A normal monthly menstruation usually occurs on 1st to 7th day in a 28 day cycle, yet not everyone receives a regular period every month. Many women are often surprised with an early period that can sometimes cause confusion.
Periods that arrive early or late may be due to hormonal imbalances, and should be checked out if this occurs on a regular basis.
While irregular periods are certainly inconvenient, they are fairly common among women and can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect normal bodily cycles of menstruation and ovulation.
Early menstrual periods can be the result of anything from lifestyle choices to hormonal imbalances. They may also be the result of a gynecologic health issue that needs to be addressed.
Here are some of the main reasons for getting your period earlier than anticipated:
1. Hormonal Imbalance
A shift in the balance of hormones is often the culprit of early period cycles. Using oral contraceptive such as birth control pills can cause the menstruation cycle to begin at an earlier time than usual, especially if you skip a pill or two, since the hormones produced by the body become disrupted by the artificial hormones in the pill.
Birth control pills are supposed to be taken on a daily basis at the same time each day. This allows your hormones to stay in a steady state and allow your periods to come on a regular basis.
If you skip a few pills or take your doses at varying times throughout the day, then you may have irregular periods. You may also experience effects of abnormal bleeding after you stop taking the pill.
Other forms of contraceptives, such as IUDs, can also cause an imbalance of hormones that can affect your period and change your ovulation cycle.
IUDs come in hormonal and non-hormonal forms. If you decide on an IUD that does release hormones, then you may initially have irregular periods until your body adjusts to the IUD.
Hormonal disorders, which can result from diseases such as endometriosis, can also be a reason for period irregularity and should be checked.
Signs and symptoms of endometriosis include nausea, vomiting with painful periods (dysmenorrhea), pain during bowel movements (dyschezia) or urination, excessive menstrual bleeding, rectal bleeding, pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) [1].
2. Psychological effects
Stress is a common factor in the case of irregular periods, and dealing with psychological anxieties can have an effect on the body’s normal functioning.
Dealing with extra stress and anxiety can trigger chemical/hormonal responses and disrupt the normal body systems that regulate ovulation and menstruation.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can decrease the production of estrogen and progesterone in the body resulting in abnormal ovulation, anovulation, or amenorrhea [2].
If you are feeling stressed out, then your body will produce more cortisol, which can disrupt your hormonal balance.
While stress and anxiety often cause late periods as well, it can disrupt the hypothalamus-pituitary axis (HPA) to make your period come earlier than expected.
With added stress, you may experience early or late periods, or a mixture of both if the stressor continues for months at a time.
3. Gynecologic conditions
Some gynecologic conditions can cause early menstruation, as well as bleeding in between periods.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition in which multiple cysts develop in ovaries leading to hormonal imbalance (higher levels of androgens and luteinizing hormone than FSH) in the body. Because of this reason, the follicles fail to mature causing anovulatory cycle and consequently irregular bleeding [3].
Endometriosis can also cause early periods as well as very painful menstrual bleeding.
4. Implantation bleeding
Sometimes, what you may think is your period coming early may not be your period at all. Many people mistake implantation bleeding for their period, and so the abnormal bleeding you are experiencing could be a sign of early pregnancy if you are sexually active.
Implantation bleeding happens when an embryo is implanted into the uterine cavity, causing some abnormal bleeding before your actual period begins.
If you are trying to get pregnant, or have had unprotected sex, then this spotting could point to pregnancy and not be an actual period.
5. Lifestyle choices
Factors related to your life, including diet and exercise, can have a great effect on the regularity of your period.
Excessive and strenuous exercise can disrupt your body’s menstrual system and result in an earlier period, or cause you to lose your period all together.
What you eat also has an effect on whether your period comes early or late, and how bad it is. Excessive weight gain and loss cause fluctuating hormone levels that can result in an early period.
Excessive weight gain can cause hormone levels to rise since adipocytes, or fat cells, can contribute to estrogen excess. If you have gained excessive weight very quickly, then you may experience period irregularities.
6. Menopause and puberty
Going through menopause causes the hormone levels to fluctuate within the body, which can result in irregular period cycles that can start as early as 10 years before menopause actually begins.
Since menopause results in the ceasing of the ovulation cycle in a woman, as a woman approaches menopausal age, their period may become more sporadic.
On the other hand, it is normal for teens to experience irregular periods as their body adjust to rise in female hormones after menarche, and so early periods are quite common during this time.
In order to better regulate your menstrual period, you can change up your lifestyle routine to get your cycle back on track.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding any dramatic weight changes can regulate your hormone levels and regulate your period.
