Some women have problems with their periods. Don't assume that you have to put up with it. Talk to your GP as there may be treatments that can help.
Period problems can include:
Heavy periods (menorrhagia)
The amount of blood lost during a period varies from woman to woman. But if your periods are so heavy that you feel they are disrupting your life and making you feel miserable, see your GP. There is treatment that can help.
You might have heavy periods if:
- you feel that you are using an unusually high number of tampons or sanitary towels
- blood leaks through to your clothes
- you need to use a sanitary towel and a tampon to prevent leaking
For more information, see:
Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea)
Most women experience painful periods at some point in their lifetime. The pain can be in your lower abdomen (tummy), pelvis, lower back, thighs and vagina shortly before and during your period.
The pain might be slight or very severe. If the pain is bad and you find it hard to cope, talk to your GP.
Painkillers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to treat painful periods.
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Irregular periods
Periods can last between two and eight days, and the menstrual cycle (the time from the start of one period to the day before the next period) normally lasts from 24 to 35 days.
If you have irregular periods, the gaps between your periods will vary, as will the amount of blood you lose (how heavy your periods are) and how long your period lasts.
There are many possible causes of irregular periods, and treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Possible treatments include changing your method of contraception, relaxation classes and counselling.
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Absent periods (amenorrhoea)
Sometimes a woman may stop having periods altogether. This is known as absent periods, or amenorrhoea. Usually this means that no eggs are produced. If you don't produce eggs (ovulate), you can't get pregnant.
There are many possible causes of absent periods, including severe stress, extreme weight loss, various medications and polycystic ovary syndrome. Treating the underlying cause often brings your periods back.
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