5 signs of abnormal periods that you shouldn’t ignore

Menstruation, or what is commonly known as a period, is the monthly shedding of uterus lining for every woman. The menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the cervix and gets released out of the body through the vagina. This process is a part of the female reproductive system and prepares her body for a possible pregnancy. As long as the periods are consistent, there’s nothing to worry about. However, a few women go through abnormal periods too, once or more in their lifetime.

What is an abnormal period?

Most women have menstrual periods that last anything between four to seven days. In fact, a woman’s period cycle can ideally range between 21 days to 35 days. So, in case you experience any changes to your monthly menstrual cycle, it is a clear sign of an abnormal period and you might need you to report to the doctor.

What are the signs of abnormal periods?

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Divya, who goes by the name of The Girl Doc Next Door on Instagram, has shared key indicators of abnormal periods, in her recent social media post. Check it out!

Here are 5 signs of abnormal periods you should not ignore

1. Bleeding less than 2 days or more than 7 days

The usual period cycle is mostly between four to seven days. So, if you experience a shorter blood flow or a lengthy blood flow during a particular menstrual cycle and it happens frequently, it might be a cause of concern.

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While menorrhagia means extra heavy periods, hypomenorrhoea is a condition that is characterized by light periods and in this case, the menstruation occurs for less than two days with blood volume less than 80ml.

2. Cycle is less than 24 days or more than 38 days

The number of days between periods can vary for each woman, but the normal range falls anywhere between 24–38 days. So a cycle that falls outside this time frame is termed irregular or abnormal. In fact, if it varies for more than 20 days in length and it happens from month to month, it is ideal to see a doctor.

Also, read: These are the 5 times when you need to seek medical help for your periods

3. Changing fully soaked pads or tampons every 3 hours

Period blood volume also changes from woman to woman. However, if you soak through one or more pads or tampons every 3 hours, there are chances you have menorrhagia, which means an abnormally heavy menstrual flow. Along with the heavy bleeding, the woman suffering from menorrhagia might also show signs of anaemia such as fatigue or shortness of breath. But don’t worry too much, a heavy menstrual flow is common and most women eventually end up seeing their doctor about it.

4. Passing multiple clots

Passing blood clots during your periods is normal. However, passing large blood clots means there is something wrong. If your periods are heavier than usual or you are passing very large blood clots, check with your doctor to determine if there’s an underlying problem causing blood clots to happen.

5. Not needing a pad at all or spotting

Spotting may be managed with a pantyliner instead of a sanitary pad. But even that light a menstrual flow needs your attention. Amenorrhea is a menstrual disorder, which is characterized by absent or missed periods for continuous three cycles. So if a woman’s normal menstrual cycle becomes increasingly irregular or absent, she might be suffering from amenorrhea. There can be several reasons to it, and the most common are biological changes like breastfeeding, pregnancy or menopause. Sometimes,