Long Menstrual Cycles? What You Should Know (2023)

FAQs

Long Menstrual Cycles? What You Should Know? ›

What Causes Long Menstrual Cycles? Longer cycles are caused by a lack of regular ovulation. During a normal cycle, it is the fall of progesterone that brings upon bleeding. If a follicle does not mature and ovulate, progesterone is never released and the lining of the uterus continues to build in response to estrogen.

Long periods can get in the way of your normal life, and they may also be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment. See your doctor to find out the cause of your long period so you can begin to treat it. Delaying treatment may cause complications and lead to more invasive treatments in the future.

Menorrhagia in older reproductive-age women is typically due to uterine pathology, including fibroids, polyps and adenomyosis. However, other problems, such as uterine cancer, bleeding disorders, medication side effects and liver or kidney disease could be contributing factors.

The length of the menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman, but the average is to have periods every 28 days. Regular cycles that are longer or shorter than this, from 23 to 35 days, are normal.

Examples of irregular menstruation include: Periods that occur fewer than 21 days or more than 35 days apart. Missing three or more periods in a row. Menstrual flow (bleeding) that's much heavier or lighter than usual.

Though the average cycle is 28 days long, anything between 21 and 45 days is considered normal. That's a 24-day difference. For the first year or two after menstruation begins, women tend to have longer cycles that don't start at the same time every month. Older women often have shorter, more consistent cycles.

Hormones — Hormonal imbalance or problems with ovulation caused by thyroid dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia, and polycystic ovary syndrome can cause irregular vaginal bleeding. Weight — Stress, too much exercise, and weight changes can cause two periods in one month.

Some types are related to vitamin deficiencies. But a type of anemia that's common with heavy periods is iron deficiency anemia.

If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.

Some women notice their menstrual cycle getting shorter with age. According to ACOG, changes in your menstrual cycle during perimenopause are normal. Your periods may become shorter or longer, and the days between your periods may increase or decrease. Your menstrual flow may become heavier or lighter.

Is it harder to get pregnant with longer cycles? ›

The pregnancy success rate of a healthy woman with a regular cycle is 30%. Studies show this decreases exponentially if periods are off by ten days or more.

What Causes Long Menstrual Cycles? Longer cycles are caused by a lack of regular ovulation. During a normal cycle, it is the fall of progesterone that brings upon bleeding. If a follicle does not mature and ovulate, progesterone is never released and the lining of the uterus continues to build in response to estrogen.

Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle. There may be sudden surges in estrogen.

Kaufman says if your periods are consistently irregular, they'd recommend seeing your doctor or gynecologist. Here is what to watch for: Consistently having periods closer than 24 days apart. Consistently having periods longer than seven days.

An abnormal period is a cycle that is different than your usual cycle or one that has never been normal. Signs of an abnormal period include: A cycle that lasts less than 21 days or more than 35 days. Menstrual flow that is noticeably heavier or lighter.

Although some women with PCOS have regular periods, high levels of androgens (also known as 'male-type hormones') and too much insulin in their bodies can disrupt the monthly cycle of ovulation and menstruation of many women with PCOS. If you have PCOS, your periods might be irregular, or stop altogether.

Perimenopause (the few years before your menstrual cycles come to an end, typically after age 45). After entering perimenopause, cycle length can vary between 14 and 50 days, though some women and people with cycles may report very little change in their menstrual cycles before menopause (6).

Most people notice spotting as a few drops of blood on their underwear or toilet paper when wiping. In most cases, spotting should not cause concern. Often, hormonal changes due to birth control, pregnancy, or menopause can trigger it.

What should I do if I get my period every 2 weeks? ›

Frequent periods can indicate an underlying condition that requires treatment. Having too many periods can also result in blood loss that leads to anemia or low blood counts, so it is essential to seek medical advice.

Long periods can be the result of a variety of factors such as health conditions, your age and your lifestyle. Underlying health conditions that can cause long periods include uterine fibroids, endometrial (uterine) polyps, adenomyosis, or more rarely, a precancerous or cancerous lesion of the uterus.

Too much estrogen could cause periods to be extremely heavy and prolonged, and is sometimes caused by body fat levels being too high.

Your body is producing less of the hormones that help you ovulate, so your periods can become irregular. Your menstrual cycle could become longer or shorter than usual. Your bleeding could also be heavier or lighter than normal.

If you have consistently heavy bleeding during your menstrual period, it's possible to suffer anemia. Your iron levels can go down from the blood loss during your period, leaving you feeling depleted and fatigued. Anemia is a medical condition that develops when your body doesn't have enough red blood cells.

They can be bright red or burgundy and may vary in size. They are usually mixed with liquid blood. The longer the blood stays inside the uterus, the darker it is in color, and the likelier it is to form clots.

