Irregular Menstrual Cycle, Should You Worry?
Often, women experience a condition where their menstrual cycle is irregular. However, is that something to worry about?
Under normal conditions, every woman who has experienced puberty will experience menstruation or menstruation. Every month, menstruation comes regularly and generally lasts for more or less the same duration. However, it often happens that the menstrual cycle is irregular.
What really happened? So, do you need to worry if you experience it?
Recognizing the Normal Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a series of hormonal changes that occur in a woman’s body, in preparation for the possibility of pregnancy.
In one cycle, in general, there is one mature egg released by the ovary. If after the release of the egg, fertilization does not occur, then the lining of the uterus will shed and menstrual blood will be released from the vagina.
In general, a normal cycle ranges from 21-35 days and with a menstrual duration ranging from 2-7 days. The length of the menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation. Cycles in the early years of menstruation are usually long, and as you get older, the cycle will shorten.
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Causes of Irregular Menstrual Cycles
For some women, the cycle can appear irregular because the dates of menstruation are so far apart. Although normally, the length of menstruation and cycle length can vary by several days each month.
There are several things that can cause irregular menstrual cycles, namely:
Puberty
In the first 1 or 2 years when you get your period, your cycle is usually still irregular.
Use of Contraceptive Pills
Using contraceptive pills that contain hormones can cause hormonal imbalances in the body which can then affect the cycle.
Another article: How to deal with too much menstrual blood
Extreme Weight Gain or Loss
Weight gain or loss is directly related to the level of fat in the body. Meanwhile, fat is one of the components needed for the production of sex hormones.
Therefore, changes in body fat composition will affect the balance of hormones that play a role in the menstrual cycle.
Heavy Exercise
Heavy exercise can affect the hormonal balance in the body and impact the menstrual cycle, making it irregular.
Physical and Psychological Stress
Stress can affect hormonal signaling in the body, so it also affects the menstrual cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a disease that affects the ovaries, where the ovaries become enlarged and have many fluid-filled sacs around the egg cells.
In this disease, there is an imbalance in the body that can disrupt the menstrual cycle.
Other articles: Recognize Menstrual Cycle Changes Before Menopause
Entering Menopause
When a woman enters menopause , the hormonal balance will change, so this condition will of course affect the menstrual cycle.
One way to ensure that your menstrual cycle is irregular, but still within normal limits, is to record your cycle on a calendar or by using a menstrual cycle recording application.
By recording, you can find out whether there are problems, such as a cycle that is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, menstruation lasts more than 7 days, there is a difference between the shortest and longest cycles of up to 20 days, and especially if You are still not 45 years old.
If you find this in 3 to 6 months, then you should visit a doctor to determine the cause and treatment. If you are planning a pregnancy, then an irregular cycle must be checked by a doctor immediately.
Irregular menstrual cycles are common in every woman. So, you don’t need to worry immediately when you experience it. Try to record your cycle. If the records show that the distance is too far and occurs quite often, consult a doctor immediately to find the cause.
