Sometimes it’s not so easy to tell what’s normal and okay about your period and what isn’t. Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN wants you to know these things about your period that you might not have heard before.
Health Issues Can Affect Periods
Your period relies on hormones and there are so many health conditions that affect hormones and therefore your period. When you see changes to your cycle, that might be an indication that there are other things going on with your health. Any time you notice something new or odd, talk to your doctor.
Spotting Between Periods Is Usually not a Big Deal
Lots of times, women experience spotting or a small amount of bleeding in between periods. This can happen due to ovulation or hormonal changes. If you’re concerned or you’re experiencing spotting every month, mention it to your doctor.
You Might Notice Changes in Your Period Before Menopause
You expect that as you near menopause your period will start to change, but you might notice changes in your periods well before then. Many women who aren’t in menopause start to notice changes as early as their 30s. Those changes can be related to pregnancies, health issues, and so many other variables.
You Could Beat Period Cramps by Taking OTC Pain Meds Sooner
Plenty of women wait until period cramps get really bad to take over-the-counter pain relievers. But you might just find that taking them sooner helps to block prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are what contribute to period pain and anti-inflammatory OTC meds can help to stop production of them. That might mean that you experience less pain a lot sooner.
Getting Your Period Every Month Doesn’t Mean You Ovulated
The prevailing belief is that if you got your period, you also ovulated, right? But that’s not necessarily the case. You can still get your period even without having released an egg, which is in fact what happens with hormonal birth control. Tracking ovulation is important when you’re trying to get pregnant and it’s possible to learn those signs.
Irregularity Is More Common than You Think
Many women think they’ve got regular periods because they have a period every month. There might be some variation in how long your cycle is, though. Getting your period every 25 days can be counted as regular. If you experience fluctuation month to month, say getting a period in 28 days one month and 22 the next, that’s an irregular period. Consistent irregularity is something to mention to your doctor.
Not sure if what you’re experiencing with your period is normal or not? Give us a call at Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN in Stockbridge, GA and we can help.
