Having a regular cycle will make you dance on the furniture! (image by Evil Erin, flickr)
You want regular periods because they make life easier, healthier, and happier! These tips for regulating your menstrual cycle are based on the most common questions I get from my readers.
If your periods aren’t regular, read Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle: Herbal & Medical Solutions. It offers practical help and information for amenorrhea (no periods), irregular periods, period pain, and more.
And, one of my favorite books about women’s health and menstruation is The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle…at Any Age, because it goes beyond a woman’s cycle! It describes how to get regular periods, but it’s also about empowering us women to accept our amazing bodies.
Here are several questions about and tips for regulating your menstrual cycle naturally…
Tips for Regulating Your Menstrual Cycle
Many women experience one or two irregular periods every six months. This isn’t usually caused by a serious medical condition, but if you’re worried about your period or other health issue, don’t wait to see your family doctor or gynecologist!
Not getting your period for six months goes beyond “just” having irregular periods. Not getting your period is called amenorrhea — a total absence of menstruation. Irregular periods or oligomenorrhoea is when you get your period every month (more or less), but it comes at totally different times and at different flows (heavy one month, light the next).
Q: I’m 20 years old and I haven’t had my period in several months…I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. I don’t have the money for a doctor visit and I’m scared something is wrong with me.
A: Look for a free medical or health clinic for women in your area. Your health is too precious to ignore! Some clinics offer free physical checkups at no charge, but it depends where you live. I suggest calling your local women’s help line for information on free or low-cost physician visits.
If you have don’t have a regular period, you first need to determine the cause of your irregular menstrual cycle.
The most common cause of infrequent periods is polycystic ovaries. About 10% of women are affected by this common health condition, which causes very small (less than 1 cm) cysts on the ovaries. It’s associated with a hormone imbalance.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome leads to irregular ovulation and an irregular menstrual cycle. To diagnose polycystic ovaries, you need one or more blood tests to measure hormones. And, a pelvic ultrasound scan of the ovaries is often taken as an additional test.
Seeing a doctor in person really is the most important thing you can do to get your menstrual cycle regular again! And, the standard health advice always applies: to balance your hormones and regulate your menstrual cycle, get regular exercise (but don’t exercise excessively), eat a healthy diet, get the sleep your body needs, and deal with stress in healthy ways. And, if you’re taking prescription medication, find out if it affects your hormones (which affects your period).
If you want to get pregnant, read When You Can’t Predict Your Periods and Want to Get Pregnant.
Making Spotty Periods Regular
Q: I’m almost 19 and my periods have never been regular. I have anemia and sometimes my periods will skip 2-3 months or just be a few weeks late. What could be causing this and what is a safe way to regulate my periods?
If you’re anemic, then you don’t have enough iron in your body to support regular periods. To make your period regular, you need to figure out the cause of the anemia (low body weight? blood loss from another health issue?), and treat that. And, you need to take iron pills or eat iron-rich foods to boost your iron levels. Both these suggestions require a visit to the doctor, I think. Some pharmacies won’t sell iron pills without a doctor’s prescription (depending on where you live). So, get thee to a doctor and get your anemia checked and treated….
Also, your hormones influence menstruation. If your hormones aren’t in balance, your period won’t be regular. If your periods are irregular, ask your doctor to measure the hormones in your blood. A test like this will help determine if you have a serious hormonal problem. But, note that some doctors belief that since “normal” varies greatly with regard to women’s hormones, blood tests may not be the best measure of the more subtle imbalances in your cycle. If you have irregular cycles, you need to talk to your doctor to determine the best tests.
Age and Irregular Menstruation
Q: I’m 37 and have two children. Could my irregular periods be because I am getting older?
Our bodies — and our menstrual cycles — definitely change as we age. Many women have irregular periods in their teens, and more regular ones as they reach their early 20s. Other women, however, always have irregular periods no matter what…and still others are like clockwork from day one!
