We know, it can be frustrating never knowing when the first day of bleeding will surprise you, especially when you're trying to get pregnant and can't calculate your fertile period. But is it possible to regulate menstruation? Can you influence it naturally? Is it normal to have an irregular cycle?

Right after your period starts, it's normal to have irregular periods until your body settles into a natural rhythm. For many women, menstruation settles after 1-2 years. For many others, the menstrual cycle never regulates itself. Let's see what there is to do!

What does regular menstruation mean?

On average, a menstrual cycle theoretically lasts 28 days. In reality, menstruation is a unique experience for every woman and the length of a cycle differs from person to person. Any duration between 23 and 38 days is considered normal.

Thus, you can say that you have a regular period when the duration between two consecutive periods is always the same, month after month (eg: every 23 days, or every 32 days).

Irregular Menstruation - Causes

If the interval between two consecutive periods always changes (eg: one month your period starts after 21 days, and the next month it starts after 30 days), then it is considered irregular menstruation and it can be caused by:

• Hormonal changes: for example in the first years of menstruation or in premenopause

• Medications: hormone treatments, starting birth control pills, or certain anti-inflammatory medications can affect menstrual bleeding and the interval between periods

• An unbalanced lifestyle: chaotic eating, sedentary lifestyle

• Obesity or sudden changes in weight

• Excessive stress

• Overdosing on the morning-after pill

• Other medical conditions: pelvic inflammatory disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid problems, endometriosis, diabetes, celiac disease, benign tumors or cancer

There are many important things to know when you have an irregular menstrual cycle, and I have discussed this in more depth in another blog post. So we expect you to talk HERE more about the causes and the recommended treatment for an irregular period.

How do you know if you have irregular periods or not?

If you're always caught by surprise with your period because it's either late or too early, you have an irregular cycle. Basically, it means that you can never know exactly when your next period will start.

But let's see what are the factors you can analyze to know exactly if you have an irregular period:

• Duration: If your period starts after a shorter or longer interval from one month to the next, or if the length of your menstrual bleeding fluctuates from month to month.

• Flow: if you bleed more or less from month to month (a good indicator is the number of pads or tampons you need).

• Other factors: if you experience severe menstrual pain, if you have breakthrough bleeding, if your mood changes drastically, and other factors in your life.

How is irregular menstruation diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made by the gynecologist, who can perform several tests to determine the causes and the appropriate treatment. Thus, during a consultation for the diagnosis of irregular menstruation, you can expect:

Complete gynecological exam (to find out if the irregular cycle has less common causes, such as infections, fibroids or polyps)

Ultrasound (to evaluate the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes)

Examination of vaginal secretions

Pap test

Blood tests (to detect possible anemia)

Thyroid function testing

Blood pressure check

Treatment to regulate menstruation

Yes, there are treatments to regulate menstruation. These are prescribed by the gynecologist depending on the cause and often involve both medication and lifestyle changes.

pill  

Contraceptives are among the most frequently recommended treatments for regulating the menstrual cycle.

When the cause is endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), your doctor may prescribe birth control pills based on estrogen and progesterone to restore hormonal balance and regulate menstruation.

Hormonal therapy

For perimenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy can help regulate periods and relieve other symptoms (eg, hot flashes or vaginal dryness).

However, recent studies have confirmed that hormone therapy can be risky and have negative effects. Discuss these issues with your doctor before choosing a treatment method.

Food supplements

Because many women have irregular periods, there are nutritional supplements specifically designed to support menstrual cycle regulation. They work either by restoring hormonal balance or by ameliorating certain deficiencies.

Your doctor may recommend supplements that contain:

• Vitamin B: May relieve PMS symptoms and help regulate periods

• Inositol: Vitamin B-like substance that supports ovarian function, contributes to ovulation and increases the chances of pregnancy in women undergoing infertility treatment.

• Vitamin D: A low level of vitamin D in the body can contribute to irregular periods, while daily supplementation can support the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

• Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) and Omega-6 fatty acids: found in e.g. evening primrose essential oil supplements, can relieve inflammation, hot flashes and other symptoms of premenopause.

How to regulate your period naturally

There are also natural methods for regulating your menstrual cycle that you can follow at home. Below we will tell you what some of these are.

Some are just about making positive changes and implementing beneficial lifestyle habits. These are things that anyone can do.

But there are also natural solutions such as certain supplements, and the main problem with them is that they do not have scientifically proven effectiveness. They can even interact with other treatments or health problems, so always seek medical advice before using them.

Yoga exercises

Yoga is one of the most studied alternative treatments for irregular periods. There are studies that have confirmed that a yoga routine can help restore hormonal balance and regulate the menstrual cycle.

Practicing yoga regularly has a long list of benefits, including relieving menstrual pain, improving mood and increasing quality of life for women with primary dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual cramps).

