The length of your period is just one factor your doctor will use to help you determine which type of birth control works best for you. Early miscarriages are much more common than you may realize. Up to half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, often before the woman even realizes she was pregnant, according to the March of Dimes. Sometimes the only sign is an extra-heavy or long period. Your menstrual cycle length should return to normal within one to two cycles; if it stays abnormally long after three cycles, call your doctor, Dr.
About one in women suffer from repeat miscarriages, so it's important to rule out a condition that affects fertility, like endometriosis. It's named for the cysts that grow on the ovaries, preventing eggs from maturing, and often causing fertility issues. PCOS also wreaks havoc on hormone levels, causing weight gain, excess hair growth, and you guessed it prolonged periods, Dr. You'd think that not ovulating would give you a free pass on bleeding, but the opposite is often true, he adds—no egg means long, wacky cycles.
If you're experiencing super-long periods along with other signs of PCOS , like migraines, facial hair growth, and weight gain, talk to your ob-gyn about getting tested for the condition.
One in eight women will suffer from low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, at some point in their lives, according to the OWH.
Your thyroid is a little butterfly-shaped gland that controls the hormones that regulate many systems in your body, including how fast you burn calories, how fast your heart beats, and yes, menstruation. Having too little thyroid hormone can cause your period to be super long and heavy, the OWH explains. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, fatigue, and hair loss, so if you're experiencing any of those, along with longer-than-normal periods, bring it up to your doctor, says Dr.
It's rare, but it's possible that extra-long periods are a sign of an underlying illness, like a hematologic blood disease, says Dr. Some of the underlying diseases associated with bleeding, like hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease, are genetic, so if you have this you likely already know about it. Still, if your periods are lasting a super-long time, and you've already been cleared for other conditions, it's worth checking in with your doctor about tests to rule out a blood disorder that you might not be aware of.
Toth explains. Basically, your body senses something in your uterus that isn't supposed to be there, and tries extra hard to get rid of it.
Polyps and fibroids sound scary, but they're pretty common—up to 80 percent of women will have at least one before they're 50, per the OWH. On their own, they don't indicate a serious disease, like cancer. Important to note: Black women are two to three times more likely to have fibroids than white women, and the reasons for their increased risk are not well understood or well studied due to lack of representation of Black women in research, notes Dr.
But for many people, these benign growths don't have any symptoms, and if they do, it's usually prolonged periods, says Dr. Most likely your doc will just recommend keeping an eye on them, but if they cause pain or grow very large they can be surgically removed. Abnormal vaginal bleeding—such as bleeding after vaginal sex or bleeding and spotting between periods —can be a sign of cervical cancer.
Yet another reason to check in with your doctor if you notice something strange going on with your period. Because cervical abnormalities can be detected through Pap and HPV tests, make sure you stay on top of those, and always tell your doctor about your family history of female cancers.
Oh yes, simply getting older can mess with your period. Menopause, which technically means you've gone 12 or more months without a period, hits women around age However, your body starts the natural decline in hormones that leads up to menopause a.
When this happens, you may notice your periods getting longer or shorter, your cycle becoming more random, and other slight changes in your menstruation. If you've ruled out everything else, and you're in your mid- to lates, your prolonged periods might simply be due to the natural process of aging. There is, however, such a thing as early menopause, which can affect women even in their twenties.
So talk to your doctor if this runs in your family or if you're showing other signs of menopause , like a low sex drive or insomnia. Meditation , getting enough sleep, and regular exercise are also effective ways to manage stress. Medications such as anti-inflammatories, aspirin, or other blood thinners can also affect your menstrual cycle, says Dr. As such, it is important to take medicines as directed and if your period becomes heavier or prolonged, to contact your doctor, says Dr.
Periods lasting for eight days or more should be investigated, says Dr. Heavy periods requiring multiple pad or tampon changes a day or infrequent periods occurring less than every 5 weeks should also be evaluated. A change in cycle characteristics such as a noticeable difference in frequency, heaviness or spotting between periods is also a reason to seek medical care.
Long periods can be the result of a variety of factors such as health conditions, your age and your lifestyle. Underlying health conditions that can cause long periods include uterine fibroids , endometrial uterine polyps , adenomyosis , or more rarely, a precancerous or cancerous lesion of the uterus. A long period can also result from hormonal imbalances like hypothyroidism or a bleeding disorder. Many women struggle with long and heavy periods for years without knowing there are ways to manage and improve their symptoms.
