Most women experience an irregular period at least once in their life. Most often, this can occur because stress, weight loss or gain, fatigue, and other difficult situations or lifestyle habits. Additionally, some types of birth control can affect the regularity of a menstrual cycle. Keep reading to know more about irregular periods and birth control pills.
What Are Irregular Periods?
Irregular periods are periods that do not occur between 21 and 35 days, and last 3 to 7 days. However, every woman is different and typically knows what a normal cycle is for her.
They are many factors that influence irregular periods and most are caused by hormonal imbalance. Birth control pills work by changing the levels of hormones in a woman's body, so it is common for a woman to have irregular cycles or to even stop having a period while taking some types of birth control pills.
To indentify if you are suffering from irregular periods, use a chart to keep track of your cycle. Mark down the first day of your last period and the first day of the next, and continue this process for the next month.
Do Birth Control Pills Affect Irregular Periods?
The answer is yes. For many women, birth control can alter the length of the cycle, duration, frequency, and the flow. Birth control pills can change the hormone levels in your body causing your body to react differently and causing menstruation to happen at different times. There are many different types of birth control pills with different degrees of potency. You should talk to your doctor to find out which pill is right for you.
Treatments for Irregular Periods While Taking Birth Control
It can take time for your body to get used to the changes that birth control pills produce. The side effects from the birth control pills can sometimes cause feelings of dizziness, headaches, and stomachaches.
There are few lifestyle changes that you can make while adjusting to the birth control pills, like practicing stress-relieving techniques and increasing healthy food intake.
Also, there are certain alternative medicines out there that can help a woman cope with the changes in her body. Alternative medicines cannot work as birth control, but they can balance your hormones and help you manage uncomfortable symptoms like cramps.
Finally, if nothing else seems to work, certain medications can help control your irregular periods. However, these should always be undertaken with the help of your doctor.
Other Related Articles:
Long Menstrual Cycles
Does Emergency Contraception Cause Irregular Periods?
Q&A: Can an ovulation predictor work during irregular periods?
Early Menstrual Cycles and Periods
Long and Irregular Periods