What type of menstrual irregularity is common in young teenagers who have just started menstruating?

Anovulation is a common menstrual irregularity in young teenagers who have recently started menstruating due to the still-maturing hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. In the first few years after menarche, many adolescents experience anovulatory cycles, which can lead to irregular periods. During this time, cycles may be infrequent or erratic, and ovulation may not occur regularly. This is a normal part of the physiological transition into a regular menstrual cycle and often resolves as the teenager grows older and the hormonal regulation becomes more stable.

Dysmenorrhea, which refers to painful menstruation, can certainly occur in this population, but it is not as directly related to the irregularities of cycle patterns as anovulation is. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) generally occurs in women who are already cycling regularly, and menorrhagia refers to abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding, which is less common in the early years of menstruation. Therefore, anovulation stands out as the primary menstrual issue associated with young adolescents navigating the start of their menstrual cycles.