Why do you have short menstrual cycles and what to do?

For centuries, the female menstrual cycle has been considered aligned with the lunar cycle: 28 days of cycle. However, many of us do not adhere to this ideal. If the average length of the menstrual cycle is between 24 and 34 days, many menstruating people find their menstrual cycles are shorter or longer than usual . Do you have 22-day cycles , 21-day cycles or even 17-day cycles ? Is it normal for them to be so short? What are the health consequences? In this article, we tell you everything about short menstrual cycles !

What is a short menstrual cycle?

A short menstrual cycle is a menstrual cycle that lasts less than 24 days . Polymenorrhea is a cycle that lasts less than 21 days.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no healthy or normal length for a menstrual cycle . A majority of women have a menstrual cycle between 24 and 32 days, with an average of 28 days. But sometimes cycles can have very different lengths, which can be much shorter or much longer. So if you are wondering  How long is a menstrual cycle ? There are several possible answers.

The menstrual cycle is a natural process that occurs every month in menstruating people. It is divided into four phases. In a short 21-day menstrual cycle , the duration of the phases is roughly as follows:

• 6 days for the follicular phase: the menstrual phase (period) begins at the same time as the follicular phase. Just because the menstrual cycle is short does not necessarily mean the period is;
• 1 day for ovulation
• 14 days for the luteal phase: this last phase cannot be compressed, regardless of the length of your menstrual cycle, it lasts 14 days.

⚡The length of the menstrual cycle is not, in itself, synonymous with poor health or infertility. Many menstruating people have short cycles without it being a problem for them! Some (although rarer) have periods every 15 days ! Beyond the length of your menstrual cycle, it is interesting and important to be interested in sudden variations in it. The disruption of your menstrual cycle is a subject to follow in particular.

Causes of Short Menstrual Cycles

There are several possible causes for a short menstrual cycle . As you can see, they can be completely benign (such as related to genetics or age) or more serious and require a gynecological consultation. Generally speaking, if your menstrual cycle is less than 21 days or if you notice a sudden change that shortens it, we recommend that you consult a healthcare professional .

Natural causes of a short cycle

There are several causes that can explain a short menstrual cycle . This is due to genetics, but also to the different periods in a woman's life.

Heredity

Heredity and genetics play a big role in the menstrual cycle. If your mother (or your aunts, grandmothers, and/or sisters) had very short cycles, it's not unreasonable that you too will have short cycles. If you're comfortable with these issues in your family, don't hesitate to talk about it; you might be surprised to discover similarities in your PMS symptoms and the length of your menstrual cycles.

Age

Whether it's during puberty, just after pregnancy, or even before menopause, the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle are disrupted. The cycles surrounding these periods can therefore be very short without being synonymous with poor health or infertility.

Hormonal imbalances

Hormonal imbalances , such as high levels of estrogen and progesterone, can lead to shorter menstrual cycles. These can be caused by a variety of factors.

Stress

In stressful situations, the body generates different hormones to protect itself and better respond to the dangers it faces. This results in the production of various hormones which inevitably influences the sex hormones at the origin of the precise organization of menstrual cycles . Bereavement, moving, breakup, new encounter: if your cycles are shortened during these periods of life, it may be totally normal! Finding a serene daily life at these times can be difficult, if this is your case, help yourself with a few helping hands: relaxing CBD oils from the super brand Equilibre, mood & happy cycles infusion from Miyé, comforting balm or directly our anti-stress routine which accompanies you throughout complicated days .

PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder. It is quite common among menstruating women of reproductive age: 1 in 10 women suffer from it, with very different symptoms.

It is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries and can have other consequences such as very short cycles and hormonal imbalances leading to acne, increased hair growth (hirsutism) and hair loss.

If you are affected by these symptoms and PCOS, do not hesitate to take a look at our collection of products adapted to PCOS. You will find, among others, Ovastart for the natural regulation of hormonal imbalance, Serenity Booster for emotional disorders or Balance your sugars against cravings.

All our natural solutions to better manage your PMS can be found here.

