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The menstrual cycle occurs in all females from the onset to puberty (average age 11 or 12 years) to the menopause in middle age (average age between 45-55). The lining of the uterus is shed via vaginal bleeding when a girl or woman has not conceived a pregnancy.
The menstrual period lasts between two days and seven days, usually occurring once every 28 days, although anything from once every 24 days to once every 35 days is considered normal.
If you are having a period more than once every 24 days, it is considered an irregular cycle.
Having a period once every two weeks, or twice a month is abnormal and you should see your doctor because you may become anemic if you are having very frequent periods. They are sometimes a sign of infection or other medical problem that would need treatment.
Reasons for a period every two weeks could be:
• Dramatic weight loss or gain -- This changes the hormones in the body and these are responsible for directing when the period will start.
• Excessive exercise -- This too disrupts hormones.
• Stress -- Exams, family argument, financial worries, divorce, even a holiday can cause a temporary change in your menstrual cycle.
• Illness and/or medications -- Some medications can affect your cycle. Talk to your doctor about altering or stopping your medication if you think this is happening.
• Uterine problems such as polyps, cysts, fibroids or tumors (either benign or cancerous).
• Sexually transmitted infections -- These can cause bleeding in between periods which can be mistaken for a period.
• Thyroid problems -- Thyroid disease could cause a thickening of the uterine lining, resulting in more bleeding than normal.
• Reactions to contraceptive methods -- Sometimes the pill, depo provera injections or the copper-only IUD can result in a change in your cycle.
~ The pill and IUD can make you bleed in between periods, known as "breakthrough bleeding" and this may be mistaken for a period.
~ The IUD can also make your periods heavier.
~ The depo-provera injection can make your cycle irregular, however, it often stops your period altogether instead of making it more frequent.
~ Sometimes changing or stopping your method of contraception can cause a sudden drop in hormones and this can result in a change to your cycle.
• Onset of menopause -- In women aged 45 and over, having periods every two weeks can be a sign that you are about to go through menopause. It can be a sign of ovulation beginning to shut down. If you are under 45, having irregular periods in addition to other symptoms commonly associated with menopause, may signal premature ovarian failure.
Treatment
Sometimes treatment is not necessary, for instance, if the disruption in cycle is due to stress, weight loss or gain, or illness, it may be temporary and may correct itself in time.
However, to rule out other possibilities your doctor will perform a pelvic examination. Your doctor may also take a sample of the uterine lining as well as doing an ultrasound scan to see if there are any obstructions in the uterus, such as fibroids.
If any obstructions are found, you can be referred for surgery to have them removed. If any cancer is found, you will be referred to an oncologist who will plan your care with you.
Sexually transmitted infections can be treated with antibiotics (and the use of condoms to prevent further infections). Your partner may have to be treated as well.
If the problem is caused by a contraceptive device or medication, this can usually be changed to stop the problem.
Heavy and/or frequent periods can sometimes be controlled by certain brands of the pill. If you find they are really disrupting your life, for instance, you are bleeding through your clothes, have to miss work days and can’t plan your holidays, this may be an option depending on your medical history.
Hormone treatment could also be given in this scenario, if you have thyroid disease or if you are starting menopause.
Sources:
Periods, Heavy. NHS Choices. Web. 26 May 2012. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods-heavy/pages/introduction.aspx
Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia). WebMD. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
http://women.webmd.com/guide/heavy-period-causes-treatments
Top Ten Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. About.com Women's health. Retrieved May 27, 2012. http://womenshealth.about.com/od/abnormalbleeding/a/causemenorrhagi.htm
Irregular Periods Every Two Weeks, 34 Menopause Symptoms. Web. 26 May 2012.
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/irregular-periods/articles/irregular-periods-every-two-weeks.htm
Premature Ovarian Failure, National Insititute for Child Health and Human Development. Web. 26 May 2012. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Premature_Ovarian_Failure.cfm
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/ She is the mother of five children and practices natural childbirth, delayed cord clamping, full term breastfeeding and organic food diet.
Reviewed May 28, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment221 Comments
Hello Anonymous,
This must be very concerning and unusual. You need to schedule an appointment with either your pediatrician or at this point, a gynecologist.
Because the menstrual cycle is regulated by a precise balance of hormones, there is most likely a hormonal imbalance causing this.
Regards,
October 8, 2015 - 8:21amMaryann
This Comment
Hi, I am 24yrs old married. I have irregular periods till a year before my marriage. After consultanting a doctor it got to normal. After marriage again my periods are irregular. When I consult a doctor, by the tablets next period will be on time but heavy bleeding. Then again irregular. From 5months we didn't have any sex. My periods are irregular but whenever period it will be for more than 7days and heavy bleeding. Last month I consulted doctor for heavy bleeding, by the tablets I got my period on time but still heavy and I got it 2times in this month and both times heavy and for 5days. Is there any problem?
