 2-6 months.

The duration of menstruation also differs from woman to woman: for someone they last 2 days, for someone a week, while everything is a kind of norm. The same applies to the amount of blood released: for someone it is more, and for someone it is less. Large fluctuations in hormone levels in adolescents during the period when the menstrual cycle is established can also affect how much blood is released, so sometimes menstruation can be more intense than before.

Why can teenagers have an irregular cycle?

Often during puberty, the menstrual cycle can be irregular, especially the interval between the first cycle and the second cycle. Therefore, teenage girls have a question: “Monthly one day, what could it be? Normal or not?

For most girls, the first menstruation lasts 3-7 days.

In some girls during the first years after menarche, the development of the pituitary-hypothalamus-adrenal system is not yet complete, and they may not ovulate, and therefore the menstrual cycle may be relatively long, but more often remains in the range of 21-45 days. By the third year after menarche, the cycle in adolescent girls becomes on average the same as in adult women, that is, 21-34 days.

Although long intervals between cycles are common in adolescence and are often associated with the absence of ovulation, a break between cycles of more than 3 months is rare, and in such cases it is necessary to consult a doctor.

It is also worth visiting a gynecologist if the intensity of menstrual bleeding is so heavy that
A pad or tampon needs to be changed every one to two hours, especially if your period lasts more than 7 days.

Possible causes of menstrual irregularities

• polycystic ovaries

• stress

• excessive exercise

• eating disorders

• anorexia

• bulimia

• hormonal disorders

• Cushing’s syndrome

• thyroid diseases

• taking anticoagulants

When should I see a doctor?

• if the period unexpectedly disappeared for more than 90 days

• if the cycle was regular and suddenly stopped being so

• last longer than 7 days

• have to change gaskets or
  tampons more than once every 1-2 hours

Important! One of the most common causes of missed periods in teenagers is pregnancy.