Why is My Menstrual Cycle Getting Longer?

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. While irregularities in your period usually aren't serious, sometimes they are caused by other health problems. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your cycle may be getting longer.

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 on the first day of your period. Your period happens 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 menstrual 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 is the first phase of your cycle. It starts on the first day of your period when your uterus shades its lining and you bleed. When there’s a pregnancy, the uterine wall doesn't shed but remains intact for the baby. 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. 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 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 of your cycle. 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. The cycle starts again.

Why is My Menstrual Cycle Longer?

It's normal to face changes in your menstrual cycle and this shouldn’t worry you. Nevertheless, any significant changes in your cycle can be a cause for concern, especially when accompanied by symptoms like heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods. This can affect your fertility and signal a deeper issue. 

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. 

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.

Hormone Imbalance

Hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and any imbalance can make the cycle longer. Imbalances happen when one hormone is too much or too little in the body. 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, NOVA IVF, can help with assisted fertility treatments and this starts with understanding your menstrual cycle.

Contraception

Birth control is used to prevent ovulation and fertilization. Contraceptives can affect how the uterine lining behaves, which can lead to reduced bleeding during periods, spotting in between periods, and longer spaces between periods.

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. 

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that affects many women. It occurs when the 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 cycle and cause it to be longer. 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition where fluid-filled cysts form in the ovaries, creating hormonal changes. In some women, ovulation never happens since the eggs may never mature. 

PCOS  can also result in menstruating stopping 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 the symptoms. 

Nonhormonal Medications

Some prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications can negatively impact your menstrual cycle. These include:

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

When to See a Doctor

Changes in a menstrual cycle can be normal. If your period starts a week early or late that doesn’t mean there could be a problem, especially if it’s not a monthly occurrence. 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

Your menstrual cycle says a lot about your health. A menstrual cycle is more than just a 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. Monitoring your menstrual cycles helps you understand what works for you and if a change requires a visit to the doctor’s office.