Dealing with irregular periods (Oligomenorrhea)

So, we’re looking at an irregular menstrual rhythm here, but specifically regarding oligomenorrhea—which essentially refers to what we call a prolonged cycle. To put it simply, periods are generally present, but they seem to be consistently late. They stretch beyond the standard 28 or 30 days, usually landing somewhere north of 34 or 35 days. In most cases, this typically stems from an extended follicular phase.

If we assume a normal cycle threshold is a maximum of 35 days—supposing a woman's cycle is consistently longer than that, or if she experiences, say, fewer than nine (the milder version) or six periods annually—then it is quite likely oligomenorrhea.

There are two types: primary oligomenorrhea and secondary oligomenorrhea.

Primary oligomenorrhea would involve prolonged cycles dating all the way back to your very first period; in other words, it has always been this way.

Secondary oligomenorrhea, as the name implies, refers to cycles that have become prolonged only later on—meaning they developed after an initial period of regular cycles. And, interestingly enough, this second type is significantly more common—accounting for about 70% of these disruptions.

What causes it?
Well, much like many other cycle irregularities:

- excessive stress levels
- elevated levels of male sex hormones (androgens)
- increased prolactin levels
- thyroid issues
- dysfunction in the ovaries or adrenal glands.
- the presence of a pituitary tumor…

It’s all interconnected, really, and many people might probably guess the connection—there is a massive link to PCOS.
In fact, over 80 percent of those dealing with oligomenorrhea also have PCOS, whether it manifests in a mild, moderate, or more pronounced form.

Anyway, if you are currently facing these issues, or perhaps have dealt with them in the past, it would be helpful to hear about your experiences and what kind of diagnostic testing you’ve undergone. Did your doctors ever actually bring up this specific term, and have you noticed just how much stress and lifestyle factors can influence all of this?

Report.😁
My main diagnosis is oligomenorrhea.

I got my first period when I was 10 (specifically 10 years, 10 months, and 10 days 🤣), and looking back over my 15 years of "experience," I don't think I've ever had a cycle shorter than 35 days.🤔 My longest one in the last 6 or 7 years? Probably around 60 to 70 days.
When I was younger, everyone assumed it was just because I was growing or being super active in sports, but nothing changed even after I finished growing.
I've had several doctors bring up oligomenorrhea. My surgeon at Mayo Clinic—who actually operated on me twice—told me not to sweat it. He basically said this is just how I'm wired, that my ovaries are just a bit lazy 🤣, and compared it to how some women have a 28-day cycle while mine averages out to 40 or 50.

Back in the day, ultrasounds showed a polycystic or microcystic ovary once or twice, along with hormonal imbalances (high androgen, low progesterone, inverted FSH-LH ratio, high prolactin), but my hormones have been totally normal for the last two or three years.
I also ended up losing almost an entire ovary due to a cystadenoma, but strangely enough, my cycles didn't get any longer because of it.🤷

Otherwise, I’ve been on Diane since 2002 to regulate my cycle. My doctor says it’s better to use it so we aren't "wasting eggs" unnecessarily 🤣 since I'll need them later for pregnancy. I take breaks from it once a year or around surgeries. During those breaks, I check my liver enzymes and hormone levels. My liver tests always come back clean.

He also told me not to stress about getting pregnant down the road. To quote him: "Be happy that you're actually ovulating naturally; plenty of women don't even have that. So what if it happens every 40 to 60 days? You'll just have to have sex a little more often, and that's that."😁

Standard testing I've done includes the usual stuff (pelvic exam, Pap smear, color Doppler ultrasound), cervical swabs, basal hormone levels, and progesterone. I've also checked my thyroid several times, and it's always fine.
Right now, I'm taking a break from Diane to deal with a Candida infection, but I am using Duphaston to keep my cycle regulated.

Looking forward to hearing about your experiences.😉

P.S. I might have had polycystic ovaries on an ultrasound once or twice, but I don't have PCOS (the syndrome). My ultrasounds have been clear for the last few years, so there's nothing PCO(S) about it.
It's just plain old oligomenorrhea.

So, I actually dealt with secondary oligomenorrhea myself, though my experience was a bit different from yours. 🙂
For the first few years, my cycles were practically as predictable as a Swiss watch—until they started stretching out.
On average, I’d be looking at somewhere between 34 and 39 days, though it always fell within that window. Occasionally, I’d get lucky and it would show up on day 30.
Throughout that entire stretch, all my ultrasounds came back perfectly normal—meaning absolutely no adhesions or those clusters of follicles on the ovaries.

However, late last year and moving into early this year, things shifted—I started seeing acne, specifically on my forehead, followed by a massive breakout along my jawline and neck.
My forehead became oily, which was a total departure from my skin type; I’ve honestly never had acne in my life.
I knew intuitively that something wasn't right, and it turned out to be PCOS.
At that point, the ultrasound showed ovaries that looked distinctly polycystic.
All my hormone levels were technically within the "normal" range, except for my LH, which was elevated—which meant my FSH to LH ratio was essentially trashed.
Since my blood work suggested I wasn't exactly the ideal candidate for birth control pills, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I started eating much cleaner, tried to manage my stress levels (and believe me, that has been—and still is—a massive hurdle 😠), started exercising, and cut out a huge amount of sugar—even though I spent days crying like a toddler over chocolate and everything else I missed.
My next ultrasound showed ovaries that looked slightly polycystic, though one was almost clear while the other was a bit more pronounced.
I kept up with the lifestyle changes, and by my most recent ultrasound, they were as clear as a bell.
This month, however, I was a little less than disciplined—I did quit smoking, but I ended up putting on a few pounds and indulged in far too many treats. Naturally, after being so consistent, a few breakouts surfaced and my cycle drifted again, just when I thought I had everything under control. That's the reality of self-discipline, I suppose. Plus, there was quite a bit of stress involved 😛.

Ultimately, my doctor told me the exact same thing he told you—that I shouldn't worry about fertility prospects because I am indeed ovulating; it was clearly visible on the last scan (and I’ve been tracking it successfully for about six months now). He basically said my ovaries are just being a little "lazy," and I should simply maintain this healthy routine.

But if I'm being honest, the hardest part for me was that during that whole period of irregular cycles, none of the three different gynecologists I saw ever mentioned a thing—except for one single doctor, to whom I am eternally grateful!