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What Causes Irregular Menstruation?
Question: What are the causes of irregular periods? I did ultrasound for the uterus and the ovaries and hormones test all are OK within normal so what might be the problem i had the last period in July
Brief Answer:
You are probably not ovulating...
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question and I am happy to help.
Most women have regular cycles. The first day of the period is Day#1, you ovulate on Day#14, and if you are not pregnant, you get your next period on Day#28. It is common for this cycle to be disrupted and the technical term for it is 'secondary amenorrhea'. This just refers to the absence of the cycle in someone who previously had a cycle. When you do not ovulate, the next period does not occur and eventually you might start having breakthrough bleeding that is irregular. This is very common and it is very unlikely that your ovaries have stopped working permanently (called premature menopause). The causes include:
1. Significant weight loss and being underweight
2. Weight gain or being overweight
3. Thyroid disease
4. Elevation of a hormone called prolactin
5. Insulin resistance or diabetes (commonly associated with a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS)
6. PREGNANCY - you need to take a pregnancy test if you are sexually active
Typically, one way to sort this out is to give you a 'progesterone challenge'. This is just a 10 day course of progesterone to induce a period. If this works to induce a period, then the conclusion is that your ovaries are working and you are not ovulating. You should consider contacted your doctor to perform lab tests related to the conditions above and to prescribe progesterone.
Does this help?
Dr. Tim
You are probably not ovulating...
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question and I am happy to help.
Most women have regular cycles. The first day of the period is Day#1, you ovulate on Day#14, and if you are not pregnant, you get your next period on Day#28. It is common for this cycle to be disrupted and the technical term for it is 'secondary amenorrhea'. This just refers to the absence of the cycle in someone who previously had a cycle. When you do not ovulate, the next period does not occur and eventually you might start having breakthrough bleeding that is irregular. This is very common and it is very unlikely that your ovaries have stopped working permanently (called premature menopause). The causes include:
1. Significant weight loss and being underweight
2. Weight gain or being overweight
3. Thyroid disease
4. Elevation of a hormone called prolactin
5. Insulin resistance or diabetes (commonly associated with a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS)
6. PREGNANCY - you need to take a pregnancy test if you are sexually active
Typically, one way to sort this out is to give you a 'progesterone challenge'. This is just a 10 day course of progesterone to induce a period. If this works to induce a period, then the conclusion is that your ovaries are working and you are not ovulating. You should consider contacted your doctor to perform lab tests related to the conditions above and to prescribe progesterone.
Does this help?
Dr. Tim
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. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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