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What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycle?

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Posted on Wed, 7 Oct 2015
Question: what causes a normal period to become irregular when you are not pregnant?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There are various reasons, detailed below

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Basically, you wish to know what causes irregular cycles, when you are not pregnant.
Periods are affected by simple, basic factors - sleep, weight, exercise, climate, travelling, smoking, drinking, drugs, hormones, medications, stress, anxiety.
So it could be a simple upcoming exam or test, or a spate of late nights, binge drinking or erratic eating, or a bout of unaccustomed exercise, or weight gain or loss - all these can cause your cycle to become irregular.
Of course, there are other medical conditions too.
The commonest reason is PCOD - polycystic ovarian disease, when you have multiple small cysts on your ovaries.
Fibroids, cysts, endometrial hyperplasia - these are some of the other reasons.
There is a long list of other, rarer, causes too.
If you give me a more detailed background, I might be able to be more specific and help you further.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (5 minutes later)
I had a normal period up til April. Then I missed my week in April. Which I thought was okay since my period occasionally skips a month. But then I missed May. I spotted in XXXXXXX and had a full period July and August. Now I missed my period again and it's September.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
More details ?

Detailed Answer:
Okay.
What is your height and weight ?
Are you sexually active ?
Any of the common factors that I listed above - do they apply to you ?
Any hormones that you are on ?
Have you seen a doctor for this ?


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (2 minutes later)
I have not seen a doctor because I thought it was just my normal occasional month skip. And I figured I didn't get because at the time I was extremely stressed. my height is 5'6" and I weigh 250 pounds.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You need to lose weight, and rule out PCOD

Detailed Answer:
Okay.
Needless you say, you come under the category of obese when your BMI is calculated.
That is the major reason for your irregular cycles.
And yes, the stress too.
Along with this weight, there could be a possibility of PCOD too.
YOu need to see a Specialist OB - GYN, and have an internal evaluation, Pap smear, pelvic ultrasound scan and hormonal levels ( FSH, LH, TSH, Prolactin, OGTT, DHEAS, Free testosterone, Lipid profile).
You also need to start working intensively for weight loss.
A dedicated personal trainer and a strict calorie - restricted diet chart prepared by your Nutritionist are a must.
Start working on it, and you will see your periods getting regulated as you approach a near normal weight range.
Wish you so much of luck for it.
You can keep in touch with me directly anytime, using the following link -
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-aarti-abraham/64623
Take care.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Aarti Abraham

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

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What Causes Irregular Menstrual Cycle?

Brief Answer: There are various reasons, detailed below Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for writing to us with your health concern. Basically, you wish to know what causes irregular cycles, when you are not pregnant. Periods are affected by simple, basic factors - sleep, weight, exercise, climate, travelling, smoking, drinking, drugs, hormones, medications, stress, anxiety. So it could be a simple upcoming exam or test, or a spate of late nights, binge drinking or erratic eating, or a bout of unaccustomed exercise, or weight gain or loss - all these can cause your cycle to become irregular. Of course, there are other medical conditions too. The commonest reason is PCOD - polycystic ovarian disease, when you have multiple small cysts on your ovaries. Fibroids, cysts, endometrial hyperplasia - these are some of the other reasons. There is a long list of other, rarer, causes too. If you give me a more detailed background, I might be able to be more specific and help you further. Looking forward to hearing from you. Take care.