Home Remedies for Irregular Periods

Missing your periods or irregular periods in medical terms is known as oligomenorrhea, and though is a common problem in most women, you must start looking for treatment options after you miss your period for more than a few times.

A menstrual cycle, on an average is 28 days, but can vary from one woman to another. Anywhere between 24 to 38 days is still considered regular, and the anomaly is when the length of the cycle is more than 35 days or if the duration keeps changing. For most women, periods last for two to seven days, and occasional fluctuations in menstrual flow, symptoms and duration is usually not a cause of concern. You must be aware of factors such as stress, intense workout and diet affect glands that regulate the hormonal balance of your body, leading to an inconsistent menstrual cycle.

But don’t worry, a few home remedies for irregular periods can help minimize the effect and ensure a consistent cycle.

One of the most evident signs of irregular periods is when the length of a menstrual cycle extends over 35 days, when calculated from the last period. Other signs include missing more than 3 consecutive periods, a heavy flow, clots or very light bleeding and spotting after sex.

Irregular periods are a common condition experienced by adolescent girls and pre-menopause women. They experience hormonal imbalances, which causes the irregularity. However, for other women, there may be a host of factors contributing to the irregular periods, and may be a cause of concern.

Hormonal Imbalance – Female hormones – estrogen and androgen are key elements in controlling the menstrual cycle, and fluctuations in these can result in an irregular period. This is one reason why most women experience irregularity during puberty, menopause and pre-menopause.

Contraceptives – Some contraceptives are known to cause lighter flow, as well as also have you miss your periods or completely stop them.

Stress – One of the significant causes of irregular periods is stress. It is said to affect hormonal balance which in turn affects your monthly period.

Imbalanced diet – In case of extreme weight loss or weight gain, women may encounter changes in their menstrual cycle. At the same time, malnutrition can also lead to complete stopping of period, as the body is unable to carry out daily functions.

Excessive workout - Extreme exercises can sometimes make you miss your period. Women who go through high endurance sports and strenuous exercises experience irregularity of periods or sometimes a complete absence. Athletes, owing to a low-calorie diet witness an hormonal imbalance, which is a major cause of abnormal periods.

Sometimes changes to lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress can help get your period back on track, however these are not always a substitute for a doctor. A healthy lifestyle will ensure low risks of irregular periods. Below are some home remedies for irregular periods –

Kitchen remedies – Your kitchen is a store house where you can easily lay hands on ingredients that can help you get your period. Parsley, cumin and carom seeds are an effective home remedy for inducing your period, as well as relieving menstrual pain. Consuming raw papaya is another way to quickly get your period, as papaya stimulates contractions in the uterus. Ginger tea and pomegranate juice also is a powerful addition to your food intake to induce menstruation. You can also add a spoon of turmeric to boiling water for inducing your period.

Healthy diet – Consuming a nutritious and healthy diet is another way to regulate your periods. Including green vegetables, fruits, fish, red meat and dry fruits will give you complete nutrition. Soy products, legumes, flaxseeds and olive oil are some of the best sources for estrogen. Maintaining a healthy diet will keep your hormone levels in check, thus ensuring a healthy menstruation cycle.

Sleeping habits – A disturbed sleep, or unhealthy sleep cycle can affect your body clock, and thus the functions of the body. Early to bed and early to rise is not a mere proverb; it is known to have its many benefits. A regular sleep cycle, will definitely help you in ensuring regularity in your periods.

Stress management - Stress can wreak havoc on your hormones. And we already know that our hormones control the menstrual cycle & hence trying to reduce stress in your life is a great natural way to have your period come in regularly. Invest in some quality relaxation time. Read a book. Go for a walk. Listen to your favourite music.

Sufficient exercise – While it boosts your mood and keeps you healthy, a regular workout regime also keeps your hormones in control. Yoga, daily walks, cycling etc are also good enough to regulate your blood flow, which is important for a consistent menstrual cycle.

Track your period - What you think is an irregular period may not be your period at all. It may be spotting – drops of pink or brown blood on your knickers or when you wipe. A lot of girls mistake spotting for their period. However, spotting is usually due to hormone changes during ovulation – when your ovaries release an egg right in the middle of your cycle. Tracking your period with a calendar app will help you distinguish between the two for an easy home remedy to irregular periods in teenagers.

These home remedies for irregular periods will offer some relief and help get your menstrual cycle back on track.

Changes to your menstrual cycle, on a large scale could be owing to stress or other lifestyle habits, however consistent irregularity in periods could indicate an underlying health condition. Make it a point to see a doctor if -

• You didn’t get a period for 3 months

• You get a period more than once every 21 days

• You get a period less than once every 35 days

• Your periods last for more than 1 week

• You need to change your pad every hour

• You pass large blood clots

We know how stressful it can be to wait for your period, and so it is important to have a healthy menstrual cycle that is pain-free. So, ensure you make some minor changes in your food and lifestyle habits with these home remedies for irregular periods, helping your body to carry out all its functions in the right manner.