Women are considered to have an irregular menstrual cycle if their cycle length is less than 21 days or more than 35 days, accompanied by less or very severe blood flow. The prevalence of menstrual cycle irregularities varies across countries. Irregular periods can occur due to changes in the body's levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones, which disrupt the normal pattern of the period. Menstrual irregularity has been found to be associated with various diseases and medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Anemia, osteoporosis, psychological problems, impaired quality of life, and infertility have also been recorded. Moreover, a significant correlation between irregular periods and the risk of developing pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders, as well as an increased risk of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, has been proven. Therefore, irregular menstruation is considered an important health indicator among women. Physical, mental, social, psychological, and reproductive problems are often associated with menstrual irregularities. Thus, evaluating the factors associated with irregular menstruation is necessary to determine appropriate preventive and treatment strategies and to decrease the associated health problems. The aim of this review was to define normal and irregular menstruation, their types, and prevalence, to recognize the risk factors and causes of irregular menstruation, and to understand their impact on women's health.
irregular menstruation health impact literature review, menstrual irregularity disease association review Cureus, Attia Alharbi irregular periods health consequences, abnormal menstrual patterns cardiometabolic bone health, menstrual cycle irregularity chronic disease risk, Cureus irregular menstruation health review 2023, oligomenorrhea amenorrhea health outcome associations, menstrual cycle regularity as health vital sign, abnormal periods systemic health implications women
PMID 38130524 38130524 DOI 10.7759/cureus.49146 10.7759/cureus.49146 Attia et al. 2023, Attia 2023
Cite this article
Attia, G. M., Alharbi, O., & Aljohani, R. M. (2023). The Impact of Irregular Menstruation on Health: A Review of the Literature. Cureus, 15(11), e49146. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.49146
Attia GM, Alharbi O, Aljohani RM. The Impact of Irregular Menstruation on Health: A Review of the Literature. Cureus. 2023;15(11):e49146. doi:10.7759/cureus.49146
Attia, Ghalia M., et al. "The Impact of Irregular Menstruation on Health: A Review of the Literature." Cureus, vol. 15, no. 11, 2023, pp. e49146.
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