Weight also influences hormonal balance and menstruation. If you’re overweight or underweight, your hormones will stop working properly and your periods might stop altogether. Recent research has also shown that obesity can throw hormones out of balance and make it harder for women get pregnant.
Stress also affects the hormones. Many women find that if they are worried about something, it can influence menstruation. In some cases, a woman’s period might actually stop if she is very worried about whether she is pregnant!
Periods, Fertility, and Dairy Products
Q: I’ve read that low-fat dairy products actually increase infertility risks while full-fat dairy products reduce them. Could incorporating a little full-fat dairy into my diet help regulate my menstrual cycle?
Yes, research that indicates that full-fat dairy products can increase fertility levels. Incorporating a little fat into your diet may help regulate your period. Balanced, regular hormones lead to a regular menstrual cycle (including ovulation and fertility, which helps you get pregnant!). The way dairy products are processed (to make dairy low fat) may affect the proteins, which in turn affects our hormones.
If you have any questions or thoughts about regular periods, please comment below…
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hii, i am 23 and sufferring from irregular periods, sometimes for 3 months and sometimes more than that? please let me know what to do
hi..
I’m 26 years old..I’m also suffer 4 the problam of irregular periods. but the main problam is that without taking any medicine, my periods does’nt come… so plz tell me whaat I do
hi, m 24 yrs old. m vergin,veg bt my periods have never been regular. Thats why i m too much worried because i m not over weight and i have no tension no stress my diet is also good. kindly tell me What could be causing this and what is a safe way to regulate my periods?
Regards
reema
Hai, i’m Xena .. 21 yrs old.. I’m a virgin and having irregular periods for like 6 months…… what shall i do? what should i do to get my periods regular…..
is metformin drug helpful in regulating menstrual cycle?
I m 29 yr old and my period is irregular some times it’s come regularly and some times it will not come for3 or 4 months and still I m single but in future it won’t be a problem for a pregnancy ! Plz help me some tips for it ? Pl email me
I’m 17 years old.I haven’t had my periods for the past 5 months and I’m getting fatter.I also checked Thyroid Hb count etc every thing is normal.I would be thankful if you suggest me a solution.
I am 17 year old I have irregular period since a year please help me in getting back to regular periods i don’t have any problems not even thyroid but i weigh 65 is this the problem or what?
hello i am farah i ve a little bit problem want to know the solution…last date of my period was 13 now it should be 10 oct…or else …it started from 7 october 1 drop comes n sticky red dark color on my panty then nothing ..next day same after 2 aur 3 days then it will come properly is there any problema
Hi I am 22 yrs old, i am virgin. i am not getting periods regularly
I had contacted to gynecologist, they suggest tablets to get my periods regular. but, after i finish my tablets again periods get irregular for 3 to 4 months
I am really very worried about this problem
Will u please advice me what to do in this situation?
I would be very thankful to u
According to my period calendar,my period should come on the 13/09 but till now,there wasnt any sign of period.. i had sex few days before my expected period date. What should i do??
I am 12 years old and I do not get regular periods , but this time I have not got my periods for almost a month , i am really afraid, any suggestions????
Im 33yrs.old im not able to conceive since last 7yrs.im suffering from throyid&my peroid is also not regular(blood flow very less)only 2 days.plz.help me just i want to be preganant,but how suggest me?thankyou…..
Q: I’m 34 years old and I haven’t had my period in several months…I took a pregnancy test and it was negative.i have no child tow month pass
hii laurie,
I am 19 yrs old and i m in a serious relationship and me and my boyfriend have unprotected sex once in a month, with protection wr do not enjoy sex at all that is the reason immediately after sex i consume an emergency contraceptive pill to avoid pregnancy and that has lead to a serious problem that i get periods only when i consume the pill because of this problem my face is now full of pimples and also my weight is going on increasing. This things have disturbed me and my boyfriend a lot we are worried for our future and our future family plz do suggest me something. boyfriend a lot we are worried fk
o
Hi,
I am a 29 yrs old. For the past few months (2months to be exact), I am getting white fluid from my vagina. I have never had this thing before. Also I did not get my periods this time around properly. Came just lightly but went off. Normally I get periods around 10th of every month.I am a virgin and unmarried but in serious relation. Myself and my to be are really worried and scared. Can I get help on this?
