One simple and necessary way you can monitor your health is to stay attuned to your menstrual cycle and contact your gynecologist if you’re experiencing unbearable period pain or excessively long and heavy periods.
Understand What’s Normal and What’s Not for Your Periods
Seeking help early on from a gynecologist is essential to diminishing menstrual conditions and the disruptions they can have on your quality of life. It also ensures that any serious health issues are recognized and addressed with proper treatments. By understanding what “normal” menstrual pain and bleeding entails, you can seek help from a gynecologist and begin treatment before the condition becomes debilitating.
What’s Normal for Your Period?
Typically, a normal period might look like:
- A flow that’s light, then gets heavier, then tapers off
- Having your period every 25 to 35 days
- Mild cramping that lasts a few days
What’s Not Normal for Your Period?
Just like knowing what’s normal, it’s important to know which signs aren’t normal. Complications from your period that need a doctor’s attention include:
- Anemia requiring iron or blood transfusions
- Bleeding for more than seven days
- Pain that affects your daily life, which may indicate endometriosis
- Requiring two menstrual products at a time or using more than 10 tampons or pads per day
What Are Types of Menstrual Disorders?
Most doctors categorize menstrual disorders into two groups: abnormal hormones and uterine issues. Generally, most women with irregular periods have a hormonal imbalance or similar problem. This may be treated with medication or intrauterine-device therapy, in which a small, flexible, hormone-releasing device is inserted into the uterus.
Uterine problems are usually accompanied by regular but heavy, painful periods. Two common uterine conditions are fibroid tumors and uterine polyps. If you experience heavy bleeding, it is important to speak with your gynecologist promptly.
Heavy menstrual bleeding can cause anemia and fatigue, which can result in missing work or school, difficulty conceiving and could even lead to the need for a blood transfusion.
For Painful Periods, Our Doctors Are Here to Help Provide Answers
Our physicians work closely with hematologists, gynecologic oncologists and infertility specialists to create individualized treatment plans for women with uterine problems, which may include minimally invasive gynecological surgery such as uterine polyp removal and endometrial ablation.
We’re Ready to Care for You
If you’re experiencing irregular periods or menstrual pain, contact your gynecologist or family medicine provider. These are conditions that can and should be addressed and not delayed further, and you can count on us to keep you protected and safe while visiting your doctor.
To get started, you can use the AdventHealth app to schedule an in-person or virtual telehealth appointment. Alternatively, reach out to your gynecologist’s office.
Learn more about our women’s specialty care program.
