Cure Irregular Menstruation

A menstrual cycle is considered regular if it occurs for the same length of time every month. A regular length cycle can be anywhere from 21 to 35 days. It is considered irregular if it is longer in one month and shorter the next. It may also be irregular if you skip a menstrual period. A slight irregularity in your menstrual cycle once in awhile is not an alarming concern, however, having an irregular menstrual cycle can be a very frustrating thing to deal with. Luckily there are ways that you can manage your irregular cycle, such as using hormonal therapy, treating conditions that cause the irregularity, and modifying your lifestyle.

Steps

Using Hormonal Therapy

1. Talk to your doctor about hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapy works by interrupting the signals in your hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal circuit, which links your brain to your ovaries.
   • By interrupting this circuit, the therapy can be used to stop ovulation and stabilize your hormonal ups and downs. This will allow your menstrual cycle to get back on track.
2. Talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives regulate and stabilize reproductive hormones. Commonly prescribed oral contraceptives, such as those that work well in relieving PMDD symptoms, are pills with combinations of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone.
   • Studies have shown that these types of pills offer relief for the physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and also regulate the menstrual cycle.
   • Oral contraceptives are composed of a set of pills that should be taken for the whole month. There are two types of pills found in each set: the pills that contain the hormones and the placebo pills that should be taken during the days of your period.
3. Pick your pack of contraceptives. Oral contraceptives come in packets of 21, 28 or 91 tablets. These tablets should be taken by mouth. Take your oral contraceptives at the same time every day.
   • Be sure to follow your doctor’s specific instructions about when and how to take them.
   • If one type of oral contraceptive does not make your cycle regular, talk to your doctor about trying another brand of oral contraceptive.
   • There are a number of types, and brands, of oral contraceptives. Some are triphasic pills — which include both progestin and estrogen in varying levels — while others are monophasic which are pills that have the same amount of hormone dose in each pill. In addition, there are mini-pills that are progesterone only.
   • All oral contraceptives are not created equal. Some have estrogen while others have progesterone. These two hormones may affect your body differently. Talk to your doctor to find which one is right for you.
4. Know all your options for hormonal birth control. Birth control pills are not your only option to treat irregular menses with hormones. You can also use a vaginal ring, birth control patch, Depo-Provera, progesterone-containing IUD, or a progesterone implant. The choice will depend on what works best for your lifestyle and what your reproductive plans are. You can also use progesterone-only tablets to trigger a monthly cycle (keep in mind this would have no contraceptive benefit and would only help regulate your period).

Treating Underlying Medical Conditions

1. Ask your doctor about underlying medical conditions as a potential cause. Common underlying conditions include thyroid disease and gynecological issues like polycystic ovary syndrome. The treatment for these conditions will be discussed in the following steps.
2. Treat thyroid disorder. The thyroid gland produces hormones that alter the metabolic process in your body. This can affect your menstrual cycle. If you have hyperthyroidism, treatment may include targeting the thyroid tissues by taking medication to slow down thyroid hormone production. If you have hypothyroidism, your periods may be longer and be heavier. Hypothyroidism is treated with thyroid hormone replacement. Your physician may request diagnostic work-ups to determine the drugs that will work best for you.
   • The most commonly available anti-thyroid drugs are methimazole and propylthiouracil (PTU). Methimazole is often the drug of choice for its low incidence of medical side effects and is generally prescribed at 15 to 30 mg a day.
   • Hypothyroidism is treated with daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid).
3. Treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Common symptoms of PCOS include light, irregular periods or none at all due to the unbalanced production of reproductive hormones. Oftentimes, ovulation does not take place in PCOS patients. The treatment goal focuses on the restoration of hormonal balance by giving birth control pills or oral contraceptives to trigger menstruation.
   • If you are overweight and have PCOS, losing weight is an essential part of treatment.
   • The pill comes in a pack with 21 estrogen and progesterone hormone tablets and seven placebo pills.
4. Combat extreme weight loss. Extreme weight loss as a result of disease or improper diet and excessive exercise may upset the balance of hormones, thereby causing irregular periods. In the same manner, rapid weight gain and stress also alters the normal hormonal processes within the body. A low body mass index or any kind of nutritional deficiencies require nutrition counseling sessions.
   • Ideal weight loss or gain should not go beyond 2 kilograms a month or 4.4 pounds. Note that 1 pound is equivalent to 3,500 calories or 500 calories per day for seven days.
   • When you plan to lose weight, do not go below a 1,200 calorie-diet, otherwise, it will trigger hormonal chaos in your body. On the other hand, if you plan to gain weight, limit your calorie intake to no more than 500 calories more than your ideal caloric requirement.

