Why menstruation comes earlier and how to make sure that this does not happen
Miscellaneous / / August 11, 2023
Sometimes it is enough to pay more attention to rest and proper nutrition.
How often should menstruation be normal
Average menstruation comes every 28 days, more precisely between the 21st and 35th days.
Women with a regular cycle usually know the approximate date of the next period, but sometimes the cycle is less predictable - and this can be normal. This process is regulated by a complex hormonal mechanism that can be affected by various factors such as stress, lifestyle changes, medications, and even diseases.
Why can menstruation start earlier?
There can be many reasons, and some of them are quite normal.
1. Puberty
During puberty, the body only establishes a cycle, so it is absolutely normal if its length jumps from month to month.
What to do
Walk for preventive examinations to the gynecologist, mark cycles on the calendar and be patient: after a couple of years, menstruation will become more predictable. But spare pads and tampons are still better not to spread out of the bag.
2. Start of menopause
Usually women face with this at the age of 47–51. Here the situation is reversed: the reproductive function fading away, the amount of hormones falls, and the cycle jumps.
What to do
apply to the gynecologist. The fact is that in addition to cycle changes during menopause, other symptoms can be disturbing, such as hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings and vaginal dryness. It is not necessary to endure them, the doctor can choose hormone replacement therapy and other means that will help you live this period calmly.
3. Stress
Stress It is the body's response to danger. She accompanied a wide range of chemical changes in the body. This is how the body reacts to what is happening in your life.
Even short-term stress and anxiety can contribute to hormonal imbalances, so is a common cause of early menstruation or delay.
What to do
You can’t avoid stress at all, you can only try not to let it become too significant. If you feel like the stress is more than you can handle, try:
- Learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
- Take care of your body, that is, to observe a sleep schedule, eat right, give up bad habits - a healthy lifestyle increases resistance to stress.
- Saying “no” to extra responsibilities when too busy, tired, or stressed. And generally refuse to do what you do not want if you do not need it.
- Do not close yourself from loved ones, stay in touch with those who support you and help you feel better.
- Talk to a psychologist or therapist about what is bothering you.
4. Lifestyle changes
This can be changes in the level of physical activity, nutrition, sleep. Especially if they affect weight.
Adipose tissue too produces some hormones, including steroids, which include sex hormones. So weight fluctuations throw off the balance of hormones needed for a regular cycle.
What to do
If the menstruation has shifted a little due to a new lifestyle, then this is not a problem. But if they constantly come at different times, then you should think about it and analyze what has changed. Not necessarily the weight caused a violation of the cycle, but without its normalization it will not be possible to restore normal menstruation.
5. Hormonal contraception
There is no menstruation while taking birth control pills. Bleeding between active pills caused temporary withdrawal of the drug.
However, sometimes something like a period begins before the pills in the package run out. This phenomenon is called breakthrough bleeding. This happens especially often in the first few months of taking it, while the body is trying to adjust to the hormones coming from outside. You may also experience breakthrough bleeding due to:
- skipping the active tablet;
- taking a new medication, such as an antibiotic;
- disease accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea.
In all these cases, the body does not receive the expected dose of hormones and reacts to this.
What to do
Continue drink pills. Breakthrough bleeding doesn't mean the pills aren't working. Mark such days on the calendar if they repeat very often after the first adaptation - perhaps the gynecologist will select you a remedy with a higher concentration of hormones.
It is also believed that women who smoke are more likely to experience breakthrough bleeding. So it might be worth giving up the bad habit.
6. endometriosis
endometriosis more often meets in women aged 30-40 years. It occurs when tissue that looks like the lining of the endometrium travels outside the uterus and grows there. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but it is believed that genetic and hormonal factors are involved in its development.
endometriosis affects on the menstrual cycle, causing:
- heavy and painful menstruation;
- bleeding in the middle of the cycle;
- irregular periods.
In addition, it often causes pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, especially after sex and during menstruation. It is also one of the most common causes of infertility.
What to do
If you notice the cycle changes listed above, then you need to go to the gynecologist. The diagnosis is not always possible to make immediately, but the sooner you start treatment, the easier it will be to get rid of the symptoms and complications.
7. polycystic ovary syndrome
In this condition, the regulation of the ovaries is disturbed, due to which they appear multiple cysts and the cells that produce testosterone are activated.
Because of this, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) produces large amounts of androgens that prevent or delay ovulation, causing irregular periods. Therefore, menstruation becomes very difficult to predict.
You can suspect polycystic ovary syndrome in yourself by symptoms such as:
- the appearance of acne, difficult to treat;
- weight gain;
- the appearance of coarse hair on the body;
- hair loss on the head.
Usually, these signs first occur in teenagers or young girls.
What to do
Polycystic ovary syndrome causes many other problems besides cycle disorders. The main one is infertility. Therefore, if you suspect it, you should consult a gynecologist.
In this case, the gynecologist will prescribe an ultrasound of the ovaries and a blood test for sex hormones. For the treatment of polycystic ovary recommend contraceptives and drugs that suppress testosterone production.
8. implantation bleeding
Many women experience some bleeding when the embryo attached to the wall of the uterus. It's called implantation. This usually happens on the 10-14th day after conception, when a woman still cannot know about pregnancy. Therefore, it is often mistaken for the beginning of the next cycle.
What to do
Usually, implantation bleeding passes quickly, so there is no need to run to the doctor. But if you notice causeless slight spotting before menstruation, which never came, this is a reason to do it in a week pregnancy test.
9. pregnancy loss
About a quarter of all pregnancies interrupted at very early dates, even before the expected onset of menstruation. This phenomenon is called a biochemical pregnancy: hCG may already rise in the blood, but no more signs can be detected.
What to do
Most women never does not recognize about experiencing this phenomenon. It only means that the embryo had gross genetic disorders, due to which it could not develop in any way. But this does not mean that in the future it will not be possible to bear a child.
10. Sexually transmitted infections
Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis may cause spotting between periods. They can be confused with the beginning of a new cycle. It's not mandatory, it just might be.
The most common symptoms are:
- profuse discharge from the vagina or urethra, sometimes yellow or greenish in color and with an unpleasant odor;
- increased urination;
- pain during sex or when urinating;
- rectal discharge, including bloody.
What to do
With these symptoms, you need to immediately apply to the gynecologist. Sexually transmitted infections are usually treated with antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs (in the case of trichomoniasis).
11. Thyroid diseases
Thyroid diseases do not affect per cycle directly, but they are caused by malfunctions of the pituitary gland or interfere with its normal functioning. The pituitary gland is the central organ of the human endocrine system, which controls all hormones, including sex hormones.
What to do
If you are constantly faced with cycle disorders, and the gynecologist has ruled out pathology in its part, then most likely you will be referred to an endocrinologist and offered to take an analysis for hormones thyroid gland.
If the endocrinologist finds a problem with hormones, he will prescribe thyroxine and iodine preparations.
How to make your cycle more regular
To to avoid changes in the cycle, try to adjust the lifestyle:
- Try to exercise moderately and eat nutritious foods. If you want to lose weight, do it gradually instead of resorting to drastic calorie restriction diets.
- Cut down on long or intense exercise.
- Make sure you get enough rest.
- Control your stress learn relax.
- Use birth control pills or other methods of contraception as directed.
- Visit your gynecologist and your doctor for regular checkups.
Read also🧐
- How to use a menstrual cup correctly
- Why you need menstrual panties and how to choose them
- All About Menstruation: 25 Answers to Stupid and Embarrassing Questions
- How to stay productive in different phases of the menstrual cycle
- Delayed periods: when and why to worry