A: Many women have “irregular” periods which are very normal for their bodies. Few women menstruate according to the calendar or clock. While the “classic” menstrual cycle is a 28-day cycle where ovulation takes place on the 14th day, it is hard to find a woman who is “classic”.
Women taking oral contraceptives (the pill) have VERY regular cycles because the prescribed hormones they take daily regulate when a period will start. A woman correctly taking oral contraceptives will always have a 28-day cycle and generally her periods will be shorter and lighter than a “non-user”. Many of these women can predict what hour of what day they will start their period (based on past history of regular pill use). But, the human body is not that regular on it’s own.
There are many things that
might affect a woman’s menstrual cycle:
| stress | other medications |
| poor health | anorexia nervosa |
| breast-feeding | rigorous athletic training |
| hormonal changes | weight (or body fat) gain or loss |
| pregnancy (whether carried to term or not) | altered sleeping schedule (amount and times) |
| normal maturation (the body changes as it develops and ages) |
In most cases, it’s very normal (and frustrating) to be a young woman with irregular periods. If you are experiencing a significant change in your menstrual patterns, you might want to make an appointment with a health care provider. Or, bring it up at your next annual gynecological exam. If you’ve never had a gynecological exam, we highly encourage you to have one. You may schedule one with the all-female staff at the Women’s Health clinic located at Campus Health: 621-6512.