I encourage all patients to seek out medical care if they have questions about their menstrual cycle or other gynecologic issues. The first step to managing long periods due to a specific condition is to treat it. This can include things like removing an endometrial polyp or correcting hypothyroidism. Hormonal contraceptives things like the pill, the patch or a hormonal IUD are commonly used to help regulate abnormal cycles resulting from a wide variety of causes. About 2 out of 3 girls have a regular pattern of menstrual periods within 2 years of menarche.
For more information, see Menarche. Perimenopause , which means "around menopause," refers to the 2 to 8 years of changing hormone levels and related symptoms that lead up to menopause.
The most common sign of perimenopause is longer, often irregular menstrual cycles that are caused by hormonal ups and downs. Most women start perimenopause between ages 39 and Some women begin to notice menstrual changes and premenstrual syndrome PMS symptoms in their late 30s when hormones begin to fluctuate and fertility naturally declines. Other women don't notice perimenopausal changes until their late 40s. Perimenopause is a time of unpredictability. Menstrual and hormone-related symptoms are different for every woman.
Some notice few or no changes. And others have severe symptoms that disrupt their sleep and daily lives. As during the teen years, irregular cycles can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding. Other common symptoms include mild to severe hot flashes , insomnia , cloudy thinking, headaches, heart palpitations, mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety. Some of these symptoms can also be related to aging and other life changes.
See your doctor to discuss your symptoms, whether you want symptom treatment, and which therapies you can consider.
See a doctor for menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days or for cycles that are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. Keep a calendar and mark the day you start your menstrual period each month.
If your cycle is regular, it can help you predict when you'll have your next period. If you're trying to figure out whether you have a pattern of premenstrual symptoms, it may be helpful to keep a premenstrual daily symptom diary.
You can improve your body's ability to handle menstrual changes by getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and reducing stress. Non-prescription pain relievers can also help reduce some symptoms. Try a non-prescription medicine to help relieve your pain and bleeding. Start taking the recommended dose of pain reliever when symptoms begin or 1 day before your menstrual period starts.
If you are trying to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before using any medicine. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Be sure to follow all labels and directions. Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 18 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
For more information on managing menstrual cramps, see:. You can choose from a range of pads, tampons, or menstrual cups to manage menstrual bleeding.
Follow all directions included with the product of your choice. Whatever you use, be sure to change it regularly. Tampons and menstrual cups are ideal for activities that pads aren't practical for, such as swimming.
Tampons should be changed at least every 4 to 8 hours, so they may not work as well for nighttime use. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours. It may take some experimenting to find the right products for you.
There is a broad range of "normal" among menstruating women. Unpredictable or long menstrual cycles are normal for teenagers and women in their 40s. For teens, a normal cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 45 days footnote 2.
If you are a teen, you can expect cycles to even out over time. If you are nearing the age of menopause, you can expect menstrual cycles to become longer and eventually to stop. If you are not a teen and you are not older than 40 and your cycles are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, there is a chance that you have a problem that needs to be checked by your doctor.
You will need a medical check by a doctor if you have any change in your menstrual pattern or amount of bleeding that affects your daily life. This includes menstrual bleeding, for three or more menstrual cycles, that:.
Other symptoms you need to have checked include:. If you are a teenage girl, see your doctor if you have not started having periods by age Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is a menstrual cycle? What controls the menstrual cycle? Estrogen builds up the lining of the uterus.
Progesterone increases after an ovary releases an egg ovulation at the middle of the cycle. This helps the estrogen keep the lining thick and ready for a fertilized egg. A drop in progesterone along with estrogen causes the lining to break down. This is when your period starts. What common symptoms are linked to the menstrual cycle? How can women take care of bleeding and symptoms? Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Menstrual Cycle: Dealing With Cramps. Normal Menstrual Cycle The menstrual cycle is the series of changes your body goes through to prepare for a possible pregnancy.
A teen's cycles may be long up to 45 days , growing shorter over several years. Around ages 25 and 35, most women's cycles are regular, generally lasting 21 to 35 days.
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