For those trying to get pregnant, knowing your fertile window is a fundamental step to increase your chances of conception. Therefore, paying attention to your cycle is essential in this process. However, many women have irregular cycles, which often makes it difficult to understand your body and affects the chances of conception, since there is no certainty about when the fertile period is. Irregular cycles can have a wide range of causes, and understanding these can help you know how to treat the issue. In general, the main cause centers around hormonal changes in the body, and throughout this article we will list some of the main causes that lead to irregularities in our cycles.

Medications and contraceptives

There are a variety of medications that can alter the menstrual cycle, such as antidepressants and thyroid medications. In addition, if you have irregular use of contraceptives, there is a chance that changes in your cycle can occur. Morning-after pills are also another example of contraception that causes a substantial alteration in the menstrual cycle, since they contain a huge amount of hormones.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that affects many women. It happens when endometrial tissue, instead of being shed during menstruation, begins to grow in other areas of the body, which can cause pain during the menstrual period.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) has irregular cycles as one of its main symptoms. This is precisely due to the hormonal changes that occur, which indeed impact the menstrual cycle. In addition, it is common to have excess body hair and acne.

Stress

When we are stressed, we release cortisol – a hormone that, when in excess, affects other hormones in the body, including those responsible for the menstrual cycle. Moreover, our bodies are highly adaptable, and when we are worried or very stressed, it understands that it is not a good time to have children and may not provide the ideal conditions for this to happen.

Fibroids and polyps

Fibroids and polyps are usually benign tumors and may not show any symptoms. However, the presence of these tumors can lead to menstrual changes because of the hormonal imbalances they are associated with.

Low weight or excess weight

Women who are overweight may produce excess estrogen, which disrupts hormone levels and, consequently, alters the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, for women who are very underweight, it is possible that there isn’t sufficient body fat to maintain the cycle and ovulation may not occur.

Thyroid problems

The thyroid has everything to do with hormone production and regulation. Therefore, hypothyroidism (when the thyroid works more slowly), causes hormones to be produced in lower amounts, impacting the menstrual cycle and making the menstrual flow somewhat heavier. For those with hyperthyroidism, in which the thyroid works more intensely than normal, there is excess hormone production, and then the impacts on the menstrual cycle can be more evident. There are also other more obvious causes that influence the occurrence of irregular cycles, such as breastfeeding and also pregnancy. In any case, it is important to have a medical consultation with a specialist to determine the real cause of the irregular cycle.