Facts About Your Period Options

[*mzkandi*]

Facts about abnormal periods

There have been a lot of topics on abnormal period so here is a guide that can hopefully answer some of your questions. Source information comes from
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/menstruat...truabnormal.htm

You may be experiencing an abnormal period, abnormal uterine bleeding, an abnormal menstrual cycle 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.

you are soaking through more than one tampon or sanitary pad in 1 or 2 hours, or if your period lasts longer than 7 days, you may be experiencing excessive uterine bleeding or heavy menstruation.

you experience extremely severe cramps with menstruation. Some cramping is normal during your period, although not all women experience menstrual cramps, if your menstrual cramps seem more severe than normal you should see your health care provider to rule out and/ or diagnose the cause.

you may see clots of tissue in your menstruation, don't worry, this is no cause for alarm! Remember, your period consists of the lining of the uterus which is shed during menstruation, clots are very often a part of this shedding and rarely cause for alarm.

you are a young girl who has recently experienced the onset of menstruation, don't worry if you skip periods or have irregular periods for the first few years. This is very normal.

you are a young girl who extremely active in sports activities you may experience absence of menstruation for long periods of time. The cause of this is not clearly known.

you are a woman who is postmenopausal or a girl who is younger than eleven should see a doctor immediately if they experience uterine bleeding.

you are a young woman who is over 16 and have not started your period. See your health care provider and be sure to ask about the possibility of polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, particularly if you are experiencing other symptoms of PCOS.

Remember, normal menstrual bleeding lasts about 5 days, and although it may seem like you are losing a lot more blood, the amount of blood lost during your period is only about 2 to 8 tablespoons. Menstruation occurs on average every twenty-eight days; but, anywhere from twenty-five to thirty-one days between periods is considered a normal menstrual cycle. If you think you are experiencing abnormal bleeding or abnormal periods, contact your health care provider for advice about what steps you should take next.

Additional Resource
http://womenshealth.about.com/gi/dynamic/o...Firregular.html

I felt that this topic would be better-suited for the Girls' Locker, considering guys don't have periods.

This post has been edited by Kathleen: Aug 27 2006, 04:02 PM

[moninja]

got this from cosmogirl and i thought it was helpful.

your menstrual cycle's horomone fluctuations can make you creative and energetic some days, intutive and nuturing on others. here gabrielle gichterman, author of 28 days, explains how what she calls hormonolgy helps you make the most of your hormonal up and downs. (btw, week one begins on the first day of your period.)

week 1: you're slow-moving and you have trouble making decisions.
why: your period is here and estrogen and testosterone are low and sapping your energy.
maximize your mood: because you're not at your sharpest this week, put off making any drastic decisions, like trying a new short haircut or swithcing your college major, until next week. re-energize yourself by taking frequent naps so that you can be the best you can.

week 2: you're at your peak - your memory is at its sharpest. and you're confident, with lots of energy.
why: estrogen and testosterone are at their highest levels, so you're energentic and thinking faster!
maximize your mood: schedule tests if you can (like the SAT or your driving test), and try a new sport (roller derby, anyone?). skip slow activites (long plays, piano concerts: you'll get bored.

week 3: you're feeling mellow and especially self-protective.
why: after ovulation comes a surge in progesterone, which makes you a bit cautious.
maximize your mood: go with the slow - make time for yourself (try meditating). have a heart-to-heart with someone who needs your advice or someone you've been having problems with. and avoid taking risks-try bungee jumping some other time!

week 4: you're intuitive, creative, and introspective about your feelings.
why: a drop in testosterone has you thinking with your right brain (the visual, artistic side). estrogen and progesterone are also at their lowest points, making your suspectible to mood swings.
maximizing your mood: take PMS with artsy projects like DIY'ing a necklage or writing a song. east your moods by indulging in guilty pleasures.