A woman's menstrual cycle generally lasts 28 days. Even so, it's not uncommon for the cycle to be slightly shorter or longer. When you reach puberty, menstrual cycles will tend to be more regular in the same time frame. However, keep in mind that vigilance needs to be increased if the menstrual cycle is irregular every month. This can be a sign of a health problem that needs to be watched out for. There are various factors that can cause menstrual cycle irregularities in women. These factors vary, ranging from common things to more serious conditions. For this reason, it is important for us to know the various causes of irregular menstrual cycles.

Causes of Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Late or irregular menstruation often occurs in pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding, women who use birth control and women who are approaching menopause. Even so, there are several causes of danger that you need to be aware of for menstrual cycle irregularities.

• Uterine Fibroids
  One of the factors that can cause menstrual irregularities is the presence of uterine fibroids. Fibroids are lumps of muscle that grow on the wall of the uterus. Most fibroids are not actually cancerous. However, they can range in size from as small as an apple seed to as large as a grapefruit. This condition can cause discomfort such as pelvic pain, lower back pain, and discomfort during intercourse.
  
  
• Thyroid Gland Disorders
  The cause of irregular menstrual cycles can be caused by disorders of the thyroid gland. This gland has an important role in regulating our body's metabolism. If there is a disturbance in the thyroid gland and its work function is not optimal, the impact can affect the menstrual cycle.
  
  
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
  PCOS disease can cause delays in the menstrual cycle. Are you still not familiar with this condition? PCOS is actually a hormonal and metabolic disorder in the body that interferes with ovarian function. As a result, menstruation becomes irregular. Unfortunately, until now the cause of PCOS is still not known with certainty. However, it is strongly suspected that the disease is related to other conditions, such as metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance.
  
  
• Contraceptive Use
  Apart from the three factors that have been mentioned, irregular menstruation can also be caused by the use of contraceptives. One of them is the use of an IUD (spiral) or birth control pills. Both of these contraceptives can cause changes such as spots between menstrual cycles. In fact, in some cases, using a spiral can cause the amount of blood to come out to be more than during menstruation.
  
  
• Imbalanced Hormones
  Hormonal imbalance can cause menstrual cycle irregularities. There are two hormones that play an important role in this. First, the hormone estrogen which has an influence on fertility and the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, there is the hormone progesterone which helps in regulating the reproductive system in preparation for pregnancy, including the menstrual cycle. If there is an abnormality in one of these hormones, it will have an impact on the menstrual cycle and fertility.

Tips Overcoming Irregular Menstruation

In order to overcome the problem of menstruation that is not smooth, the first thing that needs to be done is to understand the factors that cause it. If you experience irregular menstruation, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment. However, before consulting a doctor, there is nothing wrong if you try the following methods to deal with menstrual irregularities.

1. Change your lifestyle to be healthier and manage stress well
2. If using certain birth control methods and your periods are still not smooth after 3 months, consider switching to a different type of birth control
3. Treat thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome as soon as possible if you have it
4. If you experience severe stress and cause drastic weight loss, try to undergo counseling
5. Don't forget to carry out routine inspections of your reproductive organs to ensure your reproductive health is maintained

If your menstruation lasts more than 7 days or is accompanied by excessive bleeding and unbearable pain during menstruation, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This aims to find out the cause and provide appropriate treatment.

References:

https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/10-penyebab-siklus-menstruasi-yang-tidak-teratur

https://www.alodokter.com/ternyata-ini-penyebab-menstruasi-tidak-lancar