Early cycle: causes and symptoms of early menstruation
The early cycle is one of the most common alterations of the menstrual cycle: it occurs every time the menstruation occurs with a flow closer than a regular menstrual cycle, before the minimum 24 days between one and the other. The causes of the early cycle can be different. Let's find out together everything there is to know, but first here's a video on foods against PMS:
Early cycle: when your period comes early
The early cycle, among the various alterations of the menstrual cycle, is characterized by a period between one menstrual flow and the other shorter than normal. Generally menstruation (if the menstrual cycle is regular) arrives every 28 days, but we talk about irregular cycle in advance in case the flow arrives before 24 days.
If menstruation occurs three days early, there is usually no need to worry, especially if the early period happens once and for all. whose causes it is necessary to investigate with your gynecologist, especially if there are other symptoms associated with the advance.
If the cycle occurs in advance for several subsequent months, we will speak of polymenorrhea (while an equally repeated delay in menstruation is called oligomenorrhea).
See also
What are the symptoms and causes of early periods?
Symptoms of early periods are actually no different from common PMS symptoms: headache, mood swings, abdominal cramps, fatigue, tightness in the breasts, nausea, muscle or back pain. If the early period, however, is caused by pathological changes, there may be other associated symptoms, such as the presence of a longer and more abundant flow.
The causes of early periods can be different and, in most cases, they are due to a "luteal insufficiency, or poor production of the hormone progesterone by the ovary." Some causes of this kind of irregular cycle do not have a pathological nature and should not worry too much: the early cycle - especially if it occurs once in a while and infrequently - may be due to a period of particular stress, seasonal changes or sudden changes in diet. also of the causes linked to the particular constitution of the woman who suffers from it, who generally has an irregular cycle.
Early menstruation, however, can also have pathological causes: it can be linked to dysfunctions of the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary, to alterations in the response of the endometrium to hormonal stimuli. The early cycle may also be related to the presence of anovulatory cycles, in which the corpus luteum is not formed, or to the presence of pathologies of the reproductive system (inflammation of the uterus, endometriosis and lesions of the endometrium, ovarian cysts or syndrome of the polycystic ovary, tumors of the uterus such as fibroids or polyps of the endometrium, ovarian tumors. In some cases, the early cycle can be linked to cardiac pathologies, which make the woman more predisposed to this kind of alteration.
Rather natural and common causes of the early cycle, then, are puberty itself (for which it is normal that hormonal upsets in the first year after menarche lead to this kind of irregular menstruation), as well as the approach of menopause: it happens it is common for women who have reached the end of their fertile age to have irregular periods before entering menopause.
Early menstruation: when to worry?
Early menstruation should only worry if it occurs continuously and not occasionally, especially if the menstrual flow - when it arrives - is regular in quantity and duration. If, on the other hand, the early cycle occurs frequently and associated with other symptoms such as a particularly abundant menstrual flow, then it will be better to immediately contact your gynecologist to investigate the causes and undertake the right therapy after obtaining a diagnosis.
Depending on the case, the doctor may request blood tests to check hormone levels, perform an ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries to check for cysts or polycystic ovary syndrome, or measure the thickness of the endometrium. cases may also require an MRI.
Early cycle and pregnancy: how to distinguish menstruation and implantation losses?
Implant losses that may or may not characterize the onset of pregnancy (they are, in fact, among the most common symptoms of pregnancy itself) could be confused with the arrival of menstruation, perhaps a few days earlier than the estimated date .
Implantation losses, also called "false menstruation" are easily confused with the actual menstrual cycle and it is important to learn to recognize them: implantation losses always have a darker color (close to brown) than the normal menstrual flow and not they are just as abundant. Furthermore, their duration is shorter and not continuous compared to the menstrual cycle.
Implantation losses are simple spotting due to the implantation of the egg inside the endometrium, which occurs approximately between 10 and 14 days after conception. These losses, consequently, could occur exactly on the days in which the period is expected, as well as a few days in advance. Will it be a false period or a pregnancy? Beyond the differences we have described, only the pregnancy test can give you the 100% correct answer!
