The first step to treat irregular menstrual bleeding is to determine if it is, in fact, irregular. What is normal can be very different from woman to woman. A period is considered abnormal if the menstrual cycle is consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. If you experience menstrual bleeding for longer than seven days, or if you have very heavy bleeding, this is also something to discuss with your doctor.
After you determine whether or not your cycle is abnormal, see your doctor to determine the cause, because the cause will determine how to treat irregular menstrual bleeding. In some cases, it might be caused by lifestyle. Your menstrual period might be irregular if you are under stress, are not getting enough sleep, are traveling or are exercising or dieting too much. An irregular period also can be caused by changes in medication or birth control. In this case, the way to treat irregular menstrual bleeding is to make the appropriate adjustments to your lifestyle or medication.
Before you visit your doctor, keep track of your menstruation by noting when your bleeding begins and ends as well as the heaviness of your menstrual flow. Also make note of any other symptoms you might have, such as pain or bleeding between periods. Your doctor could determine that an underlying medical condition is causing your irregular menstrual bleeding. It can be caused by any number of conditions, including hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids or polyps, polycystic ovary disease, thyroid disease, pelvic inflammatory disease or cancer.
When you see your doctor, he or she most likely will review your menstrual history and ask you questions to determine possible causes. He or she might perform additional tests, such as a Pap test, ultrasound, pregnancy test, hormone tests or thyroid function tests. If your irregular bleeding is caused by a hormonal imbalance, the doctor might recommend hormone supplements or oral contraceptives as a treatment.
Your doctor could determine that the cause is more severe and might recommend greater intervention to treat irregular menstrual bleeding. Some women require surgery to remove fibroids or polyps. Other medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary disease or pelvic inflammatory disease, might be treated with medication. If the cause of your irregular menstrual bleeding is uterine cancer, you could require chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.
In most cases, irregular menstrual bleeding is not caused by a severe medical condition. For girls who have recently begun menstruating or women who are nearing menopause, irregular periods are normal and do not require treatment. If you are at all concerned about your irregular period, see your doctor to discuss possible causes and treatment options.