The average period is two to seven days in length, so bleeding for eight days or more is considered long. In general, periods on the longer end of normal (five to seven days) aren't something to worry about.
If you suspect your period is lasting longer than usual or you have heavy bleeding with your periods, don't hesitate to contact your doctor. It's important to find the cause of longer or heavier periods to not only rule out more concerning medical conditions but to improve your overall quality of life.
If you have bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days per period, or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour, you need to talk with your doctor. To find out if you have menorrhagia, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and menstrual cycles.
No. Normal menstrual periods last 3 to 7 days. Longer than normal periods can occur because of stress, a hormone imbalance, pregnancy, infection, a thyroid condition, and other causes. You should make an appointment with your health care provider.
Menorrhagia in older reproductive-age women is typically due to uterine pathology, including fibroids, polyps and adenomyosis. However, other problems, such as uterine cancer, bleeding disorders, medication side effects and liver or kidney disease could be contributing factors.
In a nutshell, stress can make your periods longer or shorter, make them stop altogether or even make your PMS worse, all by interacting with the HPG axis. Stress can also affect periods in subsequent months, changing their duration and even how painful they may be.
Long periods can be the result of a variety of factors such as health conditions, your age and your lifestyle. Underlying health conditions that can cause long periods include uterine fibroids, endometrial (uterine) polyps, adenomyosis, or more rarely, a precancerous or cancerous lesion of the uterus.
Changes to your hormone levels
Young women often spot, or bleed very slightly, when they ovulate (release an egg from the ovary). It happens about 10 to 14 days after their period and is usually caused by a temporary drop in levels of the hormone oestrogen. This is quite normal.
Definitely call your doctor if: Your periods used to be regular, but they've become irregular. Your period comes more often than every 21 days, or less often than every 35 days, for several cycles. You bleed for more than seven days straight.
A person should go to the ER if they: have bleeding that soaks through one pad or tampon per hour for several hours. pass blood clots that are larger than a quarter. have a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, or both.
If blood spurts from the wound, or it does not stop bleeding after 10 to 15 minutes of pressure, seek medical help. You may need stitches. After bleeding stops, rinse the cut thoroughly with cool water. You can either hold the wound under running water or pour water from a cup over the wound.
Abnormal uterine bleeding is bleeding between monthly periods, prolonged bleeding or an extremely heavy period. Possible causes include fibroids, polyps, hormone changes and — in rare cases — cancer.
If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
"A common cause for abnormal menses, including longer bleeding, is pregnancy," he explains, adding that typical symptoms of pregnancy, like nausea, may be absent. "Any time a woman has unusual bleeding, it's always best to eliminate possibility of pregnancy with a blood test for pregnancy for reassurance," he says.
By staying fit and keeping active you might be able to shorten your periods as well as lightening your flow. Also during your period exercise is a great way to relieve any pain that you may be experiencing, as the body releases its natural painkillers- endorphins.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice, just like apple cider vinegar, is a highly acidic food item. Lemon juice to delay period is one of the oldest and widely used remedy to delay periods. Lemon juice is a natural product with no side effects on health.
Overall, the findings suggest that water intake could decrease the duration of menstrual bleeding, the amount of pain relievers consumed, and the severity of pelvic pain among the young women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea and drinking less than 1600mml of water per day.
Since your estrogen and progesterone levels are low during the period, it causes your body to retain water, which makes you feel bloated and experience cramps. Drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day during your period helps in fighting bloating and cramps as it flushes out your system.
High stress levels are associated with: Painful periods. Presence of premenstrual symptoms like nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, and weight changes. Irregular menstrual cycles, with longer or shorter cycles than normal.
Healthy cardio and workout routines can help lighten your period. Exercising also alleviates cramps and bloating because it pumps you up with happy chemicals and lessens water retention. Working out may also reduce the length of your period because stronger muscles help your cycle function faster.
If you have a long period for only one month, there's probably no need to worry. But “if you notice a change for two or three cycles, that's the time to seek out your doctor,” Thielen says.