Regulating Your Menstrual Cycle – Everything You Need to Know

We know it can be frustrating never knowing when the first day of your period will catch you out – especially if you're trying to conceive and can't work out your fertile window. But can periods actually be regulated? Can you influence them naturally? Is an irregular cycle normal?

Right after your first period, it's completely normal to have irregular menstruation until your body finds its own rhythm. For many women, the cycle settles down after 1–2 years. For many others, it never becomes regular on its own. Let's look at what you can do!

What does a regular period mean? 

On average, a menstrual cycle theoretically lasts 28 days. In reality, menstruation is a very individual experience for every woman, and cycle length varies from person to person. Anything between 23 and 38 days is considered normal.

So you can say you have a regular period when the interval between two consecutive bleeds stays the same month after month (for example, every 23 days or every 32 days).

Irregular periods – causes

When the gap between two consecutive bleeds keeps changing (for instance, your period starts after 21 days one month and only after 30 days the next), this is known as irregular menstruation. Possible causes include:

• Hormonal changes: for example, in the first few years after your first period or during the perimenopause
• Medication: hormone therapies, starting the contraceptive pill or certain anti-inflammatory medicines can affect menstrual bleeding and the interval between periods
• An unbalanced lifestyle: irregular eating habits, lack of exercise
• Being overweight or sudden changes in weight
• Excessive stress
• Taking the morning-after pill too frequently
• Other conditions: pelvic inflammatory disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid problems, endometriosis, diabetes, coeliac disease, benign tumours or cancer

There are many important things to know if you have an irregular menstrual cycle – we've covered this topic in more depth in another blog post. We'd love you to find out more HERE about the causes of irregular periods and the recommended treatment.

How to tell whether your periods are irregular 

If your period always takes you by surprise because it arrives either too late or too early, you have an irregular cycle. In practical terms, this means you can never know exactly when your next bleed will begin.

Let's look at the factors you can monitor to be sure whether your periods are irregular:

• Timing: if your period starts after shorter or longer intervals from one month to the next, or if the length of your bleed varies month to month.
• Flow: if your bleeding is heavier or lighter from one month to the next (a good indicator is the number of pads or tampons you need).
• Other factors: if you experience severe period pain, bleeding between periods, drastic mood changes or an impact on other aspects of your life.

How are irregular periods diagnosed? 

The diagnosis is made by a gynaecologist, who may carry out various tests to determine the causes and the right treatment. At an appointment to investigate irregular periods, you can expect the following:

A full gynaecological examination (to establish whether the irregular cycle has less common causes, such as infections, fibroids or polyps)

An ultrasound scan (to assess the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes)

A vaginal swab test

A smear test (cervical screening)

Blood tests (to identify any anaemia)

Thyroid function tests

A blood pressure check

Treatment to regulate your periods 

Yes, there are treatments to regulate menstruation. They're prescribed by a gynaecologist depending on the cause, and often involve both medication and lifestyle changes.

Hormonal contraception 

Contraceptives are among the most common recommendations as a treatment for regulating the menstrual cycle.

If the cause is endometriosis, a uterine fibroid or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), your doctor may prescribe a combined pill containing oestrogen and progesterone to restore hormonal balance and regulate your periods.

Hormone therapy 

For women going through the perimenopause, hormone replacement therapy can help regulate bleeding and ease other symptoms (such as hot flushes or vaginal dryness).

However, more recent studies have confirmed that hormone therapy can carry risks and have negative effects. Do discuss these aspects with your doctor before deciding on a course of treatment.

Supplements 

Since so many women have irregular periods, there are supplements designed specifically to support a regular cycle. They work either by restoring hormonal balance or by correcting particular deficiencies.

Your doctor may recommend products containing the following:

• B vitamins: can ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and help regulate your periods
• Inositol: a vitamin B-like substance that supports ovarian function, aids ovulation and improves the chances of pregnancy for women undergoing fertility treatment.
• Vitamin D: low vitamin D levels can contribute to cycle disturbances, while daily supplementation can support a regular cycle.
• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-6 fatty acids: found, for example, in evening primrose oil supplements; they can ease inflammation, hot flushes and other perimenopausal complaints.

How to regulate your periods naturally 

There are also natural ways to regulate your menstrual cycle that you can try at home. Below, we've set out a few of them.

Some simply involve making positive changes and introducing healthy habits into your daily routine. These are things any woman can put into practice.

There are also natural remedies such as certain supplements – the main issue here is that their effectiveness isn't scientifically proven. They may even interact with other treatments or health conditions, so always seek advice from a healthcare professional before using them.

Yoga 

Yoga is one of the most extensively researched alternative treatments for irregular periods. There are studies confirming that a yoga routine can help restore hormonal balance and regulate the menstrual cycle.

Practising yoga regularly brings a long list of benefits, including relief from period pain, improved mood and a better quality of life for women with primary dysmenorrhoea (severe menstrual cramps).

Maintaining a healthy weight 

Extreme fluctuations in body weight can have a negative impact on your menstrual cycle. Both sudden weight loss and being overweight can be responsible for irregular bleeding.

According to studies, people who are overweight are more prone to irregular, heavy and painful bleeding, as fat cells affect hormone and insulin levels.

Talk to your doctor to find out what weight range would be ideal for your body if you're under- or overweight. Find out which dietary changes are recommended to help you reach a healthy weight.

Regular physical activity 

An active lifestyle can indirectly help regulate your periods. Because physical activity burns energy, it helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight. This, in turn, has a positive effect on your menstrual cycle.

Do avoid very intense endurance training or excessive physical strain, though. A training routine that's too long and too intense can drain the body, lead to drastic weight loss and cause irregular bleeding.

Exercise regularly, but choose a moderate activity that suits your fitness level.

Adding ginger and cinnamon to your diet 

Ginger is one of the most widely used natural remedies for heavy or irregular periods.

In fact, there's no scientific evidence that it regulates menstruation. However, studies do confirm other benefits of taking ginger daily: pain relief, lighter bleeding and a better mood in the days leading up to your period.

Research confirms that cinnamon also supports a regular cycle. It helps ease the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea, such as nausea, vomiting, pain and heavy bleeding.

Cinnamon is a natural remedy used particularly by women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).

Use tampons and pads made from 100% natural materials  

Did you know that the plastic, dioxin and other toxic chemicals that can be found in conventional period products are considered hormone disruptors? Because they come into contact with your vulva and the absorbent mucous membranes of your vagina month after month, they enter your body, can disrupt your hormonal balance and may therefore contribute to an irregular cycle.

That's why we recommend Enroush tampons and pads, made exclusively from 100% organic cotton and natural fibres. Choose to protect your hormonal health and experience the most natural, regular period possible – without your monthly routine posing a risk.

A great many women have already confirmed that switching to period products made from 100% natural materials was a decisive change that helped reduce their flow, ease pain and make their cycle more regular.

When to see a doctor about irregular periods

It's normal for bleeding to be irregular in the first few years after your periods begin and in the years leading up to the menopause. In these situations, irregular periods are no cause for concern, provided there's no severe pain, very heavy bleeding or other unusual symptoms.

You should, however, see a gynaecologist if:

you bleed between periods

you bleed after the menopause

you bleed after sex or during pregnancy

you're unable to get pregnant

bleeding lasts longer than a week

you're in severe pain

you have a fever

you notice unusual discharge or odour

you lose or gain weight suddenly and inexplicably

you notice unusual hair growth or acne

Even though most natural remedies for regulating periods are safe and harmless, you should see your doctor and ask for advice before starting any treatment. For example, don't try to bring your period on early or take vitamin K to stop heavy bleeding without speaking to a professional first.

Frequently asked questions about regulating your periods 

We know it isn't easy having an irregular cycle. The wish to be able to predict when your next period will start throws up plenty of questions. What can you do to make your period come sooner? Can you get pregnant with an irregular cycle?

We don't want you to be left with unanswered worries and doubts after reading this. That's why, in this section, we answer the most common questions about regulating your periods.

How long does it take for my periods to become regular? 

After your first period, most women's cycles settle down within 1–2 years. According to experts, however, it can take up to 6 years for bleeding to become regular on its own. The exception is cases where the irregular periods are caused by an underlying condition – then the cause must be treated first.

If you start taking hormonal contraception, your body may need up to 2–3 months to get used to the new level of synthetic hormones and for bleeding to become regular.

Do irregular periods mean infertility? 

No, an irregular menstrual cycle doesn't automatically mean infertility. It simply means that the interval between two consecutive bleeds varies from month to month. 

If you want to get pregnant, it's best to speak to your doctor and find out the exact cause of your irregular cycle. If there's no serious underlying health problem, your chances of conceiving may not be affected at all.

Can I get pregnant with irregular periods? 

Yes, you can get pregnant with irregular periods. While it's harder to pinpoint when ovulation occurs, it does still happen with an irregular cycle. There are also ovulation tests and gynaecological examinations that can help determine these dates.

If you're struggling to conceive, speak to a specialist to find out what's affecting your fertility and what treatment options are available.

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Is it normal to miss a period or for it to be late? 

Yes, it's normal for your period to be a day or several days late without this being a cause for concern or a sign of a problem. Any woman can notice changes like this, particularly after a stressful spell, weight changes or a change in diet.

If your period is absent for several weeks or months, however, that isn't normal. It may indicate pregnancy or another health problem – so you should speak to your gynaecologist. It's a broad topic that we've covered in more detail in another blog post. Find out everything you need to know about a late period HERE.