I've heard a lot of people mention "irregular periods," but excatly how irregular does a period have to be before it's considered irregular? Does that mean that it does not come every 28-30 days, that it skips months or something? I've never been very clear on this subject.

According to some medical articles, irregular periods are the ones that go beyond 35 day intervals. It also mentions that if you always get them on day 35, it would still be considered regular periods. As far as I can tell, you can call it irregular periods when you have no idea as to when you will them. It can be very frustrating at times. The article goes on to describing the symptoms of irregular cycles, I wanted to share it with you below:

What symptoms could you experience?
Minor cycle irregularities are common. For example, you may have your period on day 23 of one month and then the next month on day 35.

You may, however, have a much more irregular cycle, in which case it is important that you have further investigations, so that other problems, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (see polycystic ovary syndrome section) can be ruled out. The following symptoms are characteristic of irregular periods, and you can experience a combination of any or all of these:

1. Large gaps with no periods
2. Some gaps and then periods coming too frequently for a while (for example, two in one month) followed by gaps again.
3. Gaps of no periods and then bleeding continuously for a few weeks.
4. Spotting in between period.

Source: http://www.marilynglenville.com/general/irregular.htm

Okay, that was really helpful. I guess that I was just being a little paranoid. Based on everthing that I've read, everything is pretty normal for me.

I experienced irregularities before. I have waited for 38 days before I got my menstruation. Then after 42 days for the next and 46 days after that. It was really frustrating. I was planning to see the doctor and my menstruation was back to normal. I think it was due to fats because I got really big. I tried to lose some pounds. What do you think are the other reasons for irregularities?

Bethoven, I can't recall where but I've read on some website that stress might also be a factor for irregular periods. Our body reacts to our emotions and we all know that stress causes various anomalies; thus, I don't think it is that theory is so far fetched after all. What do you think?

One thing to keep in mind is that irregular for you may not be the same for someone else... if you have a different schedule every month.. and have long periods, then short ones.. painful then not... to me that would be irregular.

And just like what Butterfly said.. stress can be a factor in a changing period.. as well as not sleeping. Also.. increasing your exercise habits can, over time, shorten & lighten your periods.

I've always wondered if weight lost and weight gain had an effect on the lenght of menstration. When I weighed more, the length of the period was longer. I've lost weight, and now I consistently don't have as long of a period any more.