Irregular Periods: Causes & How to Regulate

Is your cycle unpredictable? Learn what causes irregular periods and how Meto helps you restore hormonal balance.

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Overview

Is your period always late—or sometimes doesn't come at all? Maybe it arrives unexpectedly, lasts too long, or feels unusually heavy or light. Irregular menstrual cycles are common, but they're also a signal that your hormones may be out of sync.

Rather than guessing or trying to "track it better," it's worth understanding what might be happening beneath the surface—and how to restore hormonal balance.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles overview image

Why do people experience irregular menstrual cycles?

Your menstrual cycle is tightly linked to your body's hormone levels, especially estrogen, progesterone, and the signals from your brain that regulate ovulation. When those hormones are imbalanced, your cycle may become unpredictable.

One of the most common causes is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can disrupt ovulation and lead to irregular, missed, or prolonged periods. Other causes include thyroid disorders, elevated prolactin, extreme stress, insulin resistance, or significant weight changes (either gain or loss).

Hormonal contraception, menopause, and certain medications can also affect menstrual regularity. In some cases, underlying conditions like endometriosis or fibroids may also play a role.

When should you talk to a doctor about irregular periods?

It's time to speak with a clinician if:

  • Your cycle is consistently shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days
  • You frequently skip periods or haven't had one in 3 months or more
  • Your period suddenly becomes unusually heavy, painful, or light
  • You're trying to conceive and struggling with irregular ovulation
  • You've noticed new acne, hair growth, or weight changes alongside cycle changes

These signs suggest a possible hormonal or metabolic cause that deserves further evaluation—not just symptom tracking.

How Meto Can Help

At Meto, we take a hormone-first approach to irregular menstrual cycles. We start with comprehensive lab testing to evaluate possible causes—including PCOS, thyroid disorders, insulin resistance, elevated prolactin, or other hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation and cycle timing.

If testing reveals a condition like PCOS or hypothyroidism, your matched specialist will build a personalized treatment plan that may include hormone regulation, cycle tracking, or medications to support ovulation and hormonal balance.

Even if your labs appear normal, Meto's clinical team—including nutritionists and health coaches—can work with you to regulate your cycle naturally through targeted lifestyle changes and stress reduction strategies.

You can start with a virtual consultation to get clarity on your symptoms and receive expert guidance—without the wait.

Meto helps you go from irregular and uncertain to informed and in control.

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Online Assessment

Meet Your Provider

Treatment Plan

Ongoing Support

Your path to better health is simple

Irregular cycles shouldn't be ignored or brushed off. If your period feels out of sync, Meto helps you find the right care to understand why—and restore balance with confidence.

Online Assessment

Take our quick health quiz to help us understand your needs and goals.

Meet Your Provider

Have your first visit in days with a provider that's right for you – virtually or in-person.

Treatment Plan

Get a personalized plan that may include labs, medications, and nutrition therapy tailored to your unique needs.

Ongoing Support

Access continuous support from your care team, with regular check-ins to track progress and adjust your plan.

Online Assessment Step
Meet Your Provider Step
Treatment Plan Step
Ongoing Support Step
Online Assessment Step

Online Assessment

Take our quick health quiz to help us understand your needs and goals.

Meet Your Provider Step

Meet Your Provider

Have your first visit in days with a provider that's right for you – virtually or in-person.

Treatment Plan Step

Treatment Plan

Get a personalized plan that may include labs, medications, and nutrition therapy tailored to your unique needs.

Ongoing Support Step

Ongoing Support

Access continuous support from your care team, with regular check-ins to track progress and adjust your plan.

Patient Success Stories

Meto changes lives like yours

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"My periods were always unpredictable—sometimes skipping two months, sometimes back-to-back. Meto helped me connect with a specialist who diagnosed PCOS and built a plan that actually works. Now I know what to expect again."

Sade, 27

Sade, 27

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"I hadn't had a period in three months and felt constantly bloated and moody. The provider I found through Meto checked my thyroid—and that was the issue. With treatment, my cycle is finally back on track."

Jillian, 35

Jillian, 35

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"I thought irregular periods were just part of getting older, but it turned out I had insulin resistance affecting my hormones. Meto helped me find a specialist who explained everything and gave me a real solution."

Amina, 32

Amina, 32

Frequently Asked Questions

No, but PCOS is a common cause. Irregular cycles can also be linked to thyroid dysfunction, stress, weight changes, or elevated prolactin levels.