The picture illustrates a cross section of a woman's pelvis. Menstruation is a shedding of the lining of the womb (B) through the vagina (A).

What causes irregular or infrequent periods?
Periods are often light or widely spaced both when a young woman startshaving periods and when a woman is nearing the menopause. This is normal because the woman is not producing an egg every month.

Many women experience widely spaced periods typically having one or two periods every six months. It is very unlikely that there is a serious underlying cause but women often seek an explanation and reassurance from their GP or gynaecologist.

The commonest cause of infrequent periods is a condition called polycystic ovaries. This is a common condition affecting as many as 10 per cent of women.

There are a large number of very small (less than 1cm) cysts on the ovaries and these are in association with a hormone imbalance. The result of this is that women do not ovulate regularly and so their periods are usually infrequent.

The diagnosis of polycystic ovaries is made on the basis of one or more blood tests to measure hormone levels often in conjunction with a pelvic ultrasound scan of the ovaries.

Treatment is only necessary if the woman is concerned about the irregularity of her periods or if she is having difficulty becoming pregnant.

BACK

How to give up smoking

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use