THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IRREGULAR MENSTRUAL CYCLES
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Thought irregular just meant “irregular”? Nuh uh, it gets a lot more complicated than that, BUT I am here to simplify it for ya!
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Luteal Phase defects: Your cycle typically short? Less than 28 days? Usually we would consider this a short luteal phase where you weren’t able to produce adequate progesterone from the corpus luteum that once held the eff that you released during ovulation. In many cases, this is due to an energy deficiency, thyroid issues, adequate amino acid consumption, lack of cholesterol, or mineral imbalances.
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Anovulation: You follow a typical 28-35 day cycle, bleeding every month thus showing you build enough of a uterine lining with adequate estrogen, but you struggle to ovulate at all. Key signs of ovulation are a change in cervical mucus, temperature spike, and feeling your cervix being wide and open. If you aren’t ovulating, it’s important to acknowledge WHY, and in many cases it can be due to things like mental or physical stress (lack of sleep, over exercise, under eating), mineral imbalances and thyroid issues.
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Oligomenorrhea: One month you have it, and another you don’t. It’s like playing a game with when you’ll bleed. If your cycle goes on and off, it’s difficult to pin point what exactly is the issue, which is why it’s important to look at patterns beyond your cycle. Are you cold all the time? When you do get your period is it horrible PMS? Do you struggle with acne or hirsutism? In most cases, this type of irregularity is linked to PCOS or an energy deficiency, but it can also be linked to other issues like poor diet, mineral imbalances and more.
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Amenorrhea: This is when your period has gone MIA for a minimum of 3 months, and in most cases this signals your body is incapable of supporting itself in producing adequate levels of all hormones (including estrogen). Amenorrhea can be induced by numerous issues, but the most common reasons are energy deficiency, thyroid issues, over exercise or mental stress.
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Is your cycle irregular? If so, do you fall into any of these 4 categories?