Maintaining a healthy weight

Extreme fluctuations in body weight can have a negative impact on the menstrual cycle. Both sudden weight loss and obesity can be responsible for irregular bleeding.

According to studies, overweight people are more prone to irregular, heavy and painful periods due to the effect of fat cells on hormone and insulin levels.

Talk to your doctor to determine what would be the ideal weight range for your body if you are underweight or overweight. Find out what changes are recommended in your diet to reach a healthy weight.

Exercising regularly

An active lifestyle can indirectly help regulate periods. Because exercise uses energy, it can support your efforts to reach and maintain a healthy weight. This will further have a positive impact on the menstrual cycle.

However, avoid very intense endurance training or excessive physical exertion. In turn, a prolonged exercise routine can exhaust your body, lead to drastic weight loss and cause irregular periods.

Exercise regularly, but choose moderate physical activity that matches your endurance level.

Introducing ginger and cinnamon into the diet

Ginger is one of the most used natural treatments for heavy or irregular menstrual cycle.

Indeed, it has not been scientifically proven that it regulates menstruation. But there are studies that confirm other benefits of daily ginger supplementation: relieving pain, reducing menstrual flow and improving mood in the days before menstruation.

Research confirms that cinnamon also supports the regulation of menstruation. It helps relieve symptoms associated with primary dysmenorrhea, such as nausea, vomiting, pain, and heavy bleeding.

Cinnamon is a natural remedy used especially by women suffering from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

Use tampons and absorbents made from 100% natural ingredients

Did you know that plastic, dioxin and other toxic chemicals that can be found in conventional menstrual products are considered hormone disruptors? As they come into contact with your vulva and the absorbent walls of your vagina month after month, they enter your body and can disrupt your hormonal balance, contributing to an irregular menstrual cycle.

That's why we recommend you use Enroush tampons and absorbents , which contain only 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and natural fibers. Choose to protect your hormonal health and enjoy periods as natural and regular as possible, without menstrual care representing a risk.

Many women have already confirmed that switching to menstrual products made from 100% natural ingredients was a big change that helped reduce menstrual flow, pain and regulate periods.

When should you visit your doctor for menstrual regulation?

It is normal for periods to be irregular in the first few years after the start of the menstrual cycle and in the years leading up to menopause. In these situations, if there is no severe pain, heavy bleeding or other abnormal symptoms, irregular menstruation is not a cause for concern.

Instead, you should visit your gynecologist if:

You have breakthrough bleeding

Bleeding after menopause

Bleeding after intercourse or during pregnancy

You can't get pregnant

The duration of menstruation exceeds one week

You are in severe pain

You have a fever

You notice vaginal discharge or an unusual odor

You have sudden and unexplained weight loss or gain

You notice hair growth or acne breakouts in unusual ways

Although most natural remedies for period regulation are safe and harmless, you should visit your doctor and ask for his or her recommendation before starting any treatment. For example, don't try to speed up your period or take vitamin K to stop heavy periods without talking to a specialist.

Frequently asked questions about menstrual regulation

We know, it's not easy to have an irregular menstrual cycle. A lot of questions can arise from wanting to anticipate when your next bleeding will start. What to do to get your period earlier? Can you get pregnant with an irregular cycle?

We don't want you to be left with unanswered fears and dilemmas after you finish reading. So in this section we will answer the most frequently asked questions about menstrual regulation.

How long will it take for my period to settle?

After the first period, the cycle settles within 1-2 years for most women. But according to specialists, it can take up to 6 years for periods to regulate on their own. The exception is situations where irregular menstruation is based on other health conditions, because then you must first solve the cause.

If you start a contraceptive treatment, your body may need up to 2-3 months to get used to the new amount of synthetic hormones and to regulate your periods.

Does irregular menstruation mean infertility?

No, an irregular menstrual cycle does not automatically mean infertility. It just means that the time interval between two consecutive periods differs from month to month.

If you want to get pregnant, it is best to talk to your doctor and find out the exact cause of your irregular cycle. If it's not a serious health problem, it may not affect your chances of pregnancy at all.

Can I get pregnant if I have irregular periods?

Yes, you can get pregnant even if you don't have regular periods. Although it is more difficult to determine the moment of ovulation, it occurs even with an irregular cycle. In addition, there are ovulation tests and gynecological tests that can be performed to establish this data.

If you can't get pregnant, talk to your specialist to find out what is affecting your fertility and what treatment options you can choose.

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Is it normal to have a late period?

Yes, it is normal for your period to be late by one or more days without being a cause for concern or hiding a problem. Any woman can notice such changes, especially after a stressful period, after changes in weight or diet.

However, if your period is several weeks or months late, it is not normal. It may indicate pregnancy or another health problem, which is why you should talk to your gynecologist. It's a big topic that I've covered in more detail in another blog post, so find out everything you need to know about a late period HERE .