Though irregular periods are not uncommon, it is important to understand the reasons why they happen and what your body is trying to tell you.

1. Irregular Periods: What Your Body Is Trying To Tell You
Women – at some point in their lives –experience a "period" moment that spawns questions.
Why is my flow so heavy? Why am I getting my period twice in one month? Though
irregular periods are not uncommon, it is important to understand the reasons why they
happen and what your body is trying to tell you.
The length of a menstrual cycle and amount of blood flow is unique to each woman.
However, most women have a cycle that ranges from 24 to 34 days. Blood flow averages
about four or five days, with a blood loss of about 40 cc (3 tablespoons). It is important to
remember that these are just averages and that your “normal” may fall outside of these
ranges.
After menstruating for several years, women tend to settle into a cycle. Some women
routinely have heavier periods (losing up to 12 teaspoons of blood each month) while others
may experience a period that's almost non-existent (losing as little as four teaspoons of
blood).
An irregular period is usually defined as any type of bleeding that's abnormal when compared
to your last few menstrual cycles. It can include everything from a late period to early
bleeding, and minimal bleeding to extremely heaving bleeding. If you're generally not prone
to PMS, you can consider a period to be irregular if you suddenly start experiencing heavy
cramps and bloating or headaches.
There are many causes of abnormal periods, ranging from everyday stress to more serious
underlying medical conditions, past medical health, certain medications or even lifestyle can
have a considerable impact on your menstrual cycle.
In many cases, irregular periods are related to a condition called anovulation. This means that
ovulation hasn’t taken place during your menstrual cycle, usually due to severe hormonal
imbalances. The good news is that once the cause of anovulation is determined, it can be
successfully treated with medication in the vast majority of cases.
Sometimes an irregular period may be due to subtler hormone imbalances. You may still be
ovulating, but the timing of your ovulation can vary greatly month to month. This is because
lifestyle and medical conditions can influence your cycle.
Factors that can trigger irregular or missed periods are extreme exercise or dieting,
stress, birth control pills, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine polyps or fibroids,
pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and premature ovary failure.

2. Some thyroid disorders may also lead to irregular periods. The thyroid is a gland that
regulates growth, metabolism and energy. One can have an underactive thyroid or overactive
thyroid. This can be determined easily by a blood test and treated with medicine you take
daily.
High levels of the hormone prolactin could also be the source of the problem. In some cases,
prolactinoma — a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland in your brain — may also result
in the overproduction of prolactin.
If a woman experiences severe pain during period or between periods, unusually heavy
bleeding, an abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, a period lasting longer than 7 days,
vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods, periods that become very irregular after you
have had regular menstrual cycles, nausea or vomiting during period, skipping three periods
in a row without a pregnancy condition then its best to seek medical attention.One should
also see a doctor if they have not started having periods by the age of 16.
Here are some recommendations for self-care:
 Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising moderately and eating low-fat foods.
If you have to lose weight, do so gradually instead of turning to diets that drastically
limit your calorie and food intake.
 Make sure you get enough rest.
 Practice stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
 If you are an athlete, cut back on prolonged or intense exercise routines. Excessive
sports activities can cause irregular periods.
 Use birth control pills or other contraceptive methods as directed.
 Change your tampons or sanitary napkins at least twice each day to prevent infections.
 See a gynecologist for regular check-ups.