What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycles?

Menstruation occurs in females from the time they are in their mid-teens until they reach menopause. The majority of women have a regular cycle that occurs like clockwork every month except for when they are pregnant. Some women have irregular cycles that can be cause for alarm and may indicate a severe medical condition.

Average Cycle

• The average cycle length is 28 days. However, it is common for women to have a slightly longer or slightly shorter cycle depending on their lifestyle. During the first few years of cycling, it's not uncommon for the time between cycles to last longer than normal. Over time, most women will notice that their menstrual periods become more regulated and can be tracked using a calendar. Women with a regular cycle are more likely to conceive than someone who does not have a regular menstruation.

Weight/Exercise

• It's been shown that athletes have an increased chance of having irregular menstrual periods because of their increased activity. In teen athletes, it's not uncommon for their cycles to begin much later in life. An example of this can be seen in female gymnasts who often don't begin their child-bearing years until they are no longer competitive. Women with anorexia and other eating disorders may experience irregular cycles, or they may stop completely due to the weakened state of the body. On the other hand, women who are overweight or who have experienced a rapid weight loss can also have an irregular cycle.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects a large percentage of women. Women who experience PCOS do not have a normal cycle because the hormone levels do not allow ovulation to occur as it would in someone without the condition. Those suffering from PCOS may also experience the growing of hair on the chin and above the lip, skin tags and weight problems. PCOS is treated with medications that help to regulate the hormones. PCOS is a relatively new condition and may cause problems with the amount of insulin produced by the body.

Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

• During pregnancy, women do not experience their menstrual cycle. It's not uncommon for a woman to have some minimal spotting during her pregnancy. In the event that bleeding occurs during the pregnancy, the woman should consult her physician immediately to insure that her health and that of her baby is not in danger. Following childbirth, women who do not breastfeed may have irregular cycles for the first few months. Most women who do breastfeed won't begin their regular cycle until after they stop breastfeeding.

Stress

• Women who have busy careers, families, financial problems or any other increased stresses may notice that their cycles are not regular. It's not uncommon for a woman to experience a few months of irregularity during their fertile years and should not be cause for alarm. Women who have irregular cycles due to stress don't usually need to be treated by a doctor for their problems, but if the irregularity persists, a visit should be scheduled just to be one the safe side.