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Women's health

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Shift work and cycle changes: are these delays normal or concerning?

3 replies

Banannanana · 25/03/2026 16:26

Posted in AIBU too so sorry for a repeat post, thought this place would be more appropriate and didn’t know it existed.

My cycles used to be regular, were for years, 27-30 days every month I would say but I only recently started tracking them so can’t be sure. Very irregular as a young teen but that sorted itself out as I grew up.
In the last 8 months I’ve started shift work (my roster is all over the place, I do 4 lates (2-10), 4 nights, 4 earlies (6-2) and then a random week where I pick up anything then round again so never establish a routine.
Since then my periods have got more irregular, November was 2 days early, December came 3 days late, January was 5 days early, February 4 days late and now in March and currently 3 days late with no sign of it coming. Took the MAP last month for context (have had one period since which came 4 days late).
Have had severe health anxiety for a while (having counselling).
AIBU to think these are worryingly irregular or is it natural with the change to shift work for the first time?
Im 27 for context, not pregnant (definitely). Want to TTC in the next few years and super worried this is a sign that I’m in early menopause, I’ve been buying menopause tests alongside pregnancy tests (even though I haven’t had sex since my last period) but they’re bloody hard to read! Worried there’s something seriously wrong with me, I keep reading about early menopause, PCOS and endometriosis and working myself up, thinking I’ll never be able to get pregnant /have the big family I want now!
No biological kids yet, worried we’ll never be able to have our own together. Keep having nightmares about letting my partner down and being infertile.
Sorry for the vent, knock some sense into me if needed, I do have a tendency to spiral! Have ADHD so can hyper focus on stuff too.
Has the shift work caused my irregular cycles, are they not really irregular, or is there a problem/will I not be able to have kids?

OP posts:
sellthebigissue · 26/03/2026 03:59

Didnt want to read and run. Gently OP, you are being so unreasonable. Its completely normal for cycles to differ by several days. What would need investigation, for example, would be a consecutively missed period (3 or more), bleeding between periods, post coital bleeding etc.
I honestly dont think theres anything to worry about (easier said than done with health anxiety, I know!) But be gentle with yourself. Try and think rationally. One day at a time x

momz1 · 29/03/2026 09:55

This looks normal, not worrying your cycle is still within a healthy range even with a few days’ variation each month.
Shift work, poor sleep, and stress can easily delay or bring forward periods, so your schedule change is a likely cause.
Nothing here suggests early menopause or fertility problems, so try not to panic you’re very likely okay.

FeelingSadToday1 · 29/03/2026 10:03

It’s normal OP. I work shifts (12.5 hour days and night) randomly and that doesn’t affect my cycle but they vary between 24 and 29 days.

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