Is your period normal?

HAVE you experienced missed cycles, no cycle, clotting, lighter or heavier-than-normal bleeding? While some symptoms are normal during your monthly cycle, there are others that may require a trip to your gynaecologist.

So how can you tell if your period is normal? Gynaecologist Dr Douglas McDonald explains some of the instances when your period could be abnormal.

1. If you need to change tampons or sanitary napkins after only one or two hours.

2. If your menstrual cycle is longer than 31 to 35 days apart, or less than two weeks from day one of your period to day one of your next period. This, Dr Douglas says, is considered abnormal since 28 days is the normal time between periods.

3. While some women may experience periods lasting longer than seven days, Dr McDonald says if the flow is light then it should not be cause for much concern. If, however, the flow is heavy, then it is abnormal.

4. You suddenly begin experiencing severe menstrual cramps. While it’s normal to experience a small amount of cramping during your period, it’s not normal to experience severe menstrual cramps, Dr McDonald says. This, he says, is known as dysmenorrhea, a condition of pain during menstruation that interferes with daily activities.

5. If you are passing out large clots of blood, this is abnormal. Dr McDonald says that small clots are normal but large clots mean something isn’t right and merits a visit to your gynaecologist.

6. While it is not unusual for women in their late 40s to have missed periods, in other women it can be caused from emotional distress. “It can be caused by emotional fatigue such as anxiety, worry, the loss of a loved one, separation from a partner, loss of a partner, etc,” Dr McDonald explains. While this can be considered abnormal, it is not a medical issue. If, too, you are extremely active in sports, this could also result in missed periods.

7. If you are experiencing bleeding outside of your period cycle, this is abnormal if it last for days. However, Dr McDonald says some women bleed for a day in the middle of the cycle period but this is indicative that they are ovulating and is quite normal.

8. If you are over 16 and haven’t had a period yet. “Most persons start a little earlier,” Dr McDonald says. “But if you reach 16 I would watch it a little longer. Above that though would not be normal.”

For any symptom that is considered abnormal, women should visit their gynaecologists.

Menstrual facts:

* The normal menstrual cycle lasts from five to seven days.

* The normal amount of blood lost during menstruation is said to be between two to eight tablespoons, although it may seem like more than that.

* An average menstrual cycle is 28 days. However, anywhere from 25 to 31 days between periods is considered OK.

* It’s not unusual, especially in the first two years after beginning menstruation, to skip periods or to have an irregular menstrual cycle.

* Diet, stress, exercise and some illnesses can affect the menstrual cycle.