Regards
Sanjana
Hi,
Im 19years old and I have noticed that my periods have become very irregular over the past two years. My anual female exams have shown that everything is “normal”. what can be causing the irregularity in my cycles?
i attended a bording sch. for this third term ihave not had my period for three months, i am not pregnant.iwant to know if change in diet can cause this.
hi
i am aswini i undergone laproscopy in the month of may 2012 and then i went for iui in the month of june but did not get pregnant.can u tell me what i have to do for this?
can u suggest me?
thanks
HI..i am 31 years old with 1 kid. i a m worried because my last menstruation was 1st week of june and until now my mens didn’t come..I tried the pregnancy test but the result was negative.,i AM using birth control pills..could it still be possible that i am pregnant?pls i need your comment…thank you!
hi
i am 20 year old i am suffering from pcos problem
me did not have my period cycle regularly
pls help me reduces pcos and make my period cycle regularly
pls give some suggestion for me……..
Hi im 27 years nd got married in april 2012, ihave irregular periods but want to get pregnant. i have consulted gynic she told me totake some tests and scan and its all ok, she said there is nthing to worry for pregnency, so can u plz tel me anything regarding this issue………..
( I GET PERIODS ONCE IN 2MONTHS)
hi,am 25 years old,my peroids irregular,but i have only symptoms,my body gets bulged
I’m 20 yrs old im getting iregular periods pls give me some solution ……but im over weight
i am 17 and i dnt get regular periods…i got my last menses in november 2011,since den,i havent got my periods..i hv got the thyroid problem checked bt d test was negative.. what should i do? P.S- i am overweight
If you want regular periods, you have to see a gynecologist or naturopathic physician, and get an in-person examination. Don’t take advice about your menstrual cycle on the internet, because the only advice you should take is from a doctor who examines you in person!
These tips for regulating your periods are general advice for all women, and I can’t offer personal medical counseling.
I wish you all the best in regulating your cycle – and I hope you’re able to talk to a doctor or gynecologist as soon as possible!
Blessings,
Laurie
Hi m 21 and I’hv been have eregula periods for the past 3month,I am 3 days late for my periods, what could be the couse?
i am 19 i have pain in my period alot so i want to know that is the reason i m not getting pregnat plsssss say if my periods need to be regular
hi.. i m running 22years my periods s not regular its getting very solid not always i m geeting white patches wht to do for my problem i need regular periods
hi, I am 29 years old and got married in December 2012. After my marriage i am facing menstrual problems, my periods are irregular and my stomach is growing big. I am not pregnant and my thyroid level is also normal. Before marriage i never had this problem, my periods were regular..please help me what can be the problem
hi i am 20 years old,i am having irregular periods,how it is possible to have regular periods by diet without consulting with doctor
hi….i m almost 19….my periods are irregulr…..plz help…i m suffring frm urine infection frm 2 dys.its painfull…i concernd a doctr…he gave me medicine…i m quite bettr now……
help me out fr regulr periods plz….its 4mnths now..its irregulr
I am a 18 year old teenage.My menses are irregular because of that my face has been spoiled from pimples. i have consulted to gynaceologist but its not working.it would be nyc if u suggest natural tips
i get my periods like 3 days in a month ,not even 5 days im 26 got married 9 months ago.. im trying to get pragnent but 3 months im not conceiving a baby
plz help
Hi, I am 27 years old. I was recently told that I have polycystic ovaries, but tiny cysts, according to an ultrasound, however when I took a blood test everything came out in the normal range. I have been having irregular periods (once got a period every 28 days exactly). I also lost a lot of weight, but recently gained a lot back, yet still my periods are very irregular. I suffer from minor acne as well, and noticed that for a few months at least I’ve had a dark spot that looks like a bruise on my elbow (doesn’t hurt). My questions are: if my blood tests came out negative is it possible that I do in fact have high androgen levels, and 2) if my weight and body fat are in the healthy range but I am not getting a lot of fat in my diet can this cause irregular periods as well?
