Why is My Menstrual Cycle Getting Longer?

A woman’s menstrual cycle is more than just her period. It contains a series of changes a woman’s body goes through each month. No two cycles are the same and if you’ve been keeping track of your cycle for some time, you can easily spot when something changes. 

In some cases, a woman’s menstrual cycle can abruptly change and get longer or shorter. This can be due to several reasons. Today, we will look at what can prolong your menstrual cycle. 

Key Takeaways

• The average menstrual cycle lasts between 25 and 31 days
• Variations in your cycle from time to time are quite normal
• Changes in diet and exercise can cause changes in your cycle
• Major changes in your menstrual cycle can signal issues

Understanding The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle starts when you get your period, or when you shed the lining of your uterus. Most assigned females at birth begin their menstrual cycle at the average age of 12, but some start earlier or much later. 

Your cycle includes all the changes your body goes through every month. The average cycle lasts between 24 and 38 days and has four phases:

1. Menstruation: This marks the beginning of your cycle and starts on the first day of your period when your uterus shades its lining and you bleed. This only happens when a pregnancy hasn’t occurred. A period can last anywhere between 3 to 7 days. 
2. The follicular phase: This is the second stage and it starts when your period ends and it can last 10 to 14 days. In this stage, changing hormone levels causes the lining of your uterus to thicken and follicles to grow on the surface of the ovaries. 
3. Ovulation: This phase occurs when the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels increase, causing the mature antral follicle that matured in the follicular phase to rupture releasing the egg inside.  This usually happens on day 14 of your menstrual cycle. 
4. The luteal phase: This is the final phase and it starts when ovulation ends (day 15) and continues till your next period. During this phase, progesterone rises to prepare your uterus for pregnancy. The egg leaves the ovary and travels through the fallopian tube to your uterus for fertilization and conception. If there’s no conception, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and the lining of your uterus sheds signaling the start of your period again.

What’s Making Your Menstrual Cycle Longer?

Changes in your menstrual cycle should not cause alarm as they are usually normal. Nevertheless, any significant changes can affect your fertility and dictate a deeper issue. Let’s look at factors that can influence your menstrual cycle and make it longer. 

Stress

Stress in life is inevitable, but we choose how to react to that stress. Research shows that excessive stress can affect your menstrual cycle making it irregular. High levels of stress affect the production of certain compounds in the brain that suppress hormone production, disrupting an otherwise consistent cycle.

Diet

A 2022 study found that excessive consumption of junk food can negatively impact the menstrual cycles of women, regardless of their weight at the time of the study. A healthy diet provides the necessary nutrients needed to better regulate the body. 

Hormone Imbalance

The menstrual cycle is largely hormonal and imbalances happen when one hormone is too much or too little in the body. When menstrual cycle hormones decrease or increase, your cycle can be affected. Some thyroid conditions, diabetes, and Cushing’s Syndrome can all also potentially disrupt an otherwise consistent menstrual cycle.

For women struggling with hormone-based fertility struggles, Dallas IVF can help with assisted fertility treatments and this starts with understanding your menstrual cycle.

Age

Women under 20 typically have an average menstrual cycle length of 30.3 days compared to women between the ages of 35 and 39 who have around 28.7 days. Women in their 40s also average 28 days, while women over 50 tend to have a longer cycle of nearly 31 days. 

Birth Control

Birth control is used to prevent ovulation and fertilization. It can limit the body’s ability to produce progestin and estrogen. Oral contraceptives can also affect how the uterine lining behaves, which can lead to reduced bleeding during periods, spotting in between periods, and longer spaces between periods.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition where fluid-filled cysts form in the ovaries, creating hormonal changes. Because of this, your eggs may never mature, resulting in irregular ovulation. Someone with PCOS  can also stop menstruating altogether. The imbalance of hormones, particularly androgens, which are male sex hormones can lead to longer or irregular periods and may require medical treatment to alleviate symptoms. 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis happens when endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, on the ovaries, and fallopian tubes, and even spreads to other organs of the body. Endometriosis can affect your period and cause it to be longer than 7 days. 

Nonhormonal medications

There are some prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications that can negatively impact your menstrual cycle. These include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen
• Steroids like prednisolone and prednisone
• Antiseizure medication
• Antidepressants like sertraline, bupropion, or fluoxetine
• Weight loss and diet drugs
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Anticoagulants like warfarin or rivaroxaban

When to See a Doctor

As already mentioned, fluctuations in a menstrual cycle can be normal. A period that starts a week early or late doesn’t indicate a problem, particularly if it doesn’t happen often. Nevertheless, some symptoms may mean it’s time to see a doctor. Such symptoms include:

• If your period is now longer than 7 days
• If your period has become heavier than normal
• If you start regularly spotting between periods
• If your period is accompanied by severe pain
• If you start to miss your periods or they are far apart in between

Finally

Many women keep track of their menstrual cycle because it affects many areas of their lives. Some women have an around-the-clock menstrual cycle, knowing when they have their period or ovulate. Other women, on the other hand, might find themselves approximating their cycle. You can probably tell when your cycle changes no matter which side you fall on. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your cycle may be getting longer.