What Are the Effects of Irregular Periods on the Body?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Irregular periods can signal that the body’s hormones are not working as expected, which may affect many parts of your health. These changes might influence how your body handles energy and can sometimes point to conditions like PCOS or even raise concerns about future health risks.

Explanation

When your periods are irregular, it means that the cycle between one period and the next might be too short, too long, or unpredictable. This can happen because of differences in the hormones that control your body. Sometimes, irregular periods mean that your body may not use food the right way, and this can lead to problems with body weight or blood sugar. In some cases, women with irregular periods have a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS can make it harder to have a baby, and can sometimes cause extra hair or acne. Some research also shows a link between long or irregular menstrual cycles and a slight increase in the risk of ovarian cancer. Even if you feel fine, paying attention to changes in your period can help you and your doctor watch for problems early. If you notice your cycle is often irregular, it might be a good idea to check in with a healthcare professional.

(References)

Rostami Dovom M, Ramezani Tehrani F, Djalalinia S, Cheraghi L, Behboudi Gandavani S, Azizi F. Menstrual Cycle Irregularity and Metabolic Disorders: A Population-Based Prospective Study. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 16;11(12):e0168402. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168402. PMID: 27992506; PMCID: PMC5161370.
Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL. Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study. Int J Cancer. 2017 Jan 15;140(2):285-291. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30441. Epub 2016 Oct 6. PMID: 27667654; PMCID: PMC5542050.
Attia GM, Alharbi OA, Aljohani RM. The Impact of Irregular Menstruation on Health: A Review of the Literature. Cureus. 2023 Nov 20;15(11):e49146. doi: 10.7759/cureus.49146. PMID: 38130524; PMCID: PMC10733621.

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