Irregular menstruation

Last updated
Irregular menstruation
Other namesIrregular cycles, irregular periods
Specialty Gynecology
Symptoms Change in the flow of menstrual bleeding, Change in the duration of periods, Change in menstrual cycle.
Diagnostic method Based on physical examination
Medication birth control pills

Irregular menstruation is a menstrual disorder whose manifestations include irregular cycle lengths as well as metrorrhagia (vaginal bleeding between expected periods). The possible causes of irregular menstruation may vary. The common factors of it are related to lifestyle, such as stress, body weight, and smoking status. [1] Several studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccine of any type may disrupt the menstrual cycle, although only momentarily. [2] [3] [4] This side effect should resolve on its own in the following month. [5]

Contents

Irregular cycles or periods

Irregular cycles or irregular periods is an abnormal variation in length of menstrual cycles. A female usually experiences cycle length variations of up to eight days between the shortest and longest cycle lengths. Lengths ranging between eight and 20 days are considered moderately irregular. [6] Variation of 21 days or more is considered very irregular. [6]

Alternatively, a single menstruation cycle may be defined as irregular if it is less than 24 days or more than 38 days. [7] If they are regularly shorter than 21 days or longer than 36 (or 35) days, the condition is termed polymenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, respectively. [8]

Additionally, irregular menstruation is common in adolescence. [9] A regular menstrual cycle can be set within a year of menarche. [10] However, other studies suggest that it can take anywhere between 2 [11] and 7 [12] [13] [14] years to establish regularity after a girl's first menses.

Other types

Other types of conditions that can be referred to by "irregular menstruation" include:


References

  1. Bae, Jinju; Park, Susan; Kwon, Jin-Won (2018-02-06). "Factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularity and menopause". BMC Women's Health. 18 (1): 36. doi: 10.1186/s12905-018-0528-x . ISSN   1472-6874. PMC   5801702 . PMID   29409520.
  2. Laganà, Antonio Simone; Veronesi, Giovanni; Ghezzi, Fabio; Ferrario, Marco Mario; Cromi, Antonella; Bizzarri, Mariano; Garzon, Simone; Cosentino, Marco (2022-01-01). "Evaluation of menstrual irregularities after COVID-19 vaccination: Results of the MECOVAC survey". Open Medicine. 17 (1): 475–484. doi:10.1515/med-2022-0452. ISSN   2391-5463. PMC   8919838 . PMID   35350834.
  3. Muhaidat, Nadia; Alshrouf, Mohammad A.; Azzam, Muayad I.; Karam, Abdulrahman M.; Al-Nazer, Majed W.; Al-Ani, Abdallah (2022-03-28). "Menstrual Symptoms After COVID-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Investigation in the MENA Region". International Journal of Women's Health. 14: 395–404. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S352167 . PMC   8976114 . PMID   35378876.
  4. Edelman, Alison; Boniface, Emily R.; Benhar, Eleonora; Han, Leo; Matteson, Kristen A.; Favaro, Carlotta; Pearson, Jack T.; Darney, Blair G. (2022-05-05). "Association Between Menstrual Cycle Length and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination: A U.S. Cohort". Obstetrics & Gynecology. 139 (4): 481–489. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004695. ISSN   0029-7844. PMC   8936155 . PMID   34991109.
  5. Laganà, Antonio Simone; Veronesi, Giovanni; Ghezzi, Fabio; Ferrario, Marco Mario; Cromi, Antonella; Bizzarri, Mariano; Garzon, Simone; Cosentino, Marco (2022-01-01). "Evaluation of menstrual irregularities after COVID-19 vaccination: Results of the MECOVAC survey". Open Medicine. 17 (1): 475–484. doi:10.1515/med-2022-0452. ISSN   2391-5463. PMC   8919838 . PMID   35350834.
  6. 1 2 Kippley, John; Sheila Kippley (1996). The Art of Natural Family Planning (4th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: The Couple to Couple League. p. 92. ISBN   0-926412-13-2.
  7. "Period problems?". womenshealth.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  8. 1 2 3 "What are menstrual irregularities?". nichd.nih.gov/. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  9. "Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign". American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  10. Zhang, Katie; Pollack, Staci; Ghods, Ali; Dicken, Carrie; Isaac, Barbara; Adel, Goli; Zeitlian, Gohar; Santoro, Nanette (2008). "Onset of Ovulation after Menarche in Girls: A Longitudinal Study". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 93 (4): 1186–94. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-1846 . PMC   2291492 . PMID   18252789.
  11. Legro, Richard S.; Lin, Hung Mo; Demers, Laurence M.; Lloyd, Tom (March 1, 2000). "Rapid Maturation of the Reproductive Axis during Perimenarche Independent of Body Composition". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 85 (3): 1021–1025. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.3.6423 . PMID   10720033.
  12. Engle, E.T.; SHELESNYAK, M.C. (1934). "First Menstruation and Subsequent Menstrual Cycles of Pubertal Girls". Human Biology. 6 (3): 431–453. JSTOR   41447202.
  13. Treloar, A.E.; Boynton, R.E.; Behn, B.G.; Brown, B.W. (1967). "Variation of the human menstrual cycle through reproductive life". International Journal of Fertility. 1 (2): 77–126 via POPLINE.
  14. Vollman, R.F. (1977). "The Menstrual Cycle". Major Problems in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 7. W.B. Saunders Co.: 1–193. PMID   836520 via POPLINE.
  15. "Vaginal bleeding between periods: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-07.