Most people’s periods will last for a similar amount of time each month. But sometimes, they might go on for longer or end quicker than usual.

This change is usually down to lifestyle factors. “Changes in stress, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, weight or experiencing poor sleep can all affect the length of your period,” Welsh explains.

“Often, with lifestyle factors affecting the menstrual cycle, it’s the body’s way of telling you something is not quite right and ultimately you are not in a position to have a baby (hence the impact on the menstrual cycle),” Welsh explains. For example, if you haven’t eaten enough or have lost a lot of weight, you might not have enough nutrients to function properly. “Consequently, the body focuses on essential processes only to stay alive,” Welsh explains, adding: “The area in the brain that regulates hormones can often become suppressed, which in turn affects the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle including oestrogen and therefore causing irregular or absent periods in some cases.”

Welsh explains that alcohol has a similar effect to a poor diet on your body: “Excess alcohol or a poor diet can also cause undernourishment and have an effect on hormones of the menstrual cycle.”

Stress also has a huge impact on the body and a 2015 study established an association between high stress levels and irregular menstrual cycles. “When you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol. This hormone can suppress normal levels of reproductive hormones, which can cause abnormal or absent ovulation,” Welsh says, explaining that this could lead to irregular or absent periods.

The fact is, your menstrual cycle has a huge impact on your body and vice versa, so making lifestyle changes is likely to affect your cycle, as they will likely alter the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, causing irregular or absent periods. “The following period after an abnormal cycle may also be slightly irregular, and sometimes longer than usual,” she says.

Interestingly, Welsh adds that some women also find their cycle changes with travel or a change in circumstances, which might come down to stress, a lack of sleep or hormonal changes in your body.

Why is my period lasting longer than normal?