Are you 'irregular' or is you body talking to you?

I started researching periods and the hormones that shape our cycle as a way to better understand my own body. I wanted to learn how to support my health—not just treat symptoms. But the deeper I dug, the more I realised that the term ‘irregular periods’ didn’t bring me clarity. It brought me questions.

What does irregular actually mean? Why does it feel like a vague warning rather than something I can work with? And why, in a world where our bodies are full of intricate intelligence, are we still being handed language that feels so... empty?

What began as self-inquiry turned into a realization that the language we’re given to understand our bodies is often reductive, not empowering.

As people with uteruses  its incredibly rare not to hear the words ‘irregular’ when it comes to our bleed. Doctors, parents, friends, it’s a common term in the wonderful world of menstruation, but frankly, it’s lazy. This vague term gets tossed around like cheap advice on a Facebook mom group. But what does it actually mean?

By definition, an irregular period is one that either doesn’t come at the expected time or, with usual flow (thanks, Dr. Google). Your period is late? Irregular. Your period is early? Irregular. Your flow is light? Irregular. Your flow is heavy? Yep, you guessed it. Irregular. My periods used to be my idea of perfect. They were always on time, I never had any cramps and my flow was light. Then there was the pill. When I came off contraception, my periods had changed to a painful clotted mess, and its only since listening to my body have I realised what was going on.

Its not lost on me that this is still a medical term, used in clinical diagnosis, but should it be? When we’re told to look out for ‘irregular periods’ we’re being told to watch for ‘anything out of the ordinary’, and I mean… obviously. That is why we tend to go to the doctors in the first place. The term is a blanket and doesn’t actually tell you what you should be ‘looking out for’.

Oversimplifying a common symptom that uterus owners face, prevents us from being able to pinpoint the root cause. A light, spotty flow vs a chunky heavy flow are very different indicators to potential underlying health issues, so one umbrella term simply isn’t good enough in the medical field.

The term irregular also holds connotations that we see frequently when it comes to women’s bodies in a biological sense, “not normal”. Not only do we have to worry about our vulvas and nipples looking ‘normal’ but our periods too? I don’t think so. Its time ‘irregular’ periods get a new name.

The first step to more accurate language being used to diagnose is to understand the language that we already have. The female body has an amazing way of telling us when something is ‘off’, we get headaches, bloating, PMS. If we shift our view of ‘irregular’ periods away from malfunction and see it as a form of communication, we begin to unravel the cause beneath. Lets look at how we can use the body as a form of language to better understand our own needs.

The menstrual cycle is managed by four hormones,

today were going to look at the big two.

Progesterone is the lavender oil of hormones in the ways of being calming, mood stabilising and sleep improving. The hormone also prepares the body for pregnancy by stabilises and matures the uterine lining. Your period begins when your Progesterone levels drop and the lining begins to shed. Amongst other symptoms, when Progesterone levels are low, periods can be heavier than usual. This is because as the body prepares the uterus for fertilisation, there is little Progesterone to stabilise the lining resulting in a heavier flow or spotting between periods. When Progesterone levels are high, the uterine lining is thin and can result in lighter or infrequent bleeds.

Oestrogen is the morning coffee of hormones - while Progesterone relaxes the body, Oestrogen fires things up. Boosted mood, sensuality, brain function and most importantly, it kick-starts ovulation by triggering the release of an egg.When Oestrogen runs low, your periods might become lighter or less regular. When it's riding high, you could experience longer, heavier flows.

By using the body’s own intellect, we better understand why it is so important to not generalise such a complex system. You can do this by tracking your menstrual cycle. One heavy period might not seem like a big issue, but when patterns start to emerge this is where the bodies communication comes into play. One missed period could be a sign of stress, or perhaps your hormones could do with a little attention.

Apps like Flo and Clove are great allies to tracking your period, or you can dedicate a journal to monitoring your cycle. Mood, energy levels, discharge colour and texture, creativity, and physical changes are all things that can map out an internal insight as to what your body needs. Whether its adding more protein to your food or speaking to a doctor clearly about your concerns, your body is advocating for itself and its time we listen.

You deserve better than vague terms and shrugged-off symptoms.

What are some ways your body is talking to you?