Is the menstrual cycle irregular after giving birth a cause for concern?

The article is known by BSCK II Tran Thi Mai Huong - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Postpartum menstrual cycles can vary in terms of the number of days of menstruation, the amount of menstrual bleeding, or the interval between cycles compared to pre-pregnancy. Is your menstrual cycle normal after giving birth? Let's find out in the article below with Specialist II Tran Thi Mai Huong, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital!

The time to return after giving birth depends on many different factors such as: breastfeeding, hormone levels, health and nutrition after giving birth. Among them, breastfeeding status is the biggest factor affecting the return of menstruation.
Prolactin - the hormone responsible for the production of breast milk is responsible for preventing ovulation. If you don't breastfeed, your period should return 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. But if you're exclusively breastfeeding, the time it takes for your period to return can vary. You may not have a period for 6 months after giving birth or even longer. In some cases, postpartum menstruation occurs only when the mother stops breastfeeding.

Your postpartum menstrual cycle may experience changes compared to before. You may experience longer or shorter periods, your period may be heavier or lighter, and even your cycle length may be different. In addition, postpartum women also face menstrual pain. This is because the uterus grows during pregnancy to accommodate the fetus, then shrinks after the baby is born (although it may still be slightly larger than normal). At this point, the endometrial lining that is shed after birth needs to repair itself after the change. This process happens with each pregnancy differently, so you may notice changes in your menstrual cycle after each birth.
It takes a while for the hormones in a woman's body to return to normal after giving birth, especially if you are breastfeeding. The postpartum menstrual cycle may be 24 days, the next cycle may be 28 days, and then another may be 35 days. Your menstrual cycle should stabilize within a few months or after you stop breastfeeding.
Therefore, irregular periods after giving birth can be normal and you should not be too worried in this case.

Your first period after giving birth may be heavier and last longer than your pre-pregnancy periods. It can also be accompanied by more severe menstrual cramps, as the increased amount of uterine lining during pregnancy needs to be removed. As subsequent cycles emerge, these changes will likely decrease.
Other causes of post-partum menstrual bleeding include:
Polyps and submucosal fibroids. Endometrial infection, residual placenta. Adenomyosis: This is the thickening of the uterine muscles after pregnancy. Your doctor can control this thickening of the uterus with minimally invasive surgery or hormone therapy. Thyroid disorders: an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. In case you have heavy menstrual bleeding and need to change your tampon every hour, go to the nearest reputable medical facility for help because you may be bleeding.

Irregular menstrual periods after giving birth can be a sign that you have an infection, fibroids or polyps. Contact your doctor for prompt diagnosis and treatment if you experience any of the following:
Your postpartum period lasts more than seven days or contains a large blood clot. Menstruation has started again but then disappears again after a long period of time. Spotting vaginal bleeding between periods Or if you don't have a period three months after giving birth or three months after you stop breastfeeding.

When you see signs such as: Postpartum menstrual cycle lasts more than seven days or contains large blood clots, .. should contact a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment
At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Hospital Vinmec International General Hospital with a team of experienced obstetricians and gynecologists is a prestigious address for you to examine and dispel worries about abnormal postpartum menstrual conditions in particular, as well as gynecological problems in general. shared. For comprehensive health care and advice, you can refer to the basic gynecological screening package.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit and book an appointment through the website to be served.