Why is My Menstrual Cycle Getting Longer?

Typically, menstrual cycles vary from one person to another, and sometimes an individual can experience some variances in the natural rhythm of their menstrual cycle. This is a normal occurrence and is usually not a cause for concern. However, when there are significant changes to a menstrual cycle which cause other symptoms, it is indicative of other factors affecting a person. 

Some factors such as stress and dietary changes are easier to manage. Some factors such as medical conditions or hormonal disorders may require medical intervention, as well, if these disruptions cause prolonged symptoms. In this article we shall be addressing the issue of prolonged periods, discussing the potential causes, and point out when to seek medical help.

How Long Does a Menstrual Cycle Last?

In order to establish a baseline of understanding, it is important to define what menstrual cycle is. Medically, a menstrual cycle is calculated beginning on the first day of one’s period and ending the day before the next period begins. For most people who have a period, this duration ranges between 24 and 38 days. The menstrual cycle itself is broken down into four main stages, beginning with the actual period:

Menstruation

This is another word used to refer to the actual period. Menstruation is said to be happening when the thickened uterine lining is shed. This lining is shed because a pregnancy has not occurred. If a pregnancy had occurred, there would be no period.  Typically, a period lasts between three and seven days, but some people may have a shorter or even a longer period. 

The Follicular Phase 

After a period is complete, the follicular phase begins. Several things happen in the uterus during this phase. Several fluid-filled sacs, called antral follicles, containing eggs are released by the ovary and begin to grow on the outside of the ovary. This in turn triggers the uterus to begin regrowing the uterine lining in preparation for a potential pregnancy. This phase typically lasts for about two weeks.

Ovulation

When one of the eggs in the antral follicles reaches full maturity, the follicle ruptures, releasing the egg within. This is called ovulation, and lasts about a day or two. During this phase, pregnancy can occur. The rest of the follicles that do not mature are reabsorbed into the body.

The Luteal Phase

Once the egg is released, it has to make its way into the uterus through the fallopian tube. This is what is known as the luteal phase. The uterus at this time releases hormones in preparation to host a pregnancy as a pregnancy can still occur during this phase. The hormones released in the uterus at this time not only increase, but they remain in an elevated state for a duration of about two weeks. After this point, if pregnancy has still not occurred, these hormone levels begin to decrease gradually. As a result, the uterine lining can no longer be sustained and it begins to shed, thus beginning the next period.

How Does Age Affect Your Menstrual Cycle?

Menstrual cycles are typically governed by a person’s hormones. Consequently, as a person becomes older, and the hormone production in the body changes, the menstrual cycle is affected. Variances in menstrual cycles have been observed as follows: the menstrual cycle length of people who are 20 years old or below usually averages 30.3 days; the cycle length of those who are between 35 and 39 years old average 28.7 days; those who are in their 40 have an almost exact 28 days; and those who are over 50 years old average the highest number of days, at nearly 31 days.

In addition, the length of each cycle has slight variances, which first show a general average decrease, and then at a point, this average turns around and begins to increase. People who are in their 20s tend to have an average variance of 5.3 days between cycles; people in their 30s have an average variance of 3.8 days between cycles. By the time a person gets to their 40s and 50s this average begins to increase such that in a person’s 50s, the average variance is at 11.2 days between cycles.

What Causes Your Menstrual Cycle to Change?

There are many factors that impact the changes one experiences in their cycle. From hormonal factors, to factors having to do with medical conditions and lifestyle choices. Below are some of the main ones:

Diet

One often ignored factor that immediately impacts a menstrual cycle is a person’s diet. Many people do not consider the impact of their diet on their menstrual cycle, perhaps because the larger conversation around diet has to do with weight loss or weight gain. If one’s diet does not take into consideration the proper nutritional content required for healthy hormone production, then they are likely to have an irregular or unhealthy cycle. An example would be the excessive consumption of junk food which has been found to affect menstrual cycles negatively despite a person’s weight falls under a healthy range. 

Stress

When a person experiences stress, there are compounds that are produced in the brain that have a negative impact on healthy hormone production. When the production of healthy hormones is suppressed, a person’s cycles will be disrupted. A study on the same found that  high levels of stress affect the regularity of menstrual cycles both in the short as well as the long. However the duration of the periods or the flow itself remained mostly unaffected. 

Birth Control

Birth control methods are designed to suppress the production of estrogen and progestin, in order to prevent ovulation and the likelihood of pregnancy occurring. Consequently, birth control methods could cause a person to bleed less, spotting between periods, or a longer cycle.

Hormone Imbalance

A person’s hormone production can become affected by medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid conditions, diabetes, Cuchings’ Syndrome and amenorrhea. Such conditions would cause a person’s menstrual cycle to not only have irregularities, but also require medical intervention.

Naturally, the production of hormones over a person’s menstrual cycle varies depending on the phase of their menstrual cycle. This is however not considered hormonal imbalance because minor irregularities in a cycle are normal, and can cause a person to have a period for more days or have a longer cycle. Hormonal imbalance, particularly when caused by medical conditions, tends to present additional symptoms.

Perimenopause

As a person becomes older, their ovarian reserve continues to be diminished even as the production of estrogen declines. This causes a person to ovulate less consistently, and when ovulation declines there are more overt irregularities in a person’s menstrual cycle. Over time, this causes a person to move from having a regular cycle to having no period at all. The transition from having a period to no period at all is called perimenopause and it can take several months to several years. When a person stops having their period, this phase in their life is called menopause. 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

About 8 to 13 percent of women in their reproductive years have polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS in short. When a person has PCOS, their ovaries develop many tiny cysts instead of the normal healthy follicles. If they are not properly treated in good time, these cysts tend to prevent a person from ovulating normally. Consequently, a person can develop some health conditions that make a person experience a dramatic decline in the frequency of their periods.

When to See a Doctor

Minor inconsistent fluctuations in a period can easily be ignored, but periods that present in any of the following ways require medical attention. So if you have:

• A cycle that is shorter than 24 days consistently.
• A period lasting more than 7 days consistently.
• Severe pain accompanying your period consistently
• Periods that occur more than two months apart, regularly
• Regular spotting between periods
• Either heavy or excessive bleeding requiring a fresh pad or tampon every hour

In Conclusion

Whereas small fluctuations in a person’s menstrual cycle are typical of menstruation in general, there are some variations that ought to raise concern. For example if the variances you experience fall outside the range for your age bracket, if you have very inconsistent cycle lengths, or if your periods are generally unusual, it could be indicative of underlying issues. 

The good news is that with medical intervention and lifestyle changes, an irregular cycle could be restored back to health. If you have further concerns regarding your menstrual cycle or are looking for treatment for it, contact Los Angeles Reproductive Center at any of our locations countrywide. Our compassionate team of professionals is available to support you with personalized care.