At some point, most women suspect that their menstrual periods are abnormal for one reason or another. Periods can change as we age, becoming either lighter or heavier as time goes by. They may also change following a pregnancy, use of certain medications, or a surgical procedure. Most of these changes arte temporary, or may still fall into the “normal range”.

But what exactly is “normal”?

A typical period is 4-5 days long, but may range anywhere from one to seven days in length. If your menstruation is longer than seven days, we recommend that you see your gynecologist for evaluation.

It is normal to have some mild cramping with your menstrual flow. Severe cramping and pain are not normal. Pain is your body’s warning mechanism that something may be wrong. Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids), adenomyosis, endometriosis, and endometrial polyps are a few of the common reasons for heavy and/or painful menstrual cycles. These conditions are treatable.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days from Day 1 to Day 1 of your period. However, anywhere from 25 to 31 days between periods is considered a normal menstrual cycle. If your cycles are closer than 23 or farther than 35 days apart, have a medical evaluation.

The normal amount of blood lost during menstruation is about 2 to 8 tablespoons, although it may seem like more than that. Blood clots are usually clots of tissue in your menstruation. This is a normal occurrence. If you need to change your tampon or pad after only one or two hours, consult with your gynecologist.

If you are a woman who is postmenopausal and are experiencing vaginal bleeding, consult your gynecologist immediately.

At Femlife Healthcare for Women, we have a number of tools at our disposal to help diagnose and treat abnormally heavy or painful periods. We invite you to consult our experienced physicians regarding your menstrual cycle.

Gynecare Thermachoice

There are different options for managing heavy periods. Most doctors recommend birth control pills initially to manage heavy periods, but for many women, this option is either ineffective or undesirable.

If you have completed your childbearing and your menstrual cycles are either abnormally heavy or long, we invite you to learn about Gynecare Thermachoice. Gynecare Thermachoice is a minimally invasive, 8 minute outpatient procedure with no incisions or hormones, that may dramatically improve your menstrual cycles and may avoid the need for hysterectomy. Learn more about Gynecare Thermachoice.