Internal Medicine | Adolescent Medicine Questions Irregular Periods

My daughter's periods are irregular. Is it normal?

My daughters periods are irregular, and she's 16 years old. Sometimes they're very short or last for more than two weeks. And sometimes she gets them every other month. I understand that irregular periods are normal... to an extent. Would this be considered normal, or should I take her to an OB-GYN?

3 Answers

Irregular cycles are normal to some extent, but she needs to see a gynecologist who will do an exam and order hormonal testing rule out pros and treat her accordingly.
Yes. She is having dysmenorrhea.
How long has it been since she started her period? If it is longer than one year, they should be fairly regular. Stress can cause some irregularity. If they are irregular and she is overweight and there is a FH of polycystic ovaries, she may need to be checked for this.