Sudden changes in your menstrual cycle: understanding the causes and finding solutions

Have you noticed sudden changes in your menstrual cycle? A cycle that used to be regular is suddenly off? Longer or shorter, the female menstrual and hormonal cycle can go through many changes.

Many women and girls experience changes in their menstrual cycle at some point in their lives. You’re not the only one going through this! Sudden changes in the menstrual cycle affect many women at different stages of life.

Understanding why your body is reacting this way and how to cope is essential for protecting your physical and emotional well‑being. In this new guide, we help you untangle the many factors that can disrupt your cycle and offer tailored solutions to help you regain balance.

Menstrual cycle disorders can have many different and varied causes.

Our body is wonderfully complex, especially when it comes to our hormonal system!

These two transition periods are often accompanied by particularly irregular cycles. In adolescence, during puberty, your body is learning to regulate your hormones, and that can take some time. So a teenage girl’s first periods are often irregular. Having the right period protection on you at all times is even more important so you’re never caught off guard! Don’t miss our range of teen period panties!
Likewise, as you approach menopause (usually between ages 45 and 55), hormonal imbalance can start several years before your periods stop for good. This phase therefore comes with various menstrual issues. There’s no need for excessive worry.

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Your thyroid (a small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck) plays a crucial role in regulating many bodily functions, including your menstrual cycle. Hyperthyroidism can cause lighter and less frequent periods, while hypothyroidism can lead to heavier and longer periods.

Our daily life, activities and lifestyle have a major impact on our hormonal balance, our periods and our menstrual cycle.

Chronic stress can disrupt the production of the hormones that regulate your cycle. Stress from work, exams or particularly intense personal situations has a major impact on menstruation. The same goes for very heavy emotional shocks, such as the death of a loved one, an accident, etc.

Significant weight loss or gain can affect the production of oestrogen. Fat cells help produce these hormones – so too much or too little body fat can disrupt your cycle.

Elite athletes know this phenomenon well: very intensive training can sometimes lead to amenorrhoea (absence of periods). This is due to a decrease in body fat and the hormonal changes associated with intense exercise.

Finally, certain infections or illnesses can influence and disrupt the menstrual cycle.

The start, stop or change of hormonal contraception can cause major changes in your cycle. This is especially true when stopping the pill: your body needs time to find its natural rhythm again.

These female and gynecological conditions can cause irregular or particularly heavy bleeding. Endometriosis affects around 10% of women of reproductive age and often remains undiagnosed for years.

Certain sexually transmitted infections, pelvic infections or other health problems can cause changes in your cycle. These changes are often accompanied by other symptoms such as pelvic pain or unusual discharge.

If your menstrual cycle is changing significantly, seeing a healthcare professional is the first step. Depending on the cause identified, different solutions can be suggested:

To regulate a disrupted menstrual cycle, your doctor may prescribe progestins or a suitable hormonal contraceptive. These treatments help stabilise hormone levels and restore a more predictable cycle.

In some cases, such as fibroids or advanced endometriosis, surgery may be recommended to address the underlying problems that are disrupting your cycle.

If an infection is the cause, an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal treatment will resolve the problem and, as a result, restore a normal cycle.

Incorporate relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation or deep breathing into your daily routine. Even 10 minutes a day can make a significant difference to your stress levels and, in turn, the regularity of your cycle.

A diet rich in essential nutrients supports **hormonal balance**. Prioritize foods high in omega‑3s (fatty fish, flaxseeds), zinc (seafood, legumes), and B vitamins (whole grains, leafy greens).

Regular but moderate physical activity supports a healthy menstrual cycle. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, but avoid overly intense training if you notice it disrupts your cycle.