Periods can sometimes be a real pain. They can make you feel sick. They can give you a headache. They can make your stomach ache. Yes, periods can be a real pain, and things can be even worse if they decide to become irregular.
Cycles between 23–35 days are very common. A woman may get her period only one to four times a year. Or she might have periods that occur two to three times in a month and involve spotting or extremely heavy flow. Alternatively, she may have heavy episodes of bleeding every two to three months. Irregular periods are simply what is irregular for you.
A wide variety of factors can be responsible for irregular periods, among them:
- Significant weight gain or loss.
- Over-exercise.
- Poor nutrition (or a diet too high in carbohydrates).
- Smoking.
- Drug use.
- Caffeine.
- Excessive alcohol use (interfering with how the liver metabolizes estrogen and progesterone).
- Eating disorders.
- Increased stress.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome/estrogen dominance.
- Uterine abnormalities (fibroids/cysts/polyps/endometriosis).
- Hormonal imbalance related to perimenopause.
- Medications.
- Chemotherapy.
- Recent childbirth, miscarriage, or D&C.
- Breastfeeding.

Why does being stressed out cause irregular periods?

When we are under stress, our adrenal glands are designed to secrete the hormone cortisol which has a direct impact on the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA.
Eating disorders, dieting, drug use, and reliance on stimulants like caffeine and alcohol are also interpreted by the body as kinds of stress. Poor nutrition seems to physically change the proteins in the brain so they can no longer send the proper signals for normal ovulation.

Irregular menstrual periods in young women may be a warning sign of a hormonal shortage that could lead to osteoporosis. Premature ovarian failure occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs and reproductive hormones well in advance of natural menopause.

Treating Irregular Periods

Depending on the cause of your irregular periods, there may or may not be much you can do about them.
- Reduce your stress levels.
- Get help for your eating disorder.
- Don’t over exercise.

Medical Treatments

There are a few medical treatments which may be helpful in regulating your period:
- Hormonal Contraceptives : These contraceptives combine estrogen and progesterone and maintain your body’s hormones at specific and balanced levels.
- Hormone Supplements: If you have a specific hormone problem, such as overproduction of testosterone, hormonal supplements may be able to help regulate your periods.