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Polymenorrhoea: Causes, frequency and treatment of a too short cycle

19 Jan, 2023

Polymenorrhoea: Causes, frequency and treatment of a too short cycle

Irregular menstrual cycles are common. For most women, periods do not come at exactly the same intervals. Smaller fluctuations are normal and can be triggered by stress, among other things. Apart from that, diseases can also be responsible for an irregular cycle.

A common cycle disorder that can affect both young and older women is called polymenorrhoea. What it is and how it is treated is explained below.

Polymenorrhoea - the most important facts at a glance

  • Many women have irregular menstrual cycles and do not always get their periods at the same intervals.
  • Polymenorrhoea is a cycle disorder where the time between two periods is less than 25 days.
  • Ovarian dysfunction is considered to be the main cause of polymenorrhoea.
  • Polymenorrhoea is most common shortly after the first period and before the menopause.
  • Treatment of polymenorrhoea can include taking hormones.
  • Frequent bleeding can lead to an iron deficiency, which should be checked by a doctor.
  • Weekiss period panties offer you comfortable protection in case of an irregular cycle.
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What is polymenorrhoea?

There are a number of different cycle disorders that can occur in women. In addition to fluctuations in the amount of bleeding, there can also be irregularities in the length of the cycle.

Menstrual Underwear Complete SetIn women affected by polymenorrhoea, the cycle is shortened. Polymenorrhoea is when the interval between two periods is less than 25 days.

The opposite of polymenorrhoea is called oligomenorrhoea, in which the menstrual cycle is prolonged and menstruation comes only every 35 days or even much less often.

Possible causes of polymenorrhoea

In most cases, polymenorrhoea is caused by a disorder in the function of the ovaries. Often the so-called corpus luteum phase is shortened. The luteal phase is the phase after ovulation until the onset of menstruation.

If it is shortened, this inevitably means that your cycle will be shorter overall and you will get your period earlier. In some cases, polymenorrhoea may also indicate that you did not ovulate during the cycle in question.

Another conceivable cause of polymenorrhoea is certain life circumstances, such as high mental or physical strain and excessive stress.

At what age does polymenorrhoea often occur?

Polymenorrhoea particularly often affects either young women after their first menstrual period or older women who are approaching the menopause. This is because of the changes in hormone balance that occur during these phases of life. Apart from this, polymenorrhoea can also develop after childbirth. 

period underwear ukDiagnosis of polymenorrhoea

If your menstrual cycle is too short and you are therefore affected by polymenorrhoea, you should contact your gynaecologist. She will take your medical history and examine you.

In addition to typical gynaecological examinations, she will probably also do an ultrasound scan. Blood tests are also likely to be on the schedule.

Your gynaecologist may also ask you to record your basal body temperature over a period of time. This will help to find out if and when you are ovulating and if your corpus luteum is dying prematurely.

Treatment of polymenorrhoea

How polymenorrhoea is treated depends on the exact cause. Apart from that, the choice of treatment options depends on whether you want to have children. If you are not planning to have children, taking hormones in the form of the pill can help normalise your menstrual cycle. Progestogens can counteract a shortened luteal phase and thus lengthen your cycle.  

If you cannot or do not want to take hormones to treat your polymenorrhoea, there are also herbal alternatives. One of these is monk's pepper, for example, which is very often recommended for menstrual disorders.

Polymenorrhoea due to stress

If your shortened menstrual cycle is caused by psychological strain or stress, treatment with medication is not usually necessary. Instead, you should concentrate on changing your lifestyle in order to counteract the stress and excessive strain in your everyday life.

You know best what this means in practice. Cutting back a little and scheduling regular times to relax is usually a good start, and it can have a positive effect on more than just your cycle.

Polymenorrhoea can lead to iron deficiency

A shortened cycle inevitably causes you to lose more blood than other women. This can cause an iron deficiency in some circumstances.

Iron is a vital mineral that is needed as part of your red blood cells to transport oxygen in the blood. An iron deficiency can therefore cause anaemia.

If you have polymenorrhoea, it may be a good idea to have your iron levels checked so that the deficiency can be counteracted if necessary.best period pants uk

Does polymenorrhoea have to be treated?

If polymenorrhoea doesn't cause you too many problems in your daily life, it's not usually necessary to have it treated. You can simply accept that your menstrual cycle will be a little shorter and that you will have more frequent periods.

However, this does not mean that you should not see a doctor. We recommend that you talk to your gynaecologist about any abnormalities in your menstrual cycle, including frequent menstrual bleeding. This way you can be sure that the symptoms are harmless or that there might be a serious cause.

Do you already know our menstrual underwear?

Menstrual irregularities like polymenorrhoea can be very stressful in everyday life. That's why it's important to use menstrual products that are as easy to use as possible. For example, try our practical and extremely comfortable period pants. The period underwear will protect you reliably and offer you first-class wearing comfort that is sure to delight you.

Get to know Weekiss period underwear.

Our conclusion on the subject of polymenorrhoea

As you can see, irregular menstrual cycles are very common among women. Maybe you too are affected by a cycle disorder, such as polymenorrhoea. In this case, you should contact your gynaecologist as soon as possible so that she can examine you and treat you if necessary.