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Why are my periods so irregular? I asked a doctor

WORDS BY CAT FORSYTH

An expert weighs in.

The initial realisation that your period is late can often spark panic but most of the time it’s nothing to stress over. But what if your period is never regular? I’ve experienced massive inconsistency with my periods and want to know how common that experience is, and what it says about my health.

Don’t get me wrong – I find having my period extremely annoying, and when it doesn’t come there’s definitely a sense of relief that I don’t have to deal with changing tampons, cramping and staining my sheets. But underneath this fleeting sense of relief lies an undercurrent of concern and I can’t help wondering what’s wrong with my body.


Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section. 


To me, a regular, healthy period is a good indicator of overall wellbeing. When my period is late or doesn’t come at all, I worry about what’s happening in my body that’s preventing a healthy period (or any period at all). In order to find out more about irregular periods, I spoke to Dr Kathy McNamee, the Medical Director of Sexual Health Victoria.

I haven’t had my period in a few months and I’m not pregnant. What are some reasons that this may be happening?

It can be normal: stress, weight loss or weight gain, and over-exercising are common reasons [for missed periods]. Potentially, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) [or] recently stopping using hormonal contraception are reasonably common causes. [Also] if you have started your periods within the last two years or you are getting close to menopause, your periods can be infrequent. [It’s important to note that] there are other less common reasons and you might need some tests.

Is missing my period something I should be worried about? 

It can be normal to miss a period [but] it’s best to see a doctor. [Particularly] if you previously had regular periods and haven’t had one for three months, or have infrequent periods and haven’t had one for six months.

How do stress and anxiety play into period regulation? My dietician has noted that when I’m eating regularly but still not menstruating, stress is the biggest factor to look at.

Stress and anxiety are often blamed for period changes. There isn’t good evidence, but it makes sense because being stressed can play with your hormones.

I know that the pill can help regulate periods. Is this something I should look into? 

If you’ve seen a doctor and there is no cause for concern, the pill can regulate your periods. You can choose when and how many periods you can have.

Is there anything I can try to make my period regular?

Keeping your weight in a healthy range is the thing most likely to help with keeping your periods regular. In my experience, this consists of eating intuitively, moving my body in ways that make me happy, and trying my best to keep stress levels low.

How I’m feeling now

After talking to Dr Kathy, I feel assured that what I’m experiencing with my period, although not ideal, doesn’t necessarily mean something is terribly wrong with me. Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with this problem. Going on the pill is one option I’m looking into but I’m all too aware that the pill can drastically alter the state of your mental health.

Previously, I experienced a relapse in my major depressive disorder and suicidality when I went on the pill unsupervised by a psychiatrist. If I do try out the pill again in an attempt to regulate my period, I’ll do so under the care of my support team.

I also believe you can’t underestimate the importance of being patient and kind to yourself and your body. I tend to forget that I can’t be perfect all the time (mostly because no such thing exists), and often my expectations of myself are disproportionally high. 

It’s unnecessary stress that leads my body to dysfunction. This is when flare-ups of my IBS will occur and I’m sure it also results in me missing my period. To detach from these pressures, I have to actively practise positive self-talk and keep self-compassion at the front of my mind.

As Dr Kathy noted, continuing to manage my everyday stress and anxiety (in my case with the support of my psychologist) is crucial, and it’s something I’m making every effort to do. Of course, if you’re concerned about the regularity of your period, it’s definitely best to see a doctor and possibly have some tests done.

There’s no harm in having a checkup with your GP, and hopefully, they can pick up on something that might be affecting your hormonal balance, whether that’s a change in weight or stress levels or something else entirely

For more on irregular periods, try this.

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