Irregular menstruation is a

menstrual disorder A menstrual disorder is characterized as any abnormal condition with regards to a person's menstrual cycle. There are many different types of menstrual disorders that vary with signs and symptoms, including pain during menstruation, heavy bleeding, ...

whose manifestations include irregular cycle lengths as well as metrorrhagia (

vaginal bleeding Vaginal bleeding is any expulsion of blood from the vagina. This bleeding may originate from the uterus, vaginal wall, or cervix. Generally, it is either part of a normal menstrual cycle or is caused by hormonal or other problems of the reproducti ...

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. Several studies indicate that

COVID-19 vaccine A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID19). Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, an es ...

of any type may disrupt the menstrual cycle, although only momentarily. This side effect should resolve on its own in the following month.

Irregular cycles or periods

Irregular cycles or irregular periods is an abnormal variation in length of

menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of egg ...

s. An individual usually experiences cycle length variations of up to eight days between the shortest and longest cycle lengths. Lengths

ranging Length measurement, distance measurement, or range measurement (ranging) refers to the many ways in which length, distance, or range can be measured. The most commonly used approaches are the rulers, followed by transit-time methods and the in ...

between eight and 20 days are considered moderately irregular. Variation of 21 days or more is considered very irregular. Alternatively, a single menstruation cycle may be defined as irregular if it is less than 24 days or more than 38 days. If they are regularly shorter than 21 days or longer than 36 (or 35) days, the condition is termed polymenorrhea or

oligomenorrhea Oligomenorrhea is infrequent (or, in occasional usage, very light) menstruation. More strictly, it is menstrual periods occurring at intervals of greater than 35 days, with only four to nine periods in a year.thefreedictionary.com > oligomenorrhea ...

, respectively. Additionally, irregular menstruation is common in adolescence. A regular menstrual cycle can be set within a year of

menarche Menarche ( ; ) is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding, in female humans. From both social and medical perspectives, it is often considered the central event of female puberty, as it signals the possibility of fertility. G ...

. However, other studies suggest that it can take anywhere between 2 and 7 years to establish regularity after an individual's first menses.

Other types

Other types of conditions that can be referred to by "irregular menstruation" include: * Metrorrhagia, which generally refers to

that occurs between the expected

menstrual period The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that make pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs a ...

s. The distinction between irregular cycle lengths and metrorrhagia is not always clear. It may depend on whether the bleeding is regarded as marking the menstrual period (favoring the term "irregular cycles") or being separate from it (favoring the term "metrorrhagia"). *

Oligomenorrhea Oligomenorrhea is infrequent (or, in occasional usage, very light) menstruation. More strictly, it is menstrual periods occurring at intervals of greater than 35 days, with only four to nine periods in a year.thefreedictionary.com > oligomenorrhea ...

generally refers to infrequent menstruation, More strictly, it is menstrual periods occurring at intervals of greater than 35 days, with only four to nine periods in a year. Menstrual periods should have been regularly established before the development of infrequent flow and often (but not always) involves irregular intervals. In contrast to "irregular cycles", the interval between one cycle and the next may be consistent but can be regarded as "irregular" compared to the cycle length of a female without oligomenorrhea. Women with oligomenorrhea often have irregular cycles as well. * ''Polymenorrhea'' is the medical term for cycles with intervals of 21 days or fewer. It can be regarded as the opposite of oligomenorrhea.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irregular Menstruation Menstrual disorders