The duration of the menstrual cycle is, on average, 28 days. Every woman knows how long menstruation lasts and when to wait for the next critical days. Any changes in the nature of this physiological process should be cause for concern. According to doctors, this important signal about a woman’s health cannot be ignored. What causes the menstrual cycle to become shorter? Let’s find out.
Major Reasons For Shorter Periods
Here are some major reasons for the shorter menstrual cycle in women.
Taking Oral Contraceptives
Contraceptives that inhibit the secretion of gonadotropic hormones and suppress ovulation do not shorten the menstrual cycle so much as streamline it. The standard package of combined oral contraceptives contains a blister with 21 tablets. If a woman’s menstrual cycle lasts more than 28 days, then it will become shorter.
Since after taking all the pills, the planned menstruation will come. To date, this method of protection against unwanted pregnancy is considered one of the most reliable. It also has a lot of other advantages, including facilitating the flow of critical days, getting rid of acne and alopecia, and reducing the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Alcohol Abuse
One of the most common causes of irregular, as well as short periods, is alcohol abuse. Women who tend to abuse alcoholic beverages suffer from menstrual problems, e.g., short or even missed periods. The only way to control this problem is to give up alcohol addiction. So ask for help no matter where you live as there are several options available to treat alcoholism in the USA.
Even if you live in densely populated states like Nevada, help is around the corner. All you have to do is contact any alcohol and drug rehab in Nevada and discuss your problem. They will guide you through the process and make it easier to quit alcohol. Once you get sober, you will notice that your periods will become more regular.
Use Of Certain Types Of Drugs
There is a special group of drugs that affect the duration of menstruation. These include steroid hormones, antidepressants, and drugs for the treatment of thyroid diseases. If a doctor prescribes a medicine for a woman’s treatment, he should warn about possible side effects.
This will help you not to worry and know that this is a natural consequence of therapy. If you take drugs uncontrollably, without monitoring the effect of the drug, it will affect your menstrual cycle. Thus, always consult a doctor and also avoid self-medication as this can lead to the development of serious consequences.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
In this condition, ovulation is completely absent or occurs irregularly. And its production of a large number of androgens and estrogens suppresses it—the production of hormones of the pancreas and adrenal glands, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland increases. In polycystic ovary syndrome, the menstrual cycle gets disrupted with the development of amenorrhea.
A woman can suffer from both excessively abundant and inadequate discharge, which can be quite painful. Do not let these negative consequences take their course. It is necessary to consult a doctor and pass all the necessary tests. In serious conditions, an ultrasound scan to detect cysts on the ovaries will also help.
Breastfeeding
In the postpartum period, when the self-purification of the body from the membranes of the fetus and the tissues, a period of rest begins for the uterus and ovaries. Ovulation, and with it menstruation, may be absent for 18 months or more. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the breastfeeding of a baby.
At this time, the body increases the synthesis of prolactin, alpha-lactalbumin, and lactose. Restoration of the menstrual cycle, as a rule, occurs six months after childbirth. But even then, the duration of the cycle can still change due to hormonal changes.
Thyroid Dysfunction
The function of the thyroid gland is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary system of the brain. And it is also responsible for the synthesis of hormones that control menstruation and ovulation. If there is a failure in any one parameter of this system, then another is invariably violated. In pathologies of the thyroid gland, all metabolic processes in the body slow down.
Women experience a reduction in the menstrual cycle and symptoms such as weakness, apathy, and fatigue. In any case, all of the above symptoms should be a reason to consult a doctor for analysis to determine the level of thyroid hormones.
Premature Ovarian Failure
On average, menopause in women occurs at the age of 50. And when the ovaries lose their function before the age of 40, the question of premature ovarian failure arises. In such a condition, a woman begins to notice disruptions in her menstrual cycle, which becomes irregular and short. The body does not produce the right amount of estrogen hormones, which leads to infertility.
Almost all women with this diagnosis have reduced bone density and an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. In addition, they run the risk of encountering a variety of cardiovascular ailments, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, even those who do not plan to have children should consult a doctor for treatment.
Entering Pre-menopause
This is the initial stage of menopause when ovarian function gradually decreases. Another round of hormonal changes, which can last several years, leads to a reduction in the menstrual period. Critical days become irregular, often plentiful. All other symptoms depend on individual characteristics, but most often, they develop gradually.
They give a woman the opportunity to get used to new conditions for her – both psychological and physiological. Hormonal changes can cause pulling and aching pains in the lower abdomen and engorgement of the mammary glands.
Take Away
In this article, we mentioned the most common causes of the short menstrual cycle in women. Some of these may indicate a serious health problem, while others do not require much attention. In any case, it is better to consult a doctor to ensure everything is alright.