Hyperprolactinemia

Prolactin is a hormone whose role is to stimulate the mammary glands to allow breastfeeding following pregnancy. Its particularity is to slow down the menstrual cycle in order to naturally prevent the new breastfeeding mother from becoming pregnant too quickly. However, if it is produced in excessive quantities by the body outside of breastfeeding, it can cause cycle disruption and lead to shorter menstrual cycles than usual .

Thyroid disorder

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck that produces hormones essential for regulating metabolism, growth, and development. It also influences sex hormones. Thyroid dysfunction can lead to very short menstrual cycles .

Other health issues

Aside from hormonal imbalances, other health issues can cause shortened menstrual cycles.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease that affects approximately 10% of women. It is characterized by a dysfunction of the endometrium, also called the uterine lining. Due to endometriosis, the latter does not develop only in the uterus, during the luteal phase, but is exported outside the uterus to clump together in the surrounding organs, causing lesions. In addition to significant menstrual pain, endometriosis causes menstrual cycle abnormalities, which are often illustrated by short cycles or bleeding between periods.

Discover all our natural solutions for endometriosis.

Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow on the uterus and female genitals. They can be painful to the touch and, depending on their location, can affect your menstrual cycle by making it longer or shorter. Surgery is required to remove them.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two sexually transmitted diseases that shorten menstrual cycles. They can also cause unusual bleeding between periods.

Why are my menstrual cycles getting shorter and shorter?

An increasingly shorter menstrual cycle may be due to a shortening of the follicular (preovulatory) phase or a shortening of the luteal (postovulatory) phase.

Shortening of the follicular period

In the menstrual cycle, the follicular phase is the phase during which the egg matures in the ovaries before being released (this is ovulation). In an average 28-day cycle, this phase generally lasts 14 days. In a short 21-day cycle, the follicular phase lasts only 6 days .

If the cycle is accompanied by ovulation , a shortening of the follicular phase may be natural and does not require treatment. In this case, you can calculate your fertile window by subtracting 14 days, the length of the luteal phase, from the number of days in your cycle. For a 22-day cycle, you will ovulate 8 days after the onset of your period: 22 days (cycle length) – 14 days (luteal phase length) = 8 days.

A more significant shortening of the follicular phase (if your cycle is less than 21 days) can, however, be a sign of a health problem or a lack of ovulation . The latter is the most common cause of female infertility and requires a medical consultation – especially if you are planning to have children. Your gynecologist will prescribe additional tests. The causes can be diverse and multiple (PCOS, endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, etc.). If no medical problem is detected, the ovulation disorder can be treated by administering hormones.

Shortening of the post-ovulatory period

In the menstrual cycle, the post-ovulatory phase, also called the luteal phase, is the phase during which the body prepares to receive the fertilized egg for pregnancy. Whether your cycle is long or short, the luteal phase lasts 14 days. It is not meant to be shorter, even if your cycle is only 21 days long.

Also, a shortened luteal phase shows that the body is not in the best condition to accommodate a pregnancy and thus reflects a defect in the production of progesterone by the ovary. Moreover, the implantation of the fertilized egg takes place between the sixth and tenth day following fertilization, a luteal phase that is too short can cause it to fail: the egg does not have time to migrate to the uterus and implant itself on the uterine wall before the arrival of a new cycle. In other words, if you are planning to have a child, you should consult a gynecologist. If no medical problem is detected, the progesterone deficiency can be treated by administering hormones.

How do you know which period is shortened in a short cycle?

Is it your follicular period that is shortened or your luteal period in your short menstrual cycle? To find out, there are two solutions:

1. Track your ovulation signs: Every woman is different, but some may experience a slight pinch (like a mini menstrual cramp) around the time of ovulation. Additionally, you can observe your vaginal discharge, which changes in appearance during ovulation (it becomes more slippery and translucent to help sperm travel to the egg). You can use a menstrual cycle tracking app to record the signs and your ovulation .
2. Track your basal body temperature : If you find it difficult to track your ovulation, you can also measure your temperature during ovulation . During ovulation, your body temperature rises by a few degrees, allowing you to detect it. This method will also help you determine whether your cycles are ovulatory or anovulatory. You will need a basal thermometer to track this.

To better understand the specifics of your cycle, the Magic Ovaries menstrual diary is a valuable tool. This optimized notebook allows you to record your basal temperature, symptoms, and cervical mucus daily, making it easier to accurately identify your ovulation period and the length of your follicular and luteal phases.