September 25, 2015 - 10:10amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
There is definitely a problem. Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding is called menorrhagia. This condition is caused by hormonal imbalance, dysfunction of the ovaries, uterine fibroids, polyps, and adenomyosis, which occurs when glands from the endometrium become embedded in the uterine muscle.
Untreated, you are at risk for developing iron deficiency anemia.
Have you had a Pap smear and ultrasound?
Regards,
October 8, 2015 - 8:27amMaryann
This Comment
Hi I'm 16years old and I had my implant in a year ago last July and 3weeks ago I had a period which lasted 3-4days then just 2weeks after I started another but it was dark brown in color then went grayish then pink then normal then back dark brown and I have now been on my period for almost 2weeks, what could it be?
August 23, 2015 - 9:20amThis Comment
Hi I'm 17 years old. And I had sex with my boyfriend we used protection and everything but he came inside me and he might of thought the condom broke so we bought plan b and everything was good. Then a week after I took it I started my period again after I was just on it. So its like I'm having two periods in one month. What does this mean?
August 20, 2015 - 5:00amThis Comment
Hi, my periods have never been normal. I have went as long as 7 months without starting that time I was 27 years old. My age now is 38. This month I had a period a week and half ago, last night I stated having a dark discharge and this morning looks like I've started my period again. I've had mood swings for the past 3 weeks
July 29, 2015 - 5:22amThis Comment
I got my period last July 5 and ends at July 12. And last July 24 I got my period again until this day. What the problem on me? This not normal. :(
July 28, 2015 - 6:16pmThis Comment
Hi I just turned 41 this month last month I didn't have a cycle but I came on my cycle on the 3 of this month and went off on the 8th an now I have came on my cycle again it the 25th I am worried because I do have hyperthyroidism so I called and asked the nurse by me having thyroid problem is this why um missing my cycle she told me no so can you please tell me what is causing this
July 26, 2015 - 7:40amThis Comment
Hi I am 23 years old and married
July 24, 2015 - 8:10pmLast month and last to last month I had taken contraceptive pills because of which this month I got my periods twice ie in 10 days gap .
Kindly sujjest I am worried
This Comment
I'm 54 and have been fortunate to have had very light periods most of my adult life. My period started when I was 12 and then disappeared until I was 16...Lucky me...right? That is until I turned 45 and had a lot of stresses in my life....First my L4/L5 disks started rupturing due to spinal stenosis, degenerative disk arthritis. I made the mistake of having a lamenectomy fusion..,big mistake...although I had a wonderful neurosurgeon, this particular surgery made me significantly worse regarding my pain...similar to the domino effect....now all my disks are rupturing...I was a competitive swimmer throughout college and I am fortunate to have a pool at home. I swim laps to suppress the pain....When I was 48 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was prescribed synthetic thyroid Rx med...This resulted in high blood pressure, and high cholesterol....then to top it off, my husband passed away from cancer 3 1/2 years ago....I landed in the hospital with two TIA's in conjunction to Thyroid storm only to be told that my previous health care primary care physician misdiagnosed me and I am actually hyperthyroid and was diagnosed by an Endocrinologist as having Graves Disease...I am taking the correct ATD's now. I've been asthmatic and have had bronchitis triggered by various environmental allergies since I was 2....Simce my Graves diagnoses, I catch more infections..Since Graves is an autoimmune disease and I am a public school teacher, when I am exposed to colds and flu's, I catch them all and they linger for months exasperating bronchitis and chronic asthma attacks even after I take the flu shots every flu season....My periods are now super heavy, lots of cramping accompanied with severe migraines that I have never had before..Recently, I skipped two months not having a period, then by the third month I had two periods...Causing even more fatigue due to my iron deficiency anemia and the fact that my Graves also causes significant fatigue...Although I was diagnosed with fibroids and endometriosis in my 30's, I am not a candidate for a hysterectomy because I am currently being screened for possible Afib from the Graves' disease and cannot risk surgery when I have these other health factors...I cannot have an endometrial eblation because my uterus is retroverted....With all this, I am fortunate to have two children in their early to mid 20's....I refuse to take hormone replacement for fear it may potentially cause various cancers....What can I do to alleviate this pain from the heavy irregular periods I am having and because I have had iron deficiency anemia most of my life iron vitamins hurt my stomach. Intake prescription Prilosac due to my hiatal hernia and mild stomach ulcer...My iron deficiency is so low that I feel very faint and dizzy during my heavy periods. Does the thyroid hormones from the Graves contribute to all my menopause symptoms? Thank You.....Allie
June 19, 2015 - 12:30amThis Comment