Image: Pixabay
References
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1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167876017302696
3. https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-do-women-with-pcos-have-irregular-periods-2616650
At first, my cycle was normal. Every 28 days. Then about a year ago, it went down to every 20 days. But now, (April 2019) it’s getting worse. I started on April 13th. Then I ended on April 16th. And now, I started it again today on April 28th. That’s 12 days. My doctor is out of town. I am not sexually active at the moment. I am not stressed out. I am 43. What is going on?
Hi Shannon, You could be going through perimenopause, which while some women get periods that are more spaced out others tend to have them closer together. It’s great that you aren’t so stressed about it. I would recommend an appointment with your doctor when they come back so that you can see what it truly going on, they can check your hormone levels and possible figure out a plan to help you get though this inevitable time period a bit easier.
Hi, yesterday I saw spotting so I used a tampon but when I removed it there were only a few spots. My period isn’t due for another 2weeks… what could this be?
Hello Shay, this could be caused by a wide variety of reasons. Click here to read more about this.
Good Morning
Was after some advice please
I had a period January 08th was due to start my next period 05/02/2019 but started my period again this month 30/01/2019 which is around 10 days early
Is this something to worry about ?
Hi there Athena, based on what you have mentioned, there is nothing I am seeing that you need to worry about.
Helo I received my periods on 22nd this month yet I was supposed to experience them on 25th this month, what could be the cause? am confused
Hi Asasira, your period coming 3 days early isn’t anything to worry about. It happens. This is completely normal.
Hi, Good day here I finished my menstruation on July 11, and earlier this morning I’m seeing another menstrual which I’ve never experienced before… Please could have happened.. ?
Could it be that I’m pregnant?
I’m really confused please help me out
Hello Timmy, did you have unprotected sex at anytime? Take a pregnancy test to confirm pregnancy. In the meantime read the below link:
https://womanjunction.com/spotting-between-periods/
Hi. I just started my period 5 days early today July 19th Im suppose to come on July 24th. I’m so confused could this be implantation bleeding or my period.
Hi Jazz, could be either. however implantation bleeding is generally characterized by being lighter than your regular period, more like spotting. I would take a pregnancy test but wait until after the 24th if that is what you are experiencing.
Hi please I want to know if am pregnant, I have sex on Monday till Thursday morning when I started having my period on the same Thursday morning. And it was unprotected sex,and my period came out early as expected
Hi, generally getting your period means that you aren’t pregnant.
Am trying get pregnant for past 3 months from that time onward, my periods is coming a week earlier on April 6,then may 27, jun 21, july 16. I am really confused what to do…
Hi Priya, it sounds like you could have irregular cycles, which can make trying to get pregnancy more difficult because you don’t know when exactly you are ovulating. I would recommend trying ovulation tests to determine the best times to get pregnant. That might help you determine the best time to have sex in order to get pregnant.
My last period was in 8th June 2018 and it comes again in 24th June 2018 what is the reason
Hi I got my period on I guess 28th of may n it’s today 20th June again … I am 22 years old … Is it normal or not
Hi Shukrati, if you have a 28 day cycle then this is completely normal. You woulnd’t be anticipating your period until about the 25th. Or are you saying you just got your period? Even still that’s only roughly 5 days early which is completely normal.
Hi, I just got done with my period in the first week of june and now after almost only two weeks I’ve gotten it back. What could be the cause?
Hello Fatima, please get more information on this by clicking below:
https://womanjunction.com/top-reasons-for-getting-your-period-earlier-than-usual/
I am seeing my period the 3rd time I 10weeks which is quiet unusual. Please what could have triggered this sudden change.
Hi Tee, have you had any recent changes, weight gain, medication etc. If you haven’t had any of those and it continues I would recommend making an appointment with your doctor.
Hi all I am 15 years of age and my periods started 9 days earlier than expected I really don’t know what’s wrong with my cycle because last month when I had my menstruation,they started 3 days earlier
Hi Diana, when did you start your period, if you only recently started getting them then it could be your. Body still getting regulated.
Hi all, last month (April) I had a lighter period than normal, but still enough bleeding for me to assume it’s just stress related. This month (May) I got my period 8 days early, which is extremely unusual for my cycle. I am not on birth control but my husband and I never have unprotected sex as he is very careful and even pulls out (wearing a condom) and then checks the condom for any leaks. We haven’t had any scares. I am just wondering if anyone has any thoughts??
Hello Sarah, there is a high possibility that this is stress-related.
Hey , I had my periods earlier last month on 23april , I had sex on the fourth and the last day of my periods . On 13may I saw some blood spot on my tissue when I wiped , it never came back . I’m expecting my periods on 21-23 may , I have been having today cramps , could I be pregnant?
Hello Rachael, to find out if you might be pregnant then take a pregnancy test 7 days after a missed period.
Hi, I’m trying to get an early period since I’m going for a vacation. Is there any natural way of getting it?
Hello Lz, the best suggestion is to take birth control continually and after your vacation you can stop taking it for a breakthrough bleed and period to return.