Bleeding every single month is no joy but if a period extends, the situation quickly becomes infuriating and concerning.
The normal period length does vary from woman to woman, typically lasting between 2 and 7 days. It can be longer or shorter but in time you do get used to what your “right” amount of time is. In the event that the period changes length and this lasts for over 2 cycles, it is time to go to the doctor. There might be a problem you do not know about.
The good news is that most prolonged menstrual bleeding causes can quickly be fixed. Here are some that you should know about.
Your Intrauterine Device (IUD)
The presence of an IUD is the most common cause of having longer periods. Two main intrauterine types exist:
- The non-hormonal one – based on copper
- The hormonal one – based on progestin
Both can sometimes cause abnormal long bleeding. This is especially true soon after insertion. However, copper-based IUDs are more commonly the culprits. If you have 3 cycles or more of abnormally long periods, you most likely need to take it out.
You Are Pregnant
Every single time the woman experiences unusual bleeding, eliminating pregnancy as a possibility is normally the first thing done. This is definitely something that few people know about menstrual periods. You need to know that it is possible to be pregnant and still have a period, although this is quite rare.
PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS now affects around 10% of women. Cysts grow on ovaries, stopping eggs from reaching maturity. The condition can make a woman infertile and hormone levels will be affected. You can end up having to deal with excessive hair growth, weight gain and prolonged periods. To treat this women’s health problem, you may also be advised to take pcos hormone balance supplements but it’s wise to consult your doctor first. Talk to the doctor and learn about PCOS symptoms. When these are in place and periods are long, you need to go get checked out.
You Are Ovulating
Menstruation eliminates extra tissue and blood saved up for the situation in which the egg is fertilized. However, sometimes the body’s hormonal signals are crossed and you can end up bleeding even when the egg is released. The term used for this is intermenstrual bleeding. It happens around ovulation. In the event that bleeding lasts too long or is happening quite close to last cycle’s end, the situation is quite stressing.
You Work Out Too Much
Many women use exercising, like yoga, to deal with menstrual cramps. This is not a bad idea but when you simply work out too much it is possible that you make bleeding longer. It is really important that you discuss things with your doctor as he can tell you whether or not this is the case. Also, if you ever feel that your body is sore and you should not work out, just do not do it.
An Early Miscarriage
These are so much more common than what people tell you. Around half of pregnancies actually end up being miscarriages. This often happens before the woman realizes the fact that she is pregnant. The only sign of the early miscarriage is often just a long or extra-heavy period. Menstrual cycle length normally returns back to normal in a couple of cycles.