Shortened, extended, irregular: when your cycle becomes problematic

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Very few women have a 28-day picture book menstrual cycle. Because everyday factors such as stress, wrong nutrition or competitive sport can mess up the cycle length. Then the period suddenly only takes three, instead of the usual five days or sometimes nine or ten.

One therefore speaks of a regular cycle not only with the popular 28 days. Doctors speak of regularly when the cycle duration is between 23 and 35 days and the menstrual period lasts between two and seven days.

Small fluctuations from one month to another are normal and at first nothing bad. However, if these fluctuations occur frequently or the cycle is suddenly much longer or shorter, then this can indicate a cyclical disorder.

Especially for women who want to get pregnant, this can become a problem. Because with an irregular cycle, ovulation and therefore the.

What are symptoms of an irregular cycle?

A woman's monthly cycle is always a bit variable. Therefore, the question of when there is an irregular cycle is not quite as easy to answer. Doctors speak of irregularly when the menstrual cycle deviates from the otherwise usual duration and that over a long time.

If the cycle duration over a longer period of time is less than 23 days or more than 35 days, this can be a symptom for a cyclism disorder, which the gynecologist should be clarified.

Even if the cycles often extend or shorten by eight or more days, you should have this irregularity clarified.

Other symptoms for an irregular cycle:

  • an unusually strong menstrual bleeding (you consume more than 5 binds or tampons a day)
  • an unusually weak menstruation (you consume less than 2 binds or tampons a day)
  • an unusually long menstrual period (more than 6 days)
  • an unusually short menstrual period (less than 3 days)
  • When additional bleeding occurs
  • If the menstrual period suddenly fails (and you are not pregnant)

How does the irregular cycle influence the desire to have children?

The basic problem of becoming pregnant with irregular cycle is the difficult predictability of the ovulation. Fluctuate cycle and period in their duration, then ovulation shifts forward or back accordingly.

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If the cycle length is permanently shortened, theOften very early, doctors speak of polymenorrhea at a cycle time of less than 25 days.

With a continued cycle duration of more than 31 days, doctors speak of an oligomenorrhea. In doing so, the shiftsfar back.

It can also happen that no onetakes place during a cycle. The fluctuatesOr does it not take place at all, complicates a planned pregnancy up to the impossibility.

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Irregular cycle: possible causes

The female menstrual cycle is very susceptible to disruptive factors. Stress, time difference or hormonal changes can already ensure fluctuation in the cycle.

The weight of a woman can also have a major impact on the cycle. Women with underweight and women with overweight are increasingly tilted with cycle fluctuations. And medication can also move cycles and menstrual period.

External disruptive factors such as stress, medication or a time shift are usually easy to identify and at best remedy. However, there are factors that result in an irregular cycle that can only be found using a medical examination.

This includes hormonal diseases,, the(PCO syndrome for short) or inflammation of the ovaries. So you determine fluctuations in your cycle or you are worried about duration and expression of your period, please always talk to your gynecologist about it.

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Causes of shortened cycles

Is theMenstrual cycle shortened– So the menstruation occurs more - this is often due to a shortened maturation phase of the follicle, i.e. the shell of the ripening egg cell. This in turn can be due to a hormonal change, for example the insertion of the.

A short cycle can also result in the result of abe. The yellow body is formed in the ovaries and forms the hormone progesterone. Progesterone prepares the endometrium on thebefore.

In the event of a gel -based weakness, however, too little progesterone is formed and a fertilized egg cell cannot nest in the endometrium, because the menstrual bleeding is more of use due to too little progesterone.

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Causes of the extended cycle

Aextended cycleIt often has the cause that the follicle (bubbles in which the egg cell encloses) matures too slowly or not sufficiently. Ovulation is delayed and thus also the use of the period. Why the follicle matures too slowly or not completely can be the following reasons:

  • Malform of the genital organs
  • PCO
  • Cysts on the ovaries or cancer

In addition, an extended cycle can occur if certain areas in the brain are impaired that are responsible for hormone production, which in turn affect follicular maturation. These include the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

Stress, mental illness, competitive sports, tumors and inflammation, but also an eating disorder can affect hypothalamus and pituitary. If the cycle extends, the cycle continues to be completely absent in the period.

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Causes of a particularly strong menstrual period

Is theMenstruation particularly strong, can have different causes:

  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine inflammation
  • Tumors in the uterus
  • Malformation of the uterus
  • Hormonal disorders

A particularly strong bleeding can also occur if the muscles of the uterus do not work properly. These muscles ensure that the uterus can expand and pull together and thus loosen and repel the layer on the mucous membrane.

If the uterus cannot contract sufficiently, the blood vessels in it cannot close and the bleeding takes longer. Polyps in the mucous membrane and fibroids in the uterine muscles can be the cause of this.

Causes of a particularly weak menstrual bleeding

The causes of particularly weak menstrual bleeding are also diverse. It can occur if:

  • there was an extension of the uterus.
  • the uterus is inflamed.
  • The function of the ovaries is disturbed.
  • the body weight is too high or low.
  • is hormonally controlled.
  • there is a lack of estrogen.

Causes of failing bleeding (amenorrhea)

Women who would like to get pregnant are waiting for the period to fail to fail and understand the first. Unfortunately, other causes can also be usedlead.

Doctors differentiate between the primary and secondary amenorrhea when staying the period. At theprimary amenorrheaThere are hereditary causes if the period has not yet occurred after the age of 16. In addition, a malformation can lead to this or competitive sports in childhood and adolescence. But diseases of other organs can also lead to the absence of the period, as can the use of medication.

Of onesecondary amenorrheaDocts speak when women already had their period, but now fail to fail. If the cause is not in pregnancy, this can indicate a disturbance of the ovaries (e.g. by a malformation of the ovaries, PCO or tumors or cancer and others) or brain (e.g. stress, competitive sports or meningitis and others).

A notice:There is also a "post-pill name name".the period cannot be left.

Help with irregular cycle

Depending on which form of the cycle disorder, there are various options for treatment. Hormonal disorders can be treated with the help of hormones.

At ashortened cycleIf the gynecologist is taken into account if the woman suffers from her frequent bleeding or thereby causing anemia. Hormone therapy or the hormone spiral can help.

At avery long cycle or the absence of the periodIt is crucial what the trigger is. For example, hormone therapy can help with organic causes such as PCO syndrome. If the cause is in external influences such as stress or an eating disorder, the patient herself is initially encouraged to change something. Psychotherapy can also help in severe cases.

At a veryweak bleedingIs without a healthy woman withoutno treatment necessary. Wants the womanAnd their weak period is the result of a disturbance of the ovaries, the gynecologue can also prescribe hormone therapy here. This is intended to stimulate the ovaries and trigger ovulation.

At a veryheavy bleedingDue to a weak yellow body, the doctor will consider medication -containing medication. If there is a blood clotting disorder, the doctor (s) will prescribe medication that promotes coagulation.

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Can you prevent cyclical disorders?

A cycle disorder can only be prevented in certain cases. If it appears due to external factors such as stress, psychological stress or other environmental influences, it can be counteracted if you change these circumstances.

However, if the cycle disorder occurs due to hereditary or organic diseases, one cannot prevent. In general, every woman should pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. Movement, occasional sports and a healthy and balanced diet are important.

Sources:
Onmeda.de
Gynecologists online

Important note: The content of this article only serves the information and does not replace a diagnosis at the doctor. If uncertainties, urgent questions or complaints arise, you should contact your doctor. Medical on -call duty can be reached via nationwide number 116117.