If you are looking for a gynecologist for irregular periods in Kolkata, the first thing to understand is that irregular periods are a symptom, not a diagnosis. The right treatment depends entirely on identifying the cause, and that requires a specific workup, not just an ultrasound and a hormonal prescription.
This guide covers the six most common causes of irregular periods, when to see a doctor, and what a thorough gynecological assessment actually involves.
When should you see a gynecologist for irregular periods in Kolkata?
Not every missed or late period needs a doctor’s visit. Cycles that shift temporarily during illness, travel, or a stressful month and then return to normal within one to two cycles are usually not a cause for concern.
You should consult a gynecologist for irregular periods if:
- Your cycles have been irregular for three or more consecutive months
- You have gone more than 90 days without a period and you are not pregnant
- You are bleeding between periods, especially if it is new
- You are bleeding after sex
- Your periods have become significantly heavier or more painful than before
- You are trying to conceive and your cycles are unpredictable
- You have other symptoms alongside irregular periods: acne, excess body hair, unexplained weight gain, or nipple discharge
6 causes a gynecologist will check for irregular periods
1. PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of irregular periods in women of reproductive age. The underlying problem is ovulatory dysfunction: follicles grow but do not release an egg. Cycles become long (35 days or more), unpredictable, or absent entirely. Associated features include acne, excess facial or body hair, weight gain, and difficulty conceiving.
Diagnosis requires a hormonal panel, not just an ultrasound. LH, FSH, total testosterone, DHEAS, AMH, and SHBG are the key markers. An ultrasound that reports “polycystic ovaries” is not by itself a PCOS diagnosis.
Internal link: PCOS Specialist in Kolkata: What a Proper Diagnosis Looks Like
2. Thyroid disorder
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism disrupt menstrual regularity. Hypothyroidism causes heavy, more frequent periods alongside fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance. Hyperthyroidism causes light, infrequent periods alongside weight loss and palpitations. A TSH test identifies this. It is not optional in any irregular periods workup and is missed more often than it should be.
3. Elevated prolactin
Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates breast milk production. When it is elevated outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding, it suppresses ovulation and causes irregular or absent periods. Common causes are a benign pituitary tumour (prolactinoma), hypothyroidism, or certain medications including antipsychotics and some antidepressants. A serum prolactin level diagnoses it. It is treatable.
4. Hypothalamic suppression
The hypothalamus sits at the top of the hormonal chain. Excessive exercise, significant caloric restriction, very low body weight, or prolonged severe stress can suppress hypothalamic function enough to stop ovulation and menstruation entirely. FSH and LH are both low in this pattern. This is common in athletes, dancers, and women who have recently lost significant weight. The treatment is not hormonal; it is addressing the underlying energy deficit or stressor.
5. Adenomyosis and uterine fibroids
Adenomyosis, where endometrial tissue grows into the uterine wall, causes a bulky uterus, heavy bleeding, and prolonged periods. Fibroids, depending on their size and position, can cause heavy or irregular bleeding, pressure symptoms, and pain. Both are visible on pelvic ultrasound, though transvaginal ultrasound is significantly more accurate than abdominal for smaller lesions.
Internal link: Adenomyosis vs Endometriosis: 5 Key Differences
6. Perimenopause
From the early to mid 40s, fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels cause irregular cycles in the years before menopause. Cycles may become shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter in no predictable pattern. If you are in this age group and your periods have changed, a gynecologist can confirm whether this is perimenopause or another cause requiring treatment.
What a proper workup for irregular periods includes
A gynecologist for irregular periods in Kolkata should cover the following at your first consultation:
Detailed history. When did the irregularity start? What was your cycle like before? Recent weight changes, new medications, stress, illness? Are you trying to conceive? Any associated symptoms?
Blood tests. At minimum: TSH, LH, FSH, prolactin, total testosterone, AMH. Depending on history: fasting insulin and glucose (for insulin resistance in PCOS), DHEAS, day 21 progesterone (to confirm whether ovulation is occurring), full blood count (to check for anaemia from heavy periods).
Pelvic ultrasound. Transvaginal ultrasound to assess uterine size, endometrial thickness, fibroid or polyp presence, and ovarian morphology. Abdominal ultrasound misses smaller pathology consistently.
Hysteroscopy if indicated. If the ultrasound suggests a polyp, fibroid, or adhesion inside the uterine cavity, hysteroscopy allows direct visualisation and often same-session treatment.
Internal link: Hysteroscopy in Kolkata: A Complete Patient Guide
Why treatment depends on the cause
There is no universal treatment for irregular periods. Metformin is appropriate for PCOS with insulin resistance. It is not appropriate for a thyroid disorder, a prolactinoma, or a uterine polyp. Hormonal contraceptives regulate cycles in multiple conditions but do not treat the underlying cause in any of them.
A gynecologist who treats irregular periods without doing the workup first is managing a symptom without understanding what is driving it. For young women, women trying to conceive, and women with long-standing irregular cycles, this matters because the wrong treatment delays the right one.
Consulting a gynecologist for irregular periods in Kolkata
Dr. Juhi Dhanawat is a female gynecologist with 15+ years of practice and MS from Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital Mumbai. She manages irregular periods with a full hormonal workup, insulin sensitivity assessment, pelvic ultrasound, and individualised treatment covering PCOS, thyroid-related irregularity, structural causes, and perimenopausal changes.
Clinics in Kolkata:
- Neotia Bhagirathi Rawdon Street (Tuesday and Saturday, 5 to 7 PM)
- Neotia Bhagirathi New Town, Action Area 1D (Thursday and Sunday, 9:30 to 11:30 AM)
- Motherhood Hospital Kasba, 338 Rajdanga Main Road
- R N Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, EM Bypass (Wednesday, 10 AM to 12:30 PM)
Appointment: +91 8240886334