Dear Doctor,
I am 25 years old and have had very irregular periods for a few months. Sometimes it takes 2 months before I get my period again. My girlfriends always have their period on time, so I'm afraid something is wrong with me. What could be the reason for these irregular periods and what can I do about it?
Causes of irregular periods
There are many possible reasons for irregular periods. The most common causes are hormonal changes, stress, weight changes or physical activity. Oligomenorrhea, as you seem to experience it, is the medical term for irregular periods that last longer than usual (>35 days).
Book an appointement with your gynecologist
To know the exact cause of your oligomenorrhea, I advise you to make an appointment with a gynecologist. To make sure there are no underlying medical conditions a gynecological examination which also includes an ultrasound will be done. To be able to exclude a hormone problem it might be necessary to do a hormonal balance.
Birth control pills are a possible therapy
Treatment firstly depends on the cause behind your irregular periods. Sometimes medication may be needed to regulate the menstrual cycle.
In some cases, using hormonal birth control pills such as the pill can help keep your periods regular.
If you want to get pregnant, your gynecologist will probably prescribe a treatment to stimulate egg growth.
A healthy lifestyle could help regulate your cycle
Whatever the therapy. Healthy lifestyle habits can sometimes already help make your periods more regular. I advise all my patients with an irregular cycle to exercise regularly, get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet.
Talk to your gynecologist
Basically, if you have irregular periods, it is always important to seek the advice of a doctor in order to get the best possible treatment and avoid possible complications.
Kind regards,
Dr Sandra Yene Amougui
Image source: Freepik
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