For years, your period has predictably arrived within the same 2-3-day range on the monthly calendar, lasting about the same number of days each time. Your heavy flow and light flow days have also been reliably consistent.
So, why would your regular menstrual cycle suddenly become inconsistent?
At New Beginnings OB/GYN in Shenandoah, Texas, we believe educating women about their menstrual cycles is one of the foundations to understanding and achieving wellness. In a recent blog, Dr. Rania Ibrahim answered top FAQs about menstruation; this month, she’s taking a look at the varying factors that can influence your monthly cycle.
Your menstrual cycle is an ongoing process to prepare your body for a possible pregnancy. Counting from the first day of your period to the start of your next period, it lasts an average of 28 days and consists of four hormone-driven phases:
However, a normal menstrual cycle can vary in length from 21-35 days. So, while plenty of women have their period every four weeks, it’s perfectly normal to have a period every three to five weeks. Likewise, a normal period can last anywhere between three and seven days.
Your menstrual cycle may be consistent, with periods that arrive like clockwork, or it may vary somewhat from one month to the next. Both these experiences are normal.
It’s also normal for menstrual cycle regularity to shift when the hormones that drive ovulation, determine cycle length, and control period flow are disrupted. Various factors can have this effect; most fall into two general categories.
Most of the time, changes in menstrual cycle length and regularity come down to one of the following factors:
Drastic or rapid body weight changes (loss or gain) can also disrupt your hormones, change your cycle length, and lead to longer, lighter, or completely missed periods. A drastic increase in exercise intensity (e.g., overtraining) can also have this effect.
Many women are surprised to learn that a range of factors beyond the usual culprits can also disrupt the sensitive hormonal balance behind menstrual cycle regularity. Unexpected factors that can readily alter ovulation and period timing include:
High levels of acute or chronic stress can increase your body’s cortisol output, causing direct interference with the function of your hypothalamus, a reproduction-regulating gland that helps control ovulation and menstrual cycle length.
Even so-called “secondhand stress,” such as emotional shock, grief, or highly stressful events affecting loved ones, can impact your hypothalamus and shift your cycle.
Drastic circadian rhythm shifts — such as what can happen when starting night shift work or with frequent long-distance travel and jet lag — can “confuse” your brain’s master clock and suppress reproductive hormone release, leading to menstrual cycle changes.
A severe cold, a flu infection, or even a high fever around the time you normally ovulate can act as a stressor on your body, prompting it to conserve more energy for immune system support. This can delay ovulation, making that specific cycle noticeably longer.
Research shows that the excessive consumption of highly processed “junk” foods is strongly associated with menstrual cycle changes, regardless of body weight. Very low-calorie dieting is also strongly associated with cycle irregularity.
Significant changes in your usual environment, such as what you might experience when moving to a completely different climate, can alter your body’s stress response, throw off hormonal timing, and temporarily shift your menstrual cycle.
Nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarettes and vape products act as endocrine disruptors. Quitting (or starting) either of these unhealthy habits can cause temporary hormonal shifts that may alter menstrual cycle timing.
Do you have questions or concerns about your menstrual cycle? We’re here to help. Call New Beginnings OB/GYN in Shenandoah, Texas, today, or use our online booking tool to schedule a visit with Dr. Ibrahim at your convenience.