What makes a woman's cycle irregular?

[im2smrt4u]

My g/f's cycle is super weird. This month was super late (like 40 days) and she was freaking out. I knew their wasn't anything to worry about, but she is paranoid. Even I was starting to wonder at this point.

She started today, so there are no worries, but it still makes no sense. She noted that her nipples were not tender beforehand like they usually are.

Any idea what is up?

FYI, she is 20 and started fairly young, like 12 or maybe before. Is it just that she is still young?

[snowy]

Age can be a factor, stress, weight gain or loss...there are any number of things that can make a woman's cycle irregular.

If she's irregular to the point where she is worried about it, hormonal birth control will bring things into line and give her a 28-day cycle to work with. But that's a big step to take just for an irregular cycle.

[im2smrt4u]

Well, she should get on BC for other reasons, but she promised she'd talk with her Mom beforehand. She hasn't talked to her yet...but it has been 1-1/2 years since the first time. I'm still working on that.

[maleficent]

anything can make a cycle change... breathing, exercise, lack of exercise, weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, stress... anything... by this age, her cycle should have fallen into some sort of pattern... but not all women do...

Has she been to a gynocologist yet? By age 20, I would hope so, especially if she's sexually active. Birth control will regulate her cycle... her irregularity is something that she should discuss with him/her.

[im2smrt4u]

No, she hasn't. Yet another thing she should do, and hasn't. heh

I'm sure she could get an exam and a prescription for BC in one visit, right?

[doncalypso]

Hmm... stress?

[maleficent]

Originally Posted by im2smrt4u

No, she hasn't. Yet another thing she should do, and hasn't. heh

I'm sure she could get an exam and a prescription for BC in one visit, right?

She's not unusual for not going.. but it is important...

Canada can't be different from the US, you will always get a scrip the same day as you get the exam, she just has to remember to ask the doctor if they don't volunteer it.

[hunnychile]

EVERYTHING can affect a woman's period!

Especially when you are young (or older-doesn't matter) & emotional. Or under stress or partying a lot or eating poorly, or you have an eating disorder, or you're around environmental pollutants or chemicals too much, or only once but it was a serious toxin, or a vitamin deficientcy...I could go on. Yes, Mal (the TFP Goddess!) is totally right; have your gf go to the Doctor and try a form of low hormone birth control pills. She deserves not to have such a worry in her life. Hopefully she can discuss all the details with her doctor and learn to take good care of the gift that we women carry. Being able to get pregnant shouldn't be a fearful, negative issue. Someday when she has her loved & planned baby, she'll be glad that she took control of her uterine health.

[Acetylene]

Yeah, a woman's period is like a wet dream...it happens when it happens and you can't make it come consciously.

If she is sexually active it's vital she see a gynocologist at least once a year to ensure there are no infections or other bad things going unnoticed. She might need to have two visits to get her prescription for birth control because the doctor might want to wait for the test results after the examinations.

Birth control is a good thing for many people because it evens out the hormones and generally makes you feel more stable. I loved taking the Pill for those reasons--my headaches, cramps, bleeding, and general crankiness were all much improved, plus I always knew when to wear a pad!

If I may indulge myself in one brief editorial statement, why are you continuing to have sex with a girl who is so irresponsible that she won't take care of her own health? Keep in mind it also affects YOU if she gets pregnant or sick! Tell her she can't have any more of your hot ass until she gets HER hot ass into the doctor's office

[im2smrt4u]

Originally Posted by Acetylene

If I may indulge myself in one brief editorial statement, why are you continuing to have sex with a girl who is so irresponsible that she won't take care of her own health? Keep in mind it also affects YOU if she gets pregnant or sick! Tell her she can't have any more of your hot ass until she gets HER hot ass into the doctor's office

LMAO! It would work if I could do it!

I'll talk to her.

[nickynicole]

My period has always been irregular, and I've come to the conclusion that it's just really affected by my environment, diet, stress... whatever. I didn't have my period for an entire semester of college, and I'm convinced that it was because I was only eating ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The next semester, when I could afford better food, my period came back.

[ChistledStone]

Also, if she is close contact with females, that can upset their period.

Or particular odourous ones.

[Lead543]

When I was in high school and spending between 36-55 hours a week with a group of females we all ended up having them at the same time. Can you imagine an all girls school? 40 days late is a lot, she basically skipped 2-3 months periods. Missing periods is usually related to excessive excersise, weight loss, stress, trauma. The pill is wonderful for regulation, I can predict the day and time of day I'll get my period. Plus there's none of that "Oh crap I'm -- days late" aniexty.

[v_Jaded_v]

A few years ago I was having problems with extremely irregular cycles....Skipping a few months etc....I was told by my doctor that I may not be ovulating regularly. She said that if a woman isn't ovulating, she won't get her cycle. Certainly stress, excercise, weight etc. plays a big part, but I think it is important she speak with her doctor.

[Gilda]

I've always had an irregular cycle, which can be anywhere from about 24 to just over 40 days. My current gyno tells me that partly it's because I'm very thin and get a lot of exercise, both of which can cause a woman to occasionally skip a period, resulting in one of those 40+ cycles. He also told me it's nothing to worry about unless I'm trying to get pregnant or worried about getting pregnant, neither of which is a concern. I'm not going to take hormonal birth control just to have a regular cycle. For me, the potential side effects greatly outweigh the sole benefit of knowing when I'll have my period.