Whatever your situation, if your cycles seem short and you're concerned, you can talk to your healthcare provider. They will conduct additional tests if necessary and, if you're planning to have a baby, they can suggest solutions to give you a better chance of achieving your goal.

Also read: Everything you need to know about ovulation >

Let's lift the veil on the myths surrounding short cycles

What if we started by reassuring you? Short cycles (like long menstrual cycles ) are surrounded by myths and beliefs that we feel are important to debunk. The goal? To reassure you and help you better understand your body!

Myth #1: Short cycles are abnormal

No, short cycles are not abnormal.

While the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, it's important to remember that this is... an average. Some women report cycles lasting 17 to 39 days without it being a health or fertility issue!

Generally, we recommend that you consult if your cycles are:

• Less than 21 days: below this duration, if you have cycles of 20 days, or even 17 days , we speak of polymenorrhea and this can be an indicator of a health problem.
• Disabling: Very short cycles, combined with very long periods (these two factors are not related), can be disabling. You can artificially lengthen your cycles by using hormonal contraception, for example, to avoid suffering from them on a daily basis.

Myth #2: Short cycles mean early menopause

It seems this myth is true.

In 2022, American researchers published a study of 634 women (link in English), showing that women with cycles of less than 25 days would be more likely to develop early menopause (i.e. from the age of 40).

This may be explained by the fact that the number of eggs would be limited and that women with a shorter menstrual cycle release, over a shorter period, more eggs than women with a longer menstrual cycle.

However, this is not the only cause of early menopause. A study published in March 2022 in the same journal (link in English) showed that exposure to childhood sexual abuse was associated with an earlier menopausal transition.

Myth #3: Women with short cycles can't get pregnant

False: Women who have short cycles can definitely get pregnant.

As we've seen a little further in this article, there are many causes of short cycles. Some are completely benign (heredity or age) and do not affect fertility in any way, while others are linked to health issues and can lead to infertility (anovulation, progesterone deficiency, etc.).

If you are planning a baby, you can find all our natural solutions to help you with your conception project here .

Myth #4: Short cycles are always linked to health problems

False: Short cycles are not always linked to health problems.

Again, we mentioned this earlier in this article. While health conditions can indeed cause short cycles (PCOS, STDs, endometriosis), it's entirely possible to have a naturally short cycle. Because the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, many women have cycles shorter than this!

Unless your cycle is shorter than 21 days, menstrual cycle length isn't the only indicator you should use to assess your health. The regularity of your cycles, and especially their sudden changes, are also important to track.

Do they impact my fertility and health?

Having short cycles doesn't necessarily have an impact on your fertility or health. As we mentioned earlier, it all depends on the reasons why you have short cycles. 

While health issues can indeed cause short cycles (PCOS, STDs, endometriosis) and impact your fertility in the long term (PCOS and endometriosis are causes of infertility), it is possible for your cycle to be naturally short. This, without this having an impact on your fertility and health. 

Generally speaking, we can only recommend that you track your menstrual cycles over a few months and talk to a healthcare professional to get their feedback and answers. You will also find our recommendations a little later in this article!

If you are planning a baby, you can find all our natural solutions to help you with your conception project here .

Is it possible to return to a “normal” cycle?

When it comes to menstrual cycles, there is no such thing as a normal cycle. While the average menstrual cycle is 28 days, many women experience shorter and longer cycles without affecting their fertility or health. Therefore, it is not necessarily necessary or desirable to find a “normal,” longer cycle.

That being said, it is possible to achieve a longer cycle, either completely naturally, artificially, or by treating the condition that causes short cycles.

Return to a “normal” cycle naturally

Menstrual cycles can regularly change, as can periods. In duration, frequency, and associated symptoms. Life events and hormones play a huge role in these fluctuations. This is why it is entirely possible to achieve a longer menstrual cycle naturally:

• After puberty
• After taking hormonal contraception
• Following pregnancy

Return to a “normal” cycle artificially

You have had short cycles for a long time and the doctors you consult agree that this is your natural cycle and that everything is fine.