If you notice it only when wiping or can easily absorb any light bleeding with a pantyliner (or even just underwear), it's spotting. If you need a pad or tampon to absorb bleeding between periods, it generally wouldn't be considered spotting.

A sudden heavy period may be the result of normal hormonal fluctuations or a side effect of birth control. However, heavy periods can also indicate an underlying health condition. A person should talk to their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding or cramping that prevents them from completing normal activities.

First, it's important to know how long your period should last. On average, the menstrual cycle is every 21 to 35 days and during your period, bleeding can last 2 to 7 days. But what is normal for one person might not be for another. However, heavier or longer periods can increase your chances of anemia.

Exercise regularly

Maintaining a cardiovascular exercise routine not only promotes overall health, but also helps lighten your menstrual flow. It may also reduce the number of days you have your period. Exercising can lessen water retention, which may alleviate bloating and reduce cramps.

Are longer periods part of menopause? ›

Prolonged and heavy bleeding during menopause is common | University of Michigan News.

The main symptom of infertility is not getting pregnant. There may be no other obvious symptoms. Sometimes, women with infertility may have irregular or absent menstrual periods. In some cases, men with infertility may have some signs of hormonal problems, such as changes in hair growth or sexual function.

The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There might be no other signs or symptoms.

Some participants charted their menstrual cycles daily via an online program, Fertility Friend. The study found that women who had cycles of 26 days or fewer had reduced chances of becoming pregnant, or fecundability. The average cycle length among participants was 29 days.

Most women with irregular periods have either very long cycles (45 to 60 days) or sometimes will skip their period every few months. You can have irregular periods when you first start menstruating, and then again at the other end of the equation, when you start to enter perimenopause.

Irregular or abnormal ovulation accounts for 30% to 40% of all cases of infertility. Having irregular periods, no periods, or abnormal bleeding often indicates that you aren't ovulating, a condition known clinically as anovulation.

Experts say that when you see a 60-day cycle, that's a good indication you're approaching menopause. Talk to your doctor if you miss more than two periods (and you're not perimenopausal) or have other symptoms such as irregular bleeding.

During perimenopause, you can experience a variety of symptoms. Best known is the hot flash. About 80 percent of women will experience some form of a hot flash. Hot flashes happen when your brain has trouble regulating your internal temperature, which is a common response to having less estrogen.

There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

What autoimmune disease affects your period? ›

Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism can affect your menstrual cycle. Specifically, Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism can cause irregular periods or cycles when you don't ovulate, contributing further to hormonal imbalances and the risk of cyclical flare-ups.

Severe pain (cramping) during your period or between periods. Unusually heavy bleeding (soaking through a sanitary pad or tampon every hour for two to three hours) or passing large clots (larger than a quarter). Foul-smelling vaginal discharge. A period lasting longer than seven days.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding occurs when the normal cycle of menstruation is disrupted, usually due to anovulation (failure to ovulate) that's unrelated to another illness. Ovulation failure is the most common type of DUB in adolescents and in women who are reaching perimenopause.

Your OB/GYN will discuss your options with you. These may include dietary and lifestyle changes, oral contraceptives, or surgery, depending on the nature of the irregularities. If the irregularity isn't a medical issue, or causing you discomfort, you may not require treatment at all!

A gynecologist evaluates patients' symptoms and recommends treatment options for irregular periods. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), thyroid conditions, birth control methods, stress and other conditions related to the reproductive system may cause irregular periods. Medical intervention or treatment is possible.

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Pregnancy test. Blood tests for certain hormone levels (thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, DHEA) 24-hour urine collection for free cortisol. Pelvic ultrasound.

Menstrual irregularities can have a variety of causes, including pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, infections, diseases, trauma, and certain medications.

Abnormal menstruation can often be a source of concern for many women due to its discomfort and hindrance of her lifestyle. It can also be a cause of infertility, as well as indicating an underlying condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that has caused difficulty conceiving.

How long is too long for a period during perimenopause? Long cycles are common during perimenopause and can be as long as 38 days or more. If you're experiencing one, speak with your doctor.

Aside from having trouble conceiving, symptoms can vary significantly from one person to another. Depending on the reason for infertility, sometimes women may experience pelvic pain, heavy periods, skipped periods or unpredictable vaginal bleeding. It's important to discuss any unusual symptoms with your doctor.

Do irregular periods always mean hormone imbalance? ›

Irregular menstruation (periods): Several hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle. Because of this, an imbalance in any one or several of those hormones can cause irregular periods. Specific hormone-related conditions that cause irregular periods include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and amenorrhea.

If you have bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days per period, or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour, you need to talk with your doctor. To find out if you have menorrhagia, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and menstrual cycles.