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Should I see a doctor if my period lasts 10 days?
If a woman is of reproductive age, any other change in her usual pattern by a week or more either way is abnormal, says Scher. Heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods — including light “spotting” — and missing a period should all be reported to a doctor, he advises.
When should I go to the doctor about my period?
If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding. If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor. Untreated heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest. It also can cause anemia.
What are the signs and symptoms of menorrhagia?
Signs and symptoms of menorrhagia may include:
- Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
- Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow.
- Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night.
- Bleeding for longer than a week.
What happens if menorrhagia goes untreated?
If left untreated, chronic menorrhagia can lead to anemia and severe pain. Anemia due to menorrhagia will present symptoms like fatigue, weakness, chest pain and shortness of breath. If you experience severe pain with menorrhagia, a medical evaluation and treatment may be needed.
How do you fix menorrhagia?
Medical therapy for menorrhagia may include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), help reduce menstrual blood loss.
- Tranexamic acid.
- Oral contraceptives.
- Oral progesterone.
- Hormonal IUD (Liletta, Mirena).
Why has my period been on and off for a month?
Long periods can be caused by a wide range of underlying conditions. Hormone and ovulation changes Changes to your hormones or ovulation may cause a long period. You may notice hormonal changes when you first get your period during puberty or in perimenopause.
How long is too long for a period?
Periods lasting for eight days or more should be investigated, says Dr. Higgins. Heavy periods (requiring multiple pad or tampon changes a day) or infrequent periods (occurring less than every 5 weeks) should also be evaluated.
Can thyroid problems affect your menstrual cycle?
For females, this includes hormones associated with the menstrual cycle. If a person has an underactive or overactive thyroid, they may experience long periods or ones that seem as though they will not stop. Thyroid problems can also cause very light periods, several months without a period, and early menopause.
Is it normal to have a missed period for 5 days?
Menstrual cycles are considered normal if they last anywhere between 21 to 35 days. Your cycle can vary, but your period is considered late after five days from the date when you expected it to come. A period is considered to have been missed if it’s been six weeks or more since the first day of your last menstruation.