While this is great news, it can also be overwhelming. A short cycle, especially if it's accompanied by a long period, can be difficult to cope with: you may feel like you "have your period all the time." And it's even harder if you suffer from a bit of PMS...

To achieve longer cycles, you can, for example, use hormonal contraception, such as the pill or a hormonal IUD. These allow you to artificially regulate your body to a 28-day cycle. We recommend consulting your doctor to find a solution that best suits you and your specific needs.

Treating the health problems associated with short cycles

If your short cycles have brought you to see a doctor and they have diagnosed you with a specific illness or disorder, treating the cause of your short cycles may lead to longer cycles.

Note, however, that this will not necessarily be the case: your body and hormones, disrupted by what they have experienced, will adapt and establish a new balance. Your menstrual cycle may be longer, but it may also remain the same length as before. More than the length of your cycle, the most important thing is that you are in good health.

6 questions to ask yourself before seeing a gynecologist

Before consulting a specialist for your short cycles, here are 6 questions you should ask yourself. This will help you feel reassured and know what topics to discuss with them, if necessary.

1. Have your cycles always been short?

If your cycles have always been shorter than average, this may simply be normal for you. However, if you notice a sudden change in the length of your cycles, it may be a sign of an underlying problem!

2. Do you have any other symptoms?

Severe abdominal pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, sudden weight changes, severe acne, excessive facial or body hair, fatigue, or mood changes may be signs of hormonal imbalance or other health problems.

3. Are you trying to conceive?

If you are trying to conceive and have short menstrual cycles, this can make predicting ovulation more difficult, which can make conception more complex.

4. Are your short menstrual cycles accompanied by stress or discomfort?

If your short cycles are causing you stress or discomfort, it's worth consulting a healthcare professional to discuss your options and see if there are ways to manage these symptoms.

5. Are your periods very close together?

If your period occurs every two weeks or less, it could be a sign of a health problem, such as thyroid disease or a problem with your uterus.

Also read: Which sanitary protection should I choose depending on my type of menstruation? >

6. Are you over 40?

If you are in perimenopause (the time before menopause), this can cause changes in your menstrual cycle, including a shorter menstrual cycle.

If the answer to one or more of these questions is "yes," it would be best to consult a healthcare professional to discuss your symptoms and determine if there is cause for concern. Remember that while symptoms can be stressful, there are many treatment and management options to help normalize your cycle and reduce discomfort!

Living well with short cycles: advice from our experts

Our community's questions/answers

Do you still have questions after reading this article? Feel free to send them to us by writing to us in our chat, or by private message on Instagram. We do not intend to replace your doctor in any way, but we can provide you with some answers, and these questions/answers may help other women find solutions and answers to their questions!

Is it serious to have your period early?

Generally, no. The menstrual cycle is a process influenced by many factors, and even the slightest grain of sand can cause the whole thing to jam! Having your period early during a menstrual cycle is in no way something to worry about. Stress or traveling alone can explain why your period arrives early!

However, you should consider consulting a doctor if you notice that your cycles are gradually getting shorter, especially if they are shorter than 21 days. As we mentioned in this article, this could be a sign of an illness or disorder, and it would be helpful to get feedback from a doctor.

Are short cycles a sign of premenopause?

Short cycles can actually be a sign of perimenopause. Estrogen levels are declining in the body, and this decrease can lead to difficulty ovulating and shorter cycles. If you notice your cycles getting shorter, even if you're over 40, you're likely in perimenopause—speak to a healthcare professional to learn more.

Why am I bleeding 2 weeks after my period? // Why do I have my period every 15 days?

You've had your period and while you thought you'd be "easy" for the next three weeks, you find yourself getting your period again much sooner than expected...

The first thing to determine is: is it really your period? Occasionally, you may experience spotting between periods—this is called “metrorrhagia.” There are several causes of this bleeding, but it is most often due to hormonal contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, or hormonal imbalances.

If it is indeed your period, it is possible that your menstrual cycle has been particularly short. This can happen occasionally, due to stress, taking medication, or even a trip that has contributed to your period starting earlier. It is also possible that your menstrual cycle has suddenly shortened. In this second case, it may be interesting to track the evolution of your menstrual cycle over several months to see what is going on. If it turns out that you really have your period every two weeks, you will need to see a gynecologist for answers.