Healthytalk8 Irregular periods in teenage years are now a common phenomenon, but if it occurs more then you should talk to the doctor.
Periods in girls are normal is a vital part of Women’s life, simply at the Age of 12 to 16 most, girls get their first period.
Every girl gets their periods on a cycle, and their cycle can take different amounts of time each month.
A study showed that irregular periods in teenage girls are linked to obesity, certain medicines intake, and some other health conditions.
Irregular periods aren’t always a sign of a problem, but make sure you see your doctor about it, for surety.
So today’s article will tell you about irregular periods in teenage girls, why happen, prevention, treatment, and so on.
Check Out – Periods: General knowledge That Everyone Should Know About
What are regular periods?
Contents
Menstruation is part of a woman’s reproductive cycle.
It occurs to women every month in response to reproductive hormones primarily estrogen and progesterone a woman’s womb gets ready for pregnancy.
The regular periods can occur every 21 to 40 days and last 2 to 7 days. these can be long cycles in the first few years after menstruation.
However, the menstrual cycle is reduced, it becomes more regular according to your growing age.
What are irregular periods in the teenage years?
Early cycles can be very irregular.
This is a problem seen in young girls, so once they start their cycles, it comes once in 2 to 3 months or even 4 to 5 months.
NOTE: Periods are considered irregular when they do not come in the normal range, mean -periods that occur less than 21 days or more than 35 days (1).
Every week irregular or heavy bleeding can lead to iron deficiency due to low blood count, which also leads to low hemoglobin.
The irregular cycle may extend to a month or in length, and the period may be mild or heavy, painful or pain-free.
Is it common irregular in teenage years?
Irregular periods are very common, especially in a girl’s first few years of getting her period.
If you see that your period is irregular, do not worry about the first 2 to 3 years.
It is very natural for the body to go slowly into the rhythm of having periods.
The only thing you should be worried about is if the cycle does not stop on time.
You should not let yourself bleed for more than 5 to 7 days. if the flow continues and is painful, please consult your doctor.
Irregular periods are a common symptom of this endocrine system disorder that leads to ovaries with many cysts or fluid-filled sacs (2)
What causes irregular periods in teenage?
Menstrual patterns are also influenced by a number of hosts and environmental factors (3).
Few other studies in India have shown that lifestyle factors are associated with various menstrual cycle patterns.
Here are some common reasons for irregular periods in teenage which include:
- Overweight or underweight
- exercise too much
- medicine intake
- stress
- not eating enough vitamins, minerals, and calories
- puberty
- consume junk food that contains lots of sugar, salt, and fat, leads to other health issues
- early pregnancy
- hormone imbalance
- early menopause, but it usually starts at ages 45 to 55
- medical conditions such as PCOS
Check Out – Lifestyle Factors: That Promote Good Health
Treatment
There are many ways to treat irregular periods but make sure what the causes of it for example:
If being overweight is an issue, then you should go on running or do some exercise.
Medical treatment is available and may be an acceptable first-line treatment for women with a BMI<32 (4) (5).
Natural ways to treat irregular periods
- Yoga asanas
- exercise, but avoid hard exercise
- adopt a healthy diet plan
- Reduce excessive weight
- consume sufficient vitamins (vitamin D3, and B-12) and minerals
- manage stress
- avoid junk or street food, which is a major cause of irregular periods, and other health issues
- certain food that is considered to overcome irregular periods such as are:
- eat unripe papaya (its consider to regulate menstrual flow), don’t take this during the menstrual period
- ginger water
- Green tea
- Pineapples are rich in bromelain, which may help with blood flow and the generation of red and white blood cells.
- Cinnamon
- consume turmeric
- warm milk with turmeric or honey before bed
- Parsley
Medical treatment
There are some prescribed medications that consider for the irregular period stage which include:
- Birth control pill
- If hyperthyroid is the cause of it then anti-thyroid drugs and radioactive iodine are given.
- Medroxyprogesterone
- the iron supplement might be given to prevent iron deficiency during heavy bleeding
- If cortisol overproduction issues, then given that medicine that blocks access to cortisol overproduction.
- hormone medicines
Check Out – Ways To Convert Your Irregular Periods To Regular Periods
When do you talk to the doctor?
If the same pattern persists for more than 2 years, then you can get in touch with your doctor.
If it’s 2 days, then fine, it’s 2 to 3 days here and there, they come running, so visit the doctor.
Having periods for not more than 3 months, talk to your doctor (6).
Some medical problems can also cause such as stress, low or heavyweight, missed periods, and talking to the doctor about what causes it.
NOTE: PCOS should be taken into consideration as a frequent cause of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls (7).
Also, let your doctor know if:
- Your regular period becomes irregular, which has been occurring for a long-time
- stopping periods for no reason
- extra hair growth or fall, pimples, increase in weight
- If lasts for more than 7 days or heavy coming or are coming more often than every 21 days.
- More pain on abdominal pain or cramping than general
A doctor can prescribe you some medicine or recommend you change in lifestyle which will help convert your irregular periods into regular.
Risk
Possible risk of the irregular periods which includes:
Low bone density: Amenorrhea causes low estrogen, which leads to overtime thinning of bone, which leads to osteoporosis.
Fertility loss: Amenorrhea is also caused by a lack of ovulation, which means getting pregnant can be difficult or stop in future
Amenorrhea is often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods.
Check Out – Essential Oils For Period Cramps, Can It Really Helpful? And More
BOTTOM LINE
NOTE: Menstrual cramps are also known as periods of pain and in medical terms dysmenorrhea.
Period cramps are one of the worst things, that happens to every girl every month, some women manage pain with changing lifestyles.
