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Is Irregular Period A Sign of Pregnancy?

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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Arti Sharma
Written by Charu Shrivastava, last updated on 1 November 2022| min read
Is Irregular Period A Sign of Pregnancy?

Quick Summary

  • Irregular periods are not a sign of pregnancy
  • Irregular periods can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, diet, and exercise
  • If you are concerned about your menstrual cycle, talk to your doctor
Having irregular periods can be pretty stressful, especially when trying to get pregnant! According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), 9-14% of women have irregular menstrual cycles.
Is abnormal period a sign of pregnancy? Keep reading this article to find out!

What are Irregular Periods?

A normal menstrual cycle is considered to be anywhere between 21 to 40 days. Any deviation from this is considered an irregular menstrual cycle.
A woman's menstrual cycle says a lot about her health. It is mostly alright if you occasionally have irregular periods. But having a cycle that changes in length month-to-month could be due to an underlying health issue.
An irregular menstrual cycle can also affect pregnancy. It messes up your entire cycle, due to which determining the ovulation day becomes challenging. However, abnormal or missed periods can also be a sign of pregnancy. 
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Can Sudden Irregular Periods be a Sign of Pregnancy?

If you’ve always gotten your period on time, but this time your clock is running late, you might be pregnant. Missing your period is the first sign of pregnancy. So you should get the urine pregnancy test done immediately!
Your period cycle says a lot about your health. Sudden irregular periods can be a sign of pregnancy if you've always gotten your periods on time. However, irregular periods can also occur due to other underlying conditions such as:
  1. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormonal condition that occurs due to the excessive production of androgens. It also leads to the development of cysts on the ovaries. All this together leads to an irregular menstrual cycle. Thus, women suffering from PCOS often have irregular menstrual cycles.
  2. Thyroid disorders: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ present in the neck. It produces thyroid hormones which are responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle. Any thyroid disease can disrupt the menstrual cycle leading to irregular periods. 
  3. Stress: Stress is commonly associated with irregular menstrual cycles. Women with stress face menstrual regularities due to disturbance in the female hormone production.
  4. Weight: A normal weight is essential in maintaining appropriate hormone levels in the body. Being overweight can disrupt the hormone levels leading to menstrual irregularities.Having a low body weight can also result in a decrease or complete stoppage of hormones that govern the menstrual cycle. 
  5. Birth control methods: An intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or birth pills can also cause missed or abnormal periods. 
  6. Fibroids: Fibroids are noncancerous growth of uterine tissue consisting mainly of muscle and connective tissue. They grow in the wall of the uterus and may cause disturbance in the uterine lining. 
  7. Exercise: Some women tend to exercise more which can disturb the hormone levels responsible for menstruation. This is commonly seen in female athletes or dancers who train excessively.
  8. Surgery: If you have recently undergone surgery, it can throw your menstrual cycle off the course. Scarring or other structural problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes can also cause an abnormal menstrual cycle.
If you don't suffer from anything mentioned above, you should look for abnormal periods and other signs of pregnancy. These include: 
  1. Swollen or tender breasts
  2. Nausea 
  3. Vomiting
  4. Fatigue
  5. Increased urination
  6. Bloating 
  7. Light spotting
  8. Cramps
If you notice any of the aforementioned signs along with missing your period, you should see a doctor and get your pregnancy confirmed.
If you don't, it's time for you to get checked for other conditions.

What to do if I have missed my periods?

Perform a urine pregnancy test at home to check if you are pregnant. If the results come positive, consult a doctor and confirm the pregnancy.
If the results are negative or you are not pregnant, wait a few days for your periods to come. 
If you have always had irregular periods, it is time for you to get checked for other health conditions. Your doctor will assess your situation and run some tests to diagnose your condition and treat you accordingly.

Treatment for irregular periods

Doctors frequently recommend birth control pills (oral contraceptives)– oestrogen and progesterone to treat irregular periods. Women who don't have periods may also benefit from taking the hormone progestin to start their cycle.
If you’ve irregular periods and are trying to get pregnant, your doctor may prescribe some other medications.
The underlying diseases, such as thyroid disorders, fibroids, PCOS, etc., should also be treated simultaneously.
Women with thyroid disorders are prescribed medications to increase or block the thyroid hormone production depending upon their condition. 
Fibroids can be managed medically or surgically. Medical management includes OTC pain relief medications to relieve abdominal pain, gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists to reduce the size of the fibroids, and low-dose contraceptive pills to control the bleeding. 
Surgical management comprises myomectomy, hysterectomy, and uterine artery embolization. Myomectomy refers to simple removal of fibroids. Hysterectomy is the removal of fibroids along with removal of the uterus. In uterine artery embolization, the blood supply to the fibroids is cut off so that the fibroids shrink in size and get fibrosed. 
Women with PCOS are recommended lifestyle changes such as weight loss and dietary changes. They are also prescribed other medications including birth control pills and diabetes medication.