Modifying Your Lifestyle

1. Exercise regularly. Unhealthy habits like having a sedentary lifestyle can greatly affect your reproductive health. Exercising can help to keep you healthy, which in turn can ensure that your hormones remain level.
   • Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week.
   • Keep in mind that people who exercise excessively or who are athletes often have cycle irregularities.
2. Limit your intake of refined carbohydrates. Crackers, pretzels, processed chips and other refined carbohydrates can surge the blood sugar level resulting in food cravings. Eating these unhealthy foods may lead to weight gain, which could throw off your menstrual cycle.
3. Limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Drinking alcoholic and caffeinated drinks can lower your immune system and can cause you to become dehydrated. Too much alcohol can also cause your blood pressure to increase, which can harm other organs. If you are dealing with an irregular period, limit your intake to:
   • One cup of coffee a day
   • One alcoholic beverage a day. This means 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol.
4. Try acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on the concept that your energy flows through your body in certain ways. When these energies are interrupted, it can cause your hormones and other parts of your body to become unbalanced. Acupuncture involves placing needles in certain pressure points to restore the flow of energy.

Using Unverified Herbal Remedies

1. Take an herbal supplement containing Lepidium meyenii. This is an alternative approach to relieving irregular menstruation. It comes from the herb Lepidium meyenii. It is thought to work by nourishing and stimulating balance in the endocrine system. Rather than introducing synthetic hormones,This herbal remedy may induce the hormonal system to secrete necessary reproductive hormones naturally.
   • Take 3 tablets a day after meals. Ideally you should take two tablets after breakfast and one after lunch.
2. Eat more ginger. Ginger is thought to promote menstruation. It is commonly used when dealing with delayed menstruation. To make ginger tea:
   • Boil half a teaspoon of freshly ground ginger in one cup of water. Add honey to enhance the flavor if need be. Drink this mixture three times a day for a month.
3. Try upping your intake of cinnamon. Cinnamon is thought to have a warming effect on the body. This warming effect is useful for regulating menstrual cycle. It may also help to reduce menstrual cramps. Cinnamon also contains hydroxychalcone which is thought to regulate insulin. A high level of insulin in the body can cause irregular menstruation.
   • To prepare the cinnamon, add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to a glass of milk. Another option is to drink cinnamon tea or chew on a cinnamon stick regularly.
4. Eat sesame seeds to help regulate your menstrual cycle. Sesame seeds are thought to help balance hormonal levels. Sesame seeds contain lignans, which help bind excess hormones. They also contain essential fatty acids, which help in hormonal production.
   • Dry and roast a cup of sesame seeds. You can crush this up into a powder, or eat them whole.
5. Use more turmeric in your cooking. Just like unripe papaya, turmeric is thought to have herbal stimulant properties which help stimulate menstrual flow. Turmeric is also considered a warming herb which helps in regulating menstruation and hormones.
   • To prepare turmeric add one to four teaspoons of turmeric powder to a glass of milk. Drink this formula daily for a few months until effects are felt.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Get an Abortion (USA)
• Heal Vaginal Tears
• Increase Estrogen
• Diagnose Vaginal Discharge
• Eliminate Vaginal Odor
• Appreciate Curves on a Woman
• Know What to Do About Your Period
• Stand to Pee With a Device
• Have a Healthy Vagina
• Do Kegel Exercises

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