You’ve canceled plans because of cramps. You’ve soaked through a pad in an hour and told yourself it was fine. Maybe your cycle has gone completely off the rails and you’ve just been waiting for it to fix itself.

Here’s the thing: suffering through your period every month is not a requirement of having a uterus. Abnormal periods are one of the most common reasons patients visit Rhett Women’s Center, and also one of the most commonly ignored. Let’s change that.

 

What Counts as an Abnormal Period?

A typical cycle runs 21 to 35 days, lasts 2 to 7 days, and involves about 2 to 3 tablespoons of blood loss total. If yours looks very different from that on a regular basis, it may be worth a conversation.

Abnormal periods (also called abnormal uterine bleeding) can show up as:

 

• Soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row
• Bleeding that lasts more than 7 days
• Cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35
• Spotting between periods or after sex
• Cramps that knock you off your feet and don’t respond to ibuprofen
• Any bleeding after menopause

 

What Could Be Causing It?

A lot of things can throw your cycle off, and most of them are very treatable. At Rhett Women’s Center, patients commonly come in dealing with hormonal imbalances like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid issues, uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths in or around the uterus), endometriosis (when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus), or uterine polyps. Stress, significant weight changes, and certain medications can also be factors.

The most important thing to know: in most cases, there is a clear explanation, and there is help available.

 

What Happens at Your Appointment

Dr. Rhett and Dr. Smith each take a thorough, personalized approach to understanding your cycle. During your visit, your doctor will ask about your history, review your symptoms, and may recommend a pelvic exam, blood work to check hormone and thyroid levels, or an ultrasound to get a closer look at your uterus and ovaries. Occasionally, a small tissue sample called an endometrial biopsy may be needed.

None of these is cause for alarm. They are simply the tools that help your doctor find the right answers for you.

 

When Should You Call Rhett Women’s Center?

It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment if:

• Your period lasts more than 7 days regularly
• You are passing clots larger than a quarter
• Your cycles have become noticeably more painful over time
• You have missed three or more periods and are not pregnant
• You experience any bleeding after menopause

 

Seek care right away if you are soaking more than one pad per hour for several hours, feel faint, or have severe abdominal pain.

 

You Deserve to Feel Better

Your period should not be something you just push through. Whether you see Dr. Rhett or Dr. Smith, the team at Rhett Women’s Center is committed to helping you get real answers and feel like yourself again. If your cycle has been giving you trouble, do not wait.

Schedule your appointment at Rhett Women’s Center