Period problems? Here’s what your body is trying to tell you about your health

You can learn a great deal about your health by taking notice of your menstrual cycle, particularly if your period is late, early, staying longer or excruciatingly painful.

What is your period trying to tell you?

Your period is something you’ve likely been experiencing for decades and over the years you’ve probably had your fair share of menstruation confusion, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning. Irregular periods, heavy bleeding, clots and skipped cycles are all normal in these circumstances.

But when you’re not pregnant, recovering from birth, breastfeeding or on any hormonal medication, strangeness in your regular cycle can be your body’s way of communicating that something could be wrong.

Not sure what it all means? Here is what your menstrual cycle might be trying to tell you.

1. When you skip a cycle (and you’ve ruled out pregnancy)

In this instance it’s likely your body is mad at you and your brain is playing with your menstrual cycle to let you know. Whenever your cycle is off, it’s usually a sign that your body isn’t working quite right, usually due to exhaustion, stress or illness.

Even extreme exercise, dieting or drug use can cause your brain to issue a warning to your menstrual cycle to delay ovulation until further notice.

Get some sleep, try to relieve the stress, swap to healthier foods and hopefully your cycle will return to normal once your body does.

2. When the cramping is so bad you want to crawl into a ball and die

This is usually your body is asking for help and it’s time to listen. Serious cramping that leaves you in a ball of pain, unable to perform everyday tasks, can be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids.

It could also be a cyst bursting, which can be excruciating. In this instance listen your body’s advice and head to the doctor, what have you got to lose?

3. When you are spotting in between cycles

Often this happens when your body wants you to take time off work and go see a doctor. Yes it’s annoying but it’s necessary because irregular spotting unrelated to pregnancy, PMS or your period can indicate a problem.

In most instances, it’s nothing, but you will want a doctor to rule out conditions such as cervical or uterine polyps, fibroids, an infection or a precursor to cancer.

4. When your period comes randomly

Your body may be craving a lifestyle change, in fact quite often heavy period-like bleeding that comes in the middle of your cycle suggests that you could be struggling with excess weight.

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Irregular bleeding can be a precursor to diabetes, but it could also just be a one-time thing brought on by stress.

5. When your period decides to come a few days early or late

Usually your body is perfectly fine, it just sometimes can be very inconsiderate. Even if you’re used to getting your period every 28 days, try not to stress if it comes a day or two early or late.

It’s perfectly normal to ovulate a day or even a week early some months, thus changing your cycle slightly. Usually this will happen when you have planned a naughty weekend away with your partner because your body has a very wicked sense of humour.

Not sure what endometriosis is and how it can affect fertility? Have a read of this post.

For more on health, check out our other healthy living related articles here.