Menstrual cycle is generally thought to be an indicator into your general body health though this isn’t always the case.

Women go through hormonal changes in their cycle depending on age and the stage of life.

However, it is to note that whether you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s, irregular menstrual periods are normal but may indicate a range of issues based on your age.

In this blog, Mykare Health will delve into what is considered normal and kinds of abnormal periods during each stage of the mentioned life phases and when and how to consult a doctor and ways to deal with these issues.

Menstrual Irregularity in 20s

The 20s are also considered to be a period of hormonal stabilisation after the irregularities in the menstrual cycle that might have been observed during adolescence. Therefore, it can be said that irregularities are quite frequent for young women.

What to Expect?

1. Hormonal Fluctuations: During your 20s your hormones are further regulated which may lead to irregular periods if you are yet to establish one especially during your early 20s. Some women even may take several years after the onset of puberty to have regular menstrual periods.

2. Birth Control Influence: A lot of women initiate using or changing contraceptives in the age of 20s. The use of contraceptives such as pills, intrauterine devices or patches may lead to change in the cycle, the duration, and the intensity of a woman’s menstruation. You may experience a scanty menstrual period or no period at all if you are on hormonal contraceptives, this is however expected.

3. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is usually developed around the age of 20 years and results in irregular menstruation, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. PCOS also brings about different hormonal imbalances, specifically high levels of androgens or male hormones that can disrupt the regularity of the menstrual cycle.

4. Lifestyle Factors: Stress, rigorous exercises or rapid loss or gain of weight are some of the ways which may upset the menstrual cycle. Some lifestyle factors that may affect your cycle include the following; college calendar, new job, or simply the change of life

When to Be Concerned?

• Prolonged duration of periods more than a week or excessive bleeding during one's menstrual cycle.

• Using pills, I-pill, condom, diaphragm for more than 3 months and not pregnant.

• Closely related to the first is more severe cramping that interferes with activities (which may indicate endometriosis or other problems).

Management Tips

• One can use apps or even make a calendar to note your cycle, so one can get in touch with your body’s rhythms.

• It may be useful to consult a physician regarding factors that can be taken to control your periods as they may be very irregular.

• Eat a healthy diet and also ensure that one has ways of handling stress such as practising yoga or meditation to help in hormonal regulation.

Menstrual Irregularities in 30s

The latter is relatively even in your thirties as most women establish steady periods though other aspects of your life including pregnancy or various diseases may cause some disturbances.

What to Expect ?

1. More Regular Cycles: It is! If you oversaw stunted monthly cycles in your 20s you shall notice your period to be in order in your 30s. However, this does not also imply that periods will not change a little from one month to the other.

2. Pregnancy and Postpartum: When you are pregnant and before you conceive it, your period naturally ceases while breastfeeding as well shortly after giving birth. Postpartum periods can take months to regain normalcy, particularly, if you are breastfeeding it will take long to regain normal menstrual cycle because of high level of prolactin, the hormone of milk production.

3. Fertility Awareness: Some of the common practices that many women around the age of thirty adopt are the regular monitoring of the cycles if the woman is planning to get pregnant. The monitoring of ovulation becomes crucial but it is worthy to note that certain females would experience shortened luteal phases that may impact their fertility especially when they are around 35 years of age and above.

4. New Conditions: Other health issues may start manifesting in this particular stage in life such as thyroid problems and fibroids which are noncancerous tumours that grow in the wall of the uterus. The following are the effects of the two, they include irregular or heavier periods.

When to Be Concerned?

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding including bleeding that is too painful, too heavy, or goes on for more than 7 days.

• Vaginal bleeding in between the periods, may be due to fibroids or even endometrial polyps or even cancer.

• Inability to conceive after 12 months of trying; 6 months if you are above 35 years old.

Management Tips:

It is important to go for checkups to check conditions like thyroid disorders or fibroids among others.

• When planning to get pregnant, visit someone to learn about the ovulation calendar and maybe there is a need for a fertility check in case one is having difficulty getting pregnant.

• Ask your doctor about hormonal therapy or treatments, such as

Menstrual Irregularities in 40s

The 40s is the time women may experience perimenopause, the time before actual menopause during which their hormones are still changing. These hormonal changes can cause some changes that are observed in the menstrual cycle pattern as follows;

What to Expect?

1. Perimenopause: The perimenopause normally is a stage in a woman’s life which will occur when she is in her 40s but can occur earlier. This is a period in which fluctuations of oestrogen and progesterone occur irregularly resulting in irregular cycles. Some of the changes are longer cycles, short cycles with less flow, heavier flow than usual or even absent flow with irregular intervals.

2. Heavier Bleeding: Although the amount and the frequency of periods are subjective, frequently some women feel that oestrogen levels make their periods heavier or frequent. This can be related with hormonal changes but other causes, including uterine polyps or fibroids should be excluded.

3. Mood Changes: Hormonal changes also predict mood swings or even PMDD that emerges as a more severe form of PMS, common among women during this particular period of perimenopause.

4. Longer or Shorter Cycles: According to What Works: More than 50 Fab Triples in Sport, II, cycles can start becoming unpredictable in your Forties. One month, you may ovulate, and the next month you do not or your cycle could be much shorter.

When to Be Concerned

• Heavy abnormally prolonged menstrual bleeding that might be due to Fibroids or Endometrial hyperplasia.

• Short or long cycles, which can be indicative that your hormones fluctuate a lot more than normal, or you’re going through very few cycles at all.

• Moderate level of alertness: Bleeding in-between two periods; in case this has not been previously experienced.

Management Tips

• If you see the first signs of entering perimenopause it is advised to discuss the issue with a doctor and perform hormone tests.

• Ask your doctor about using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or low dosage birth control pills to reduce symptoms of perimenopause for instance heavy menstrual flow or irregular periods.

• Stay active and follow proper dietary habits in your pre menopausal stage so that your body can easily cope up with all kinds of hormonal changes.