When Should You Seek Medical Help For Period Problems
Deciding when you should see your doctor can be difficult. If you think something is wrong, see your doctor or go to the emergency room if it is urgent.
During the first few years of puberty, your cycles can be very irregular and strange. That is not a reason to get worried. You do not even ovulate every cycle at that age. Your period may be light and spotting, or heavy and a flood. It may be very irregular, but as time goes by, they should become more regular and “normal”.
During peri-menopause, your cycles may be strange and weird, and your periods may be very heavy. This can start as early as 35, but more often it starts in your 40’s. From your early thirties, your fertility will begin to decline rapidly. In your early 40s, you will likely be almost infertile. These changes come with changes in your cycles and periods.
An odd cycle every once in a while is normally not a problem. Sometimes stress and worry, or your general health may cause some irregularity. Sometimes we just do not ovulate or we ovulate twice in one cycle for no apparent reason. This can also cause irregularity.
When your cycles become consistently shorter than 21 days, you should see your doctor.
When your period signs and symptoms are so painful that you cannot function during that time.
If you flood a maxi pad or super tampon in less than two hours, you should see your doctor.
If your period cycle lasts considerably longer than 7 days, you should see your doctor
If you have cycles shorter than 24 days you may want to talk to a doctor to see if they can make it a few days longer. Short cycles can make it more difficult to get pregnant, and it can just be a pain to deal with. Your doctor may be able to lengthen it to around the 28 or 29-day average.
When your cycles are longer than 35 days, you should see your doctor. She may still consider it normal up to 42 or 45 days, but over that, she will likely try to shorten your cycles. Long cycles make it difficult to determine when you are fertile and get pregnant.
If you miss your period 3 cycles (around 90 days) in a row, you should see your doctor.
If your period suddenly becomes irregular or changes after being regular for a while, you should see your doctor.
If you are light headed, dizzy or your pulse is racing, see your doctor.
If you bleed between periods for no apparent reason, see your doctor.
If you use tampons and you get fever and feel weak and sick, see your doctor.
If you have not started yourperiods by age 16, see your doctor.
What will your doctor look for?
- Your menstrual history (take your period charts or diary with)
- Your hormone levels and signs that it is off
- Your general health, diet and fitness routine
- Possibility of pregnancy
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Signs of diabetes
- Fibroids
- Premature ovarian failure
- Menopause
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Birth control history
Most of the time, problems are treated with a hormone treatment, if there is a problem.