Having a regular and mostly pain free periods (apart from those pesky cramps) is a good indication that your hormones are in balance and your reproductive system is functioning as it should be. However, irregular, frequently missed or very painful periods or any related symptoms could be a sign of something more serious, potentially hormone levels which are either too low or too high. Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, low body weight, chronic stress levels and not enough exercise can all be contributing factors to a bigger cause.
Common Symptoms of Irregular Periods
- Late or early periods
- Overly short or long cycle
- Cramps
- Changes in blood flow or colouring
- Spotting
- Skipped periods
The worrying thing is that some reports are finding that women are choosing not to speak with their doctor about missed or irregular periods, perhaps thinking it isn’t a big deal or happens to everyone. If this is a regular occurrence or you feel its out of the ordinary then we definitely recommend speaking to your GP as soon as you can to have it quickly resolved!
Pregnancy
For women who aren't trying to conceive, a late, missed or irregular period can be an absolute nightmare and leads to instant panic. Differentiating whether your period is just irregular or there is a possibility you might be pregnant is very important. The first thing you should do is ask yourself whether a slightly irregular period is a regular occurrence for you or if its very out of the ordinary. Some womens periods arrive on the exact day that its scheduled to, others arrive a little earlier or later. Early signs of pregnancy include breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea, food cravings or aversions and frequent urination. Bear in mind that some of these can also be due to your period arriving - particularly breast tenderness, or could also just be symptoms of PMS. The best thing to do if you're unsure is to either take a pregnancy test or book in a consultation with your GP!
Exercise and Diet
Although moderate exercise is really good for ongoing health, mood regulation, weight maintenance and sleep – too much exercise can put stress on your thyroid and pituitary glands which can stop you from getting your periods. Studies have shown that female athletes often experience irregular periods due to their vigorous exercise regimes.
Not only is exercise important but your diet and what food you use to fuel your body can have a serious impact on your hormones and bodily functions. A diet that’s low in nutrients, antioxidants and probiotics can take a toll on the adrenal glands and thyroid. A high intake of sugar, artificial additives and trans fats is linked to adrenal fatigue which can raise cortisol. Excesses cortisol hinders the function of many essential hormons such as sex hormons which are responsible for regulating menstruation. Make sure to include wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy. Nutrients that are really essential for women with amenhorrrea include calcium, vitamin B6 and essential fatty acids - so take some of these each morning if your body needs a boost!
Birth Control Pills
Female contraception uses a combination of oestrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation. Whenever you start a new contraception or switch from one to the other, it can take your body a few months to adjust to the changes, causing your period to be irregular. If you take your pill irregularly such as on different days or at different times, this can also through the regularity of your cycle of out whack and cause some irregular bleeding or light spotting. Consult your health professional about your contraception, ask any important questions you don't know the answers to and make sure you are regularly having your Pap Smears to check for any kind of vaginal infections or complications!
Stress
In womens busy lives trying to juggle work, relationships, children and their own state of mind, stress can wreak havoc with female hormone levels and through your entire menstrual cycle off. Did you know that when you experience ongoing stress, your body actually conserves energy by preventing ovulation. Severely stressful situations such as heavy exercising, intense emotional events and extreme diets can all induce amenorrhea which is damaging to our bodies.
Remember to take time to yourself (even 10 mins each day) and take a walk, have a bath or just practice some relaxed breathing.
Menopause/ Perimenopause
Both menopause and peri-menopause have similar symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings and night sweats. Periods can become erratic, there can be no bleeding or particularly heavy bleeding or sporadic spotting throughout the day. The point is, changes in our body is like entering the great unknown and no two days are ever the same so its better not to take any chances and always be prepared with some form of backup like Modibodi.
Why is Modibodi perfect for the unpredictability of irregular periods?
The worst part about experiencing irregular periods is the element of surprise and never knowing when or where your period might arrive. For most women, the thought of wearing a panty liner every day in expectation of this is costly and inconvenient (not to mention bad for the environment!) If you had to wear a pad or liner every single day out of fear of having a leak, think go how much you're having to spend AND the terrible contribution you're making to an already established landfill problem. Thats definitely not something any of us want on our conscience!
Modibodi is the perfect option regardless of whether you're expecting your period or not! Its as simple as putting on your underwear in the morning and having adequate protection all day without even having to think about it. If you know that you're often having little leaks throughout the day then consider a light absorbency which provides the perfect amount of protection to catch little droplets of fluid. If you're menstruating or facing more regular and heavier leakages then consider a moderate absorbency which has an extended, thicker gusset.
If you're looking for the best option for overnight wear and you're keen to ditch the disposables, then look no further than our new heavy absorbency. This has just landed on our website and is now available for pre-orders so be sure to get in quick as we have over 1500 women from the waitlist already reserving their pairs!
