- While irregularities in your period might not be a pointer to anything serious, they are sometimes caused by other health problems.
- Different parameters are used to gauge whether a woman’s menses; the duration of the bleeding, the amount of the bleeding and how often the bleeding happens.
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Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle.
The first period can be met with either celebration, fear or concern. For every girl, this signifies an important transition to womanhood.
However, it is advisable to start paying attention and keep track of your menstrual cycles to help you understand any irregularities such as a missed period or menstrual bleeding that isn't typical.
Health experts say that while irregularities in your period might not be a pointer to anything serious, they are sometimes caused by other health problems.
Dr Joan Okemo, Obstetrician Gynecologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital says different parameters are used to gauge whether a woman’s menses are normal or abnormal; the duration of the bleeding, the amount of the bleeding and how often the bleeding happens.
She says that the duration for normal bleeding should be less than eight days and is counted as abnormal if it goes beyond that.
“For the number of times that someone should bleed, it should be between 24 to 38 days so if your cycle is less than 24 days or more than 38 days it is abnormal,” she says.
The medic says a woman can tell abnormality by the volume of blood lost during their menses. This, she says can be seen by the number of times you change your pad.
“If you are changing a pad every three hours or less, if the pad has blood clots, if you have to wake up at night to change a pad or you are using more than 21 to 30 pads in a cycle then that is abnormal,” she warns.
Okemo associates abnormal uterine bleeding with several factors such as one of which is polyp, fibroids or adenomyosis.
Adenomyosis is a condition that causes endometrial tissue in the lining of the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus. It enlarges the uterus and may lead to very heavy menstrual bleeding.
Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding can also be a sign of uterine, cervical and vaginal cancer, medical conditions like thyroid disease, use of contraceptives or due to hormonal imbalance.
As a result, you are advised to see a doctor if you bleed for more than seven days, bleed between periods, you bleed more heavily than usual or soak through more than one pad or tampon every hour or two.