Thanks. Please feel free to e-mail me.
If you want regular periods, you have to see a gynecologist or naturopathic physician, and get an in-person examination. Don’t take advice about your menstrual cycle on the internet, because the only advice you should take is from a doctor who examines you in person!
These tips for regulating your periods are general advice for all women, and I offer personal medical counseling.
I wish you all the best in regulating your cycle – and I hope you’re able to talk to a doctor or gynecologist as soon as possible!
Blessings,
Laurie
Am about to be 17 is going to be one year already since the first and last time I got my period idk why maybe with of my weight or wat am not pregnant i think but I dnt think that’s not the problem
hi … i am 24 years old.. till my 22nd age i dnt hav problem in irregular periods. but last 1 1/2 years i suffer more. my periods varying more than 3 months. just now i got married.. every one is asking whether iam preganant, but my results say its negative. i undergone thyroid test, urinary infection test… it says negative.i went for scanning too there is no problem in that… i dnt knw what to do.. kindly suggest me
thank u
I am 27 years old, and i never had regular periods , please give me suggestions about that i am great worried about that.
I have pcos. I have been to the doctors and they said i have ovulated. But i still have not had a perod it has been 15 days. I just want a perod so me and partner can get pregent
hi i am 24 i am married i am getting my periods regularly but after few months i am getting my periods irregular i am worried that it will cause in the future plz reply to my email id.
hy am 22..i got period problem am married want to get pregnat but i cant cause of irrugular period ..plss can u help me out in it???? i got cyst left ovary…i went to the doctor the advise operation.. n its too expensive
i have irregular periods for 3 years.because of harmonal problem.i want regular periods
hi now im 20, i got my 1st mensis on december 2007 and from then i never had my mensis again so i met a gynocologist and took medicines but even then i din get my periods i have my periods on taking medicines only, till now i had taken all kinds of medicines in all types tat is ayurveda,homeopathy and allopathy medicines and i still have the same problem of not at all getting my periods please help me i need some advice to come out of this problem please reply to my e-mail devi_seshu92@yahoo.co.in
i am a lady of 20 years have my menses regularly but last month
bleed twice three days after my regular menses i bleed three days again. please reply me through my email
I am 30 years old i am having periods for only 2 or 3 days and less amount. Just half pad everyday for maximum 2 days. my doctor said said no affect to get pregnant. However, I tried 6 months still haven’t get pregnant.
I am afraid that this is going to affect my chances of getting pregnant. pls help me …. Thank you…
hai, imv 22 years old. until age of 20years i had my regular period. but now im having period 2-3 months once. i had consult doctor but even after take his medi,its stil the same. please leave a reply to my email add. tq
my age is 32 and weight 68.Ihave irregular periods for several years.sometimes it may be for 3 mionths.pl advice.
The best way to get regular periods is to talk to your gynecologist, and get an in-person examination. Please don’t seek medical advice about your personal menstrual cycle over the internet, because the only advice you should take is from a doctor who examines you in person!
These tips for regulating your periods are general, and I’m afraid I can’t offer personal advice.
I wish you all the best in regulating your cycle – and I hope you’re able to talk to a doctor or gynecologist as soon as possible!
Blessings,
Laurie
I have never menses for how many months so will i get pregnant im scared because im just 12 years old im sad…. Huhuhu pls help me anyone pls reply at my email afiqahrahman89@gmail.com thank u….