5 Signs of Abnormal Periods

Your menstrual cycle can tell you a lot about your reproductive health. While your cycle is unique to you, every woman’s period follows the same general pattern. Any changes in what we consider a normal period are classified as abnormal.

At Novel OBGYN in Coral Gables, Florida, our skilled physicians, Dr. Lorena Tinoco and Dr. Madelyn Gonzalez, understand it’s not easy for women to differentiate between what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to their periods. 

Here, we want to share the five common signs.

About your menstrual cycle

Your menstrual cycle is how your body prepares for pregnancy, and it involves changes in hormone levels. This cycle starts the first day of your period and ends the first day of your next period.

Most women have a 28-day menstrual cycle, meaning they have 28 days between the first day of each menstrual period. But any cycle that lasts 24-38 days is considered normal. 

However, a woman’s menstrual cycle may differ throughout their reproductive life, most often at the start (during adolescence) and toward the end (perimenopause). 

Talk to us anytime your menstrual cycle deviates from the usual time frame, no matter your age or stage of life. That’s especially true if you have plans to get pregnant in the future. 

When your cycle is normal, it indicates that your ovaries release an egg around the same time every month. Fertility and conception depend on the release of the egg for fertilization. Being regular makes pregnancy easier and more predictable.

Irregular cycles may mean there’s a problem with ovulation, potentially making pregnancy harder.

We can identify and treat the cause of an abnormal period and get you into the best possible health before you attempt to conceive.

5 signs of abnormal periods

Most menstrual periods last 2-7 days, with the heaviest bleeding occurring in the first few days. Your period is abnormal if the length of your bleeding is longer or shorter than the norm, or your bleeding is heavy.

Here are the five signs of abnormal periods:

1. Bleeding that lasts more than 7 days
2. Wearing more than one pad at a time
3. Replacing your pad every 1-2 hours
4. Waking up at night to change your pad
5. Having large, quarter-size blood clots

Don’t ignore heavy bleeding or bleeding that lasts longer than normal. Both are common signs of many gynecological conditions and can improve with the right diagnosis and plan. 

We also consider your period abnormal if you bleed more or less frequently than usual, for example, having a period every couple of weeks or having fewer than eight periods a year. 

Why is your period abnormal?

A number of gynecologic conditions cause abnormal periods, including:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids and polyps
• Adenomyosis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Miscarriage
• Endometrial cancer
• Ectopic pregnancy

PCOS and endometriosis are also common causes of infertility. 

Everyone’s menstrual cycle is unique, but they all follow a typical pattern. If you’re worried about your period, we can help. Call us today to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment online.