What is an abnormal period?
Several criteria constitute what’s considered an abnormal period, including:
- Periods less than 21 days apart
- Periods more than 35 days apart
- Heavy bleeding (if you soak through a tampon or pad every hour for several hours in a row)
- Heavy cramping
- Periods with very little blood
- Missing more than three periods in a row
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
If you have any question about whether your period is abnormal or not, it’s best to seek the advice of Dr. Odogwu to be on the safe side.
What causes abnormal periods?
The causes of abnormal periods vary considerably based on your symptoms. To give you a better idea of what that entails, the following are the most common causes of the two most common period issues:
Heavy bleeding
If you’re experiencing heavy bleeding that soaks through your tampons or sanitary napkins every hour, or bleeding that lasts for more than seven days, the following may be at the root of the problem:
- Endometrial hyperplasia
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Uterine fibroids
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
Light or skipped periods
On the other end of the spectrum, if you regularly miss periods or there’s hardly any bleeding, the following may be at play:
- Eating disorders or poor nutrition
- Hormonal birth control
- Stress
- Over-exercising
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
The only way to know for sure what’s causing your abnormal periods is to get checked out by Dr. Odogwu.
How are abnormal periods diagnosed?
To uncover the source of your problem, Dr. Odogwu conducts a thorough exam and reviews your medical history. You should record your periods beforehand, so you have the necessary details. Once he has all the information in hand, he may order further imaging to see what’s going on inside your body, as well as draw blood for lab tests, which can also reveal a lot.
Once Dr. Odogwu has zeroed in on the problem, he helps you treat the medical issue and alleviate the symptoms. There are also surgical options for treating abnormal uterine bleeding.
If you want to find out what’s causing your abnormal periods and get started on a treatment, call Holy Cross OBGYN, or book an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
