What Causes Periods Every Two Weeks
Frequent menstruation can have a number of underlying roots, including hormonal and other causes. They include the following:
Hormonal Causes
Getting a period every two weeks is commonly caused by imbalanced levels of estrogen and progesterone. This frequently occurs during menopause as the ovaries transition into their non-fertile stage, causing drastic fluctuations of key reproductive hormones.
Other Causes
Polymenorrhea can also be caused by various medical conditions as well as certain lifestyle habits, such as the following:
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Drastic weight loss
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Going off or starting a new type of hormonal contraception
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Obesity, especially if related to polycystic ovary syndrome
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Benign uterine abnormalities, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids
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Certain types of cancer
What Are Irregular Periods
Even though girls get their periods on a cycle, that cycle can take different amounts of time each month. For example, a girl might get her period after 24 days one month and after 42 days the next. These are called irregular periods.
Irregular periods are very common, especially in a girls first few years of getting her period.
When To Seek Professional Help
In certain instances, two periods in one month can indicate a severe medical condition. It is vital that you consult your health care professional if you notice any changes in your natural cycle.
If you are experiencing heavy bleeding, and/or more cramping and pain than normal, then it would be most advisable to visit your doctor. The same is true if large dark clots are being discharged, and this does not usually happen during your period. Besides, excessive bleeding can be an indication of numerous, severe health conditions, including anemia.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
If you get your period more than once per month, contact your healthcare provider. “You can have a weird period episode, especially since stress, diet changes, travel, or exercise can cause irregularities, but if it’s happening over and over, you should be seen by your doctor,” Dr. Dweck explained.
A healthcare provider might also ask about whether you’re also experiencing other symptoms or may run additional testingblood work, ultrasound, etc.depending on what’s suspected. After that, the underlying cause will guide treatment. Examples of treatment include thyroid medication, a new birth control method, or a plan for managing PCOS.
Figuring out why you’re dealing with two periods in one month isn’t always so cut and dry, but knowing why you might be having this experience will help you and your healthcare provider make a plan to manage any underlying problems.
Skipping Or Discontinuing Birth Control
Birth control pills suppress your normal menstrual cycle with hormones that prevent ovulation. The pills usually come in a three-week supply followed by a week of placebos , and the lack of hormones during the placebo week is what makes you have a period.
When you go off of the pill, or even miss just a pill or two, your body may react like it does during the placebo week and start shedding the uterine lining. This can happen even if it hasnt been very long since your last period. A similar process happens if you make a mistake with a birth control patch or ring.
The proper way to resume your birth control after missing one or more doses varies by type, so be sure to read the information that comes with your contraceptive or ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do. And dont forget that you may need a backup method of contraception or emergency contraception to avoid an unintended pregnancy.
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How Your Period Responds To Stress
And what if you noticed menstrual changes after you caught the virus or even if you didnt catch it? That is also quite possible. Sometimes stress alone can throw your period out of whack, and if youre someone whos usually very regular, even slight differences are noticeable. And in case you need any convincing, theres no question that the coronavirus pandemic and other distressing developments in recent history qualify as a major form of stress.
Apart from the illness caused by the disease itself, the pandemic has brought the kinds of intense personal challenges that can really disrupt lives, whether that’s losing a loved one, managing remote work for yourself or schooling for kids, or getting divorced.
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So its not exactly surprising that some people who menstruate have been experiencing disruptions from skipped periods to longer cycles to changes in bleeding patterns. This can happen if someone becomes infected with the novel coronavirus or if they’re simply dealing with the prolonged stress of the pandemic, according to a report published in June 2020 in MedPage Today.
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Two Periods In One Month: What Causes Irregular Menstruation
An average menstrual cycle ranges anywhere from 24 to 38 days. After all, every woman is different, which also means that their menstrual cycles will also differ. Not to mention that the cycle can vary every month individually. That said, ones menstrual cycle may last a couple of days longer or shorter in a particular month than the previous one. And if a person generally has shorter cycles, they might even get two periods in one month, e.g., at the very beginning and very end of the month. In that respect, having a period twice a month doesnt have to be a reason for concern. However, if this is not a common occurrence for you, or you suspect that the bleeding may not be menstruation at all but spotting, you should check in with your doctor and see whether you need a gynecological treatment. Only a professional can identify the cause of getting a period every two weeks.
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Here Are 10 Reasons Why You Are Getting Your Period Twice In A Month
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Imagine a situation where your periods have just ended and within a span of just 10 days, you start bleeding again. Yes, we are talking about getting your periods twice in a month. Dont be alarmed because this situation is quite rare.
In fact, when we asked Dr Bilsi Mittal, a gynaecologist at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai, whether a woman can get her periods twice in a month, she promptly replied YES.
But, she also added that Nowadays it is a little normal due to many factors but if it continues to happen for months altogether, then you must get yourself checked as this could be an indication of a bigger problem.
According to Dr Mittal, there are multiple reasons that can lead to this problem and the age of the woman also has a major role to play. No points for guessing, hormones are the biggest culprits here. Here are 10 reasons why you might be getting your period twice in one month:
1. You might be pregnantIf the woman is in her reproductive age then there are high chances that she might be bleeding because she is pregnant. Intermittent bleeding happens in pregnancy and it is quite normal, says Dr Mittal.
3. You might have polyps or fibroids issuesDr Mittal suggests that fibroids can play a major role here. When either polyps or fibroids form along the uterus lining, then it can impact the period cycle.
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Your Weight Is Fluctuating
Rapid weight gain or loss and excessive amounts of exercise can also affect the hormones that stimulate ovulation, changing the typical pattern of your cycle.
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Usually if you are doing extreme exercise or have gotten underweight, your body turns off the ovulatory processit thinks its in a famine situation, and thats not a great time to have a baby, Masterson explains. But if youve become extremely overweight, you might see irregular bleeding happening more or less frequently than normal.
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Should You Be Concerned If Your Period Is Irregular
A couple of irregular periods per year are usually nothing to worry about. Any more than that, and you should see a doctor to be sure an ovulation problem or health condition isnt the cause. If you are someone whos not on contraceptives and not of age for perimenopause or menopause and your periods are irregular, you should alert your physician. For example, if you do have PCOS, an irregular cycle can increase your risk of uterine cancer, says Lynn.
Your Thyroid Isn’t Working Properly
An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can cause your period to come twice in one month. The thyroid gland is regulated by hormones produced and regulated in the same area of the brainthe pituitary and hypothalamusas the hormones that control menstruation and ovulation, explains Dweck. When one is off, the other might be affected.
If you have hyperthyroidism , you may also lose weight unexpectedly, feel nervous or anxious, have a rapid heartbeat, or have trouble sleeping. Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, constipation, fatigue, and increased sensitivity to cold, among other symptoms.
Your risk of developing a thyroid disease could vary by race, potentially due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. According to a 2014 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder often at the root of hyperthyroidism, is more common in Black, Asian, and Pacific Islander women compared to white women. