An early visit from Aunt Flo shouldn’t be cause for alarm. Your menstrual cycle is as uniquely different as your individuality. Your current cycle started on the first day of your last period and will end on the first day of your next period. Ideally, a cycle lasts for between 21 and 39 days. (Or Maybe it’s late)
Most often, a cycle shorter than 21 days will cause early periods. No doubt about it, it is unnerving when your body behaves in unpredictable ways. It happens in the event of emotional unrest, or as a side effect of birth control among other medical reasons. It is normal but read on to find out whether you might need to see a doctor.
Contents
- 1. You have just started adolescence
- 2. You are approaching menopause
- 3. You have been hitting the gym little too hard
- 4. You have slenderized drastically
- 5. You are going through mental stress and anxiety
- 6. You are on blood thinning medication
- 7. You are on hormonal birth control medication
- 8. You pop a regular e-pill
- 9. You might have contracted an STI
- 10. You Suffer from PCOS syndrome
1. You have just started adolescence
For a childbearing woman every month the uterus walls thicken in readiness to nourish a fertilized egg (usually released halfway through a menstrual cycle). If fertilization doesn’t happen, the new lining is let go as blood. In the early days of puberty, the hormones involved in the process are not fully developed, and so the cycle might be offbeat for about five years before it stabilizes. Early periods at the start of adolescent years are therefore a common occurrence.
To stabilize your periods, try sticking to a healthy diet and exercise. Also, endeavor to sleep for 8 hours and drink lots of water.
2. You are approaching menopause
Still, with age, early periods can be a sign of approaching menopause. This period is known as the perimenopause stage. It begins in when you are in your 40s, and it’s a stage characterized by unstable hormones that affect the time of ovulation. In some months you might not ovulate at all. Other symptoms of this stage include hot flashes, lighter periods, missed periods, and vaginal dryness.
Spotting is a common problem you will have to deal with before or after your periods. You will notice a bit of blood on your panties at odd times in the cycle. Even though this might not require a tampon, it usually points to hormonal imbalance. To avoid leaks or filters, you can opt for panty liners.
3. You have been hitting the gym little too hard
Individual events in your life can influence the menstrual hormones to cause an early period. Some of these include intense exercises, extreme weight loss or weight gain, sickness or mental stress.
Intense exercises can offset your menstrual cycle. In some cases, the period stops in athletes who train for long hours in sports such as marathon and gymnastics.
These spots involve an intense calorie burn and weight loss. When you burn more calories than you consume, your body will lack the energy to produce the right amount of reproductive hormones for regular ovulation.
To get back the crimson tide on track, you need to get enough nutrition and rest that matches the number of exercises you do. If you are a professional female athlete, keeping a menstrual calendar is no brainer. If there is too much disruption on your menses, see your health care provider for advice.
4. You have slenderized drastically
Periods can also come early due to drastic weight loss. Whether you have eating disorders or have recently undergone gastric bypass surgery, you will be a potential candidate for early menstrual flow. When your body is starving, energy is reserved for essential biological functions, and unfortunately, menstruation isn’t one of them. This leads to period irregularities.
To stabilize your menses, you might need to maintain a regular weight. You require a healthy diet rich in vitamins, fiber, dairy, and protein, together with a daily 30-minute exercise.
5. You are going through mental stress and anxiety
The hormones that regulate menstruation are all controlled from the brain. Psychological stress and anxiety interfere with these hormones, upsetting the whole cycle. Mental stress affects hormonal balance. To stabilize your periods, you might want to practice regular stress management exercises like yoga or meditation all the while sticking to a healthy routine and a healthy diet.
6. You are on blood thinning medication
Blood thinners often cause heavy bleeding and prolonged periods. Your body naturally produces anticoagulants during menstruation to help thein the walls of the uterus. Taking anticoagulant drugs can speed up this process and cause increased blood flow. To be on the safe side and to avoid future complications, you will need to take the anticoagulants under close the monitoring of your doctor. Better keep track of your period calendar too.
7. You are on hormonal birth control medication
Hormone-based birth control pill directly targets ovulation and menstruation. Usually, when you are taking the pills, your next cycle will start deepening on when you began taking medicine in the period. Hormonal birth control also has symptoms such as sore breasts, cramping, headaches, and nausea.
The hormones present in hormonal birth control directly affect ovulation and menstruation. Then again, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and Depo Provera shot can also cause irregular menses for the first three months.
8. You pop a regular e-pill
Emergency pills contain hormones that interfere with the normal ovulation process. This pill is used to reduce the chance of pregnancy after an unprotected sexual encounter. Usually, an e-pill leads cause periods to come either a week early or a week later.
9. You might have contracted an STI
Sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can manifest in these form of bleeding before the end of a cycle. These bacterial infections often cause spotting or a blood-stained discharge before the menstrual flow. Other symptoms of STIs include pain during sex, burning pain when peeing and abdominal pain. Visit a doctor as soon as you start seeing signs.
10. You Suffer from PCOS syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition that affects 1 out of every ten mature and reproductive women. It is characterized by infrequent periods which come early or late due to hormonal imbalance. Your doctor can advise on possible hormone treatment options. Other conditions that can cause early periods include endometriosis, thyroid disease, and untreated diabetes.
• Implantation
Also, there is usually a slight for of bleeding associated with implantation. This is when the fertilized ovum attaches to the wall of the uterus, one or two weeks after a sexual encounter. The bleeding here is light and doesn’t require a tampon. You can quickly test yourself with a pregnancy kit to ascertain whether the light bleeding is due to pregnancy.
• Miscarriage
Then again, because miscarriages happen in the first trimester (most often before you are aware of the pregnancy), they can easily be confused for substantial periods. If severe cramping and back pain accompany the bleeding, that is most likely a miscarriage. Sometimes the flow could be a pink discharge and blood clots.
Visit your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any of these signs.
Early periods should be no cause for alarm. Nevertheless, if you notice some unusual symptoms like some mentioned earlier, contact your doctor.
