What are menstrual irregularities?

Menstrual irregularities are common abnormalities of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Menstrual irregularities include a variety of conditions in which menstruation is irregular, heavy, painful, or does not occur at all.

Common types of menstrual irregularities include:

Amenorrhea (when a teenager does not get her period by age 16, or when a woman stops getting her period for at least three months and is not pregnant)
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual periods)
Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual periods)
Oligomenorrhea (menstrual bleeding occurring more than 35 days after the last menstrual period, that is, less than 10 periods a year)
Polymenorrhea (menstrual bleeding occurring less than 21 days after the last menstrual period, that is, more than 12 periods a year)
Spotting (light irregular vaginal bleeding or vaginal bleeding between periods)

Menstrual irregularities or their symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, can be caused by a wide variety of abnormal conditions, including pregnancy, hormonal imbalances or changes, infection (sexually transmitted diseases and other infections), malignancy (cervical, uterine or vaginal cancer), trauma, and certain medications. Treatment of menstrual irregularities varies and is tailored to the individual case, the underlying cause, the severity of symptoms, and the presence of any complications.

Some menstrual irregularities can be caused by serious, even life-threatening conditions, such as uterine cancer. Seek prompt medical care if you have menstrual irregularities, such as heavy menstrual periods or a lack of menstrual periods. Early diagnosis and treatment of menstrual irregularities reduces the risk of serious complications, such as infertility and metastatic uterine cancer.

What other symptoms might occur with menstrual irregularities?

Menstrual irregularities may occur with other symptoms depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. For example, menstrual irregularities due to a pelvic infection may be associated with fever and painful sexual intercourse.

Symptoms that may occur along with menstrual irregularities

Menstrual irregularities may accompany other symptoms including:

Burning with urination
Difficulty getting pregnant or infertility
Fever
Lower back pain
Nausea and vomiting
Painful bowel movements
Painful sexual intercourse
Pelvic or abdominal pain or cramps
Symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, such as hot flashes, headaches, mood swings, heart palpitations, forgetfulness, and sleeping problems
Unusual vaginal discharge

Symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition

In some cases, menstrual irregularities can be caused by a serious or life-threatening condition, such as anemia, pelvic inflammatory disease, or uterine cancer. Seek prompt medical care if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:

Pelvic or abdominal pain
Periods that are heavier or longer than usual
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Vaginal bleeding after menopause

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you experience:

Dizziness or feeling faint
High fever (higher than 101 degrees)
Severe pelvic or abdominal pain
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy

What causes menstrual irregularities?

Menstrual irregularities can be associated with normal conditions, such as puberty or ovulation. Your menstrual period may last for just a few days or for more than a week. A normal menstrual flow can differ greatly from woman to woman and also varies in different phases of life, such as adolescence and perimenopause. Menstrual irregularities can be caused by a mild or moderate condition, such as stress or uterine fibroids. Menstrual irregularities can also be caused by serious or life-threatening conditions, such as uterine cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Potential causes of menstrual irregularities

Menstrual irregularities can be caused by a variety of underlying factors, such as a pelvic infection, or a disease, disorder or condition of the ovaries or uterus. Causes of menstrual irregularities include:

Extremely low levels of body fat, which can be caused by malnourishment, extreme physical training, or eating disorders
Endometriosis
Obesity
Ovulation
Perimenopause and menopause
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Pregnancy
Puberty
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Side effect of certain medications, such as birth control pills
Stress
Tumors (inappropriate hormone release or inhibition)
Uterine fibroids or uterine polyps
Uterine, vaginal, cervical or ovarian cancer

What are the potential complications of menstrual irregularities?

In some cases, menstrual irregularities can be due to a condition that can result in serious or life-threatening complications. You can minimize the risk of serious complications of menstrual irregularities by seeking early medical care and following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of menstrual irregularities and underlying causes can include: