“Long Period?”

The issue of how our period behaves for us hits every woman at some time or another over the course of their menstrual career from puberty approx. age 12yo to menopause approx. age 50.5yo. Periods that come early, late or last longer than they should usually means there is imbalance between the 2 female hormones (Estradiol and Progesterone). This imbalance is not uncommon both early or late in our menstrual career and usually means that you did not ovulate that cycle and there is no Progesterone on board to counter the function of growing a lining which happens based on our Estradiol level. Most of the time our body figures this out after 1 or 2 ‘off cycles’ and will do an automatic reset on its own and we get our cycles back on track. However, when it happens a lot or bleeding gets heavier or crampier, then this hormone imbalance has triggered something that could mean a recurring problem that needs to get investigated. What that means is getting your hormone levels checked by bloodwork; that is best done 1wk before you anticipate your period happening or d21 of your cycle with d1 being the first day of your period when a period usually lasts approx. 28 days from start of one period to the start of the next period. I recommend that patients ask their doctor to check their female and male bloodwork on d21; this means 4 blood tests which are your Estradiol, Progesterone, Total Testosterone and Free Testosterone. However, abnormal periods can also be from thyroid issues or from stress which comes from your adrenal. In other words, checking all of the hormone groups is actually the BEST way to approach an abnormal bleeding problem that persists to best determine what is causing the hormone imbalance. I recommend that you check out my book Blossoming, Becoming A Woman; this book is available on Amazon and helps clarify a lot more about the many issues that women go through as they go from puberty and into their 20’s. There is a section in the back of the book on how to talk to your doctor and it lists all of the blood tests that should be ordered and why. This is what you take into your doctor so that you don’t miss any of the tests that need to be done.

Dr. Victoria J. Mondloch

If it continues you may want to see a provider. It is not uncommon for this to happen especially when you are a teen. Sometimes contraception is used to help regulate periods if this continues.