Did you miss your periods? Are you stressed and experiencing changes in mood? You’re not alone.
Irregular periods are a common symptom in both young and old women irrespective of their health histories. While a mild cyclic change is a normal part of life, those that are persistent are susceptible to the existence of underlying related medical conditions that need to be addressed. Irregular periods, however, are not difficult to treat. They can simply be managed with a blend of lifestyle changes, dietary restrictions and attention to warning signs that need to be medically evaluated. If you have missed your period or are experiencing delayed irregular periods, here are three important pointers on how to treat irregular periods and tips on how to be certain whether things are serious.
1. Lifestyle Changes for Menstrual Regularity
Lifestyle plays a key role in determining the menstrual cycle. A healthy lifestyle has been found to better hormonal balance and help in regular cycles. To experience positive changes, you may make minor tweaks in your lifestyle, such as
- Balanced Diet: Make sure that your diet is filled with a good mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and healthy fats in order to have a healthier menstruation cycle. Inculcating nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium in your diet can be especially helpful in order to have an optimal hormonal balance. Quitting fatty foods and added sugars is essential to reduce the risk of hormonal imbalance even further.
- Exercise regularly: Performing regular moderate exercise is extremely helpful in maintaining optimal health of a person and in attaining good hormonal balance. The women who are underweight are as susceptible to experiencing menstrual irregularities as the obese, and hence one must attain and sustain a healthy body mass index.
- Stress Management: Several studies indicate that stress interferes with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. One may resort to yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to limit the disruptive effects of stress on menstrual function.
- Sleep Hygiene: Rest and sleep are extremely vital in regulating hormones. Disturbance, which comes with menstruation, can be brought about by inadequate sleep or sleep without a schedule. In case of inadequate or irregular sleep, one may experience a disturbance in menstruation.
Implementing these lifestyle changes usually reduces menstrual cycle irregularity in the long run. Change will occur over a period of a few months, and it must be sustained in the long run to be long-lasting.
2. Daily Monitoring and Appropriate Use of Natural Medicines
Menstrual cycles must be continuously monitored so that patterns get recognized and symptoms are noted. The entire menstrual calendar, cycle length, quality of flow, symptoms, and any deviation from the pattern are essential, as they may be of importance to both physician and patient.
You may try to obtain menstrual health by natural means:
- Herbal supplements: You may rely on certain herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and chasteberry, also known as vitex agnus-castus, which are traditionally used to control menstrual abnormalities. Those suffering from PCOS may rely on cinnamon and may also be used to relieve menstrual cramps. However, it is important to note that herbal supplements should always be used after a doctor’s consultation because interaction with medication or a pre-existing illness is always a possibility.
- Probiotics and Gut Health: A healthy gut microbiome guarantees optimal nutrient absorption, which makes the foundation of endocrine production. Probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt or fermented vegetables may also prove helpful. While you may get comfort from homemade remedies, you may replace them with medical checkups if abnormalities are growing or otherwise.
3. Identifying When Irregular Menstruation Needs Medical Attention
While most irregular menstrual cycles are harmless, some symptoms should be seen immediately by a healthcare professional because they can indicate an underlying severe condition. The red flags you need to look out for are amenorrhea, or the lack of menstruation for three or more months. This is after excluding physiologic causes like pregnancy, lactation, or menopause. Menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding, may manifest as longer than seven days of bleeding, the passage of clots greater than a quarter, or the need to change a pad or tampon every hour. Frequent or intermenstrual bleeding, with a frequency of less than 21 days or between cycles, is also not a good sign. Another bad sign is severe dysmenorrhea, with severe pelvic pain that interferes with daily activities. With systemic symptoms that include unexplained weight loss, hypertrichosis, acne, nipple discharge, or anemia-related signs like dizziness and fatigue, these may be early signs of diseases including thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or bleeding disorders. Early medical intervention is extremely essential to avoid complications, including anemia and infertility.
You may experience abnormal menstruation because of healthy lifestyle practices, diligent observation of the cycle, and an awareness of early warning signs. While abnormal menstruation can be controlled without medical assistance, recurrent or severe symptoms need to be referred to a gynecologist. Talk to us for a personalized treatment plan today.