Conclusion

Irregular periods can be a sign of pregnancy if they occur all of a sudden. But if you've always had an irregular menstrual cycle, getting pregnant could be challenging. 
If you are fed up with having an irregular menstrual cycle or trying to get pregnant, get in touch with our excellent team of doctors at Hexahealth. We are here for you every step of the way!

Frequently Asked Questions

You can get your hormones checked via a blood test. A blood test will help determine the levels of hormones like thyroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol etc.
The best time to check your hormones is during the middle of the second half of your menstrual cycle, that is around day 19, 20 or 21 of your menstrual cycle.
Yes, getting pregnant is possible with irregular periods because you are still probably ovulating. The chances of becoming pregnant are low, but it's still possible.
You might notice any of the following symptoms at week 1 of pregnancy:
  1. Nausea or vomiting
  2. Breast tenderness or swelling
  3. Frequent urination
  4. Headache
  5. Fatigue
  6. Bloating 
The early signs of pregnancy include:
  1. Missed periods
  2. Breast tenderness or swelling
  3. Nausea 
  4. Vomiting
  5. Frequent urination 
  6. Headache
  7. Fatigue
  8. Bloating
If you have irregular periods, you can find out that you're ovulating by:
  1. Noticing cervical mucus changes
  2. Noting the basal body temperature first thing in the morning
  3. Using ovulation predictor kits to find out your ovulation day
It is difficult to determine the ovulation day with irregular periods. Ovulation usually occurs around 14 days from the first day of the menstrual cycle. You can predict the ovulation day by noticing the changes in cervical mucus or using ovulation predictor kits.
 An irregular menstrual cycle refers to having periods within 21 days or after 40 days of the previous cycle.
You should take a pregnancy test when you've missed your period for too long. A positive pregnancy test usually shows up 14 days after ovulation/ fertilisation. But considering you have an irregular menstrual cycle, keep an extra buffer of ten days and take a urine pregnancy test then.
Periods stop from the first month of pregnancy itself. As soon as fertilisation occurs, your periods will stop until the baby is delivered or the pregnancy is stopped.
 
It takes around two weeks after getting pregnant for the hCG to show up in the urine.
Having a short period suddenly can be a sign of pregnancy. However, having a variable period length is relatively common and could be due to several other factors like lifestyle changes or an underlying health condition.
If you notice the blood that is smaller than usual, it's probably due to pregnancy. But if the blood flow is heavy, as usual, it is most definitely your period. Spotting occurs after around 10-14 days of pregnancy due to the implantation of the growing embryo into the wall of the uterus.
Implantation cramps usually hurt in the lower abdomen, lower back or pelvic area. They usually occur in the body's midline due to the implantation of the growing foetus into the wall of the uterus.
It is okay to have a light period sometimes, as it might be due to lifestyle changes or certain birth control methods. But if you are worried about being pregnant and want to give yourself a leave of mind, you can take a pregnancy test.

Last Updated on: 1 November 2022

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and learning purposes only. It doesn't cover every medical condition and might not be relevant to your personal situation. This information isn't medical advice, isn't meant for diagnosing any condition, and shouldn't replace talking to a certified medical or healthcare professional.

Reviewer

Dr. Arti Sharma

Dr. Arti Sharma

MBBS, DNB Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Diploma In Cosmetic Gynaecology

9 Years Experience

Dr Arti Sharma is a well-known Obstetrician and Cosmetic Gynaecologist currently associated with Aesthetica Veda in Bengaluru. She has 9 years of experience in Obstetrics and Cosmetic Gynaecology and worked as an expert Obstetrician...View More

Author

Charu Shrivastava

Charu Shrivastava

BSc. Biotechnology I MDU and MSc in Medical Biochemistry (HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard)

2 Years Experience

Skilled in SEO and passionate about creating informative and engaging medical content. Her proofreading and content writing for medical websites is impressive. She creates informative and engaging content that educ...View More

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