Irregular cycle timing
Irregular periods
Understand your changing cycle. Start with your cycle history, bleeding pattern and the changes you have noticed.
When people come in
- Cycles that vary from month to month
- Changes in flow or duration
- Difficulty tracking your cycle when trying to conceive
The Chinese medicine view
When timing swings early and late, Chinese medicine looks at the Liver’s role in keeping Qi moving and the Kidney’s role in storing. If either falters, the rhythm becomes harder to hold.
Common patterns
Liver Qi constraint
Worse under stress, breast tenderness, irritability
Kidney deficiency
Lower-back ache, night urination, variable flow
Spleen deficiency
Poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue
Patterns are identified by a practitioner through all four examinations. They are here to explain the thinking, not for self-diagnosis.
The medical view
Your age, contraception and life stage matter. Cycles may change around puberty, after birth or approaching menopause. Persistent abnormal bleeding, bleeding between periods or after sex needs medical assessment.
Seek prompt medical help for heavy bleeding with dizziness, breathlessness or weakness.
What the consultation covers
A consultation connects your cycle diary with stress, nutrition and medication. Gynaecological or hormonal assessment may be needed. TCM care is individualised, with follow-up focused on changes in symptoms and everyday wellbeing.
Therapies that may be discussed: Herbal medicine
What to bring
- Period and spotting dates
- Flow, pain and associated symptoms
- Contraception and medication details
Questions
Must every cycle be 28 days?
No. Your usual pattern and changes over time matter more than matching one number.
Do irregular periods mean I cannot conceive?
Not necessarily. Ovulation may be harder to predict, but fertility needs a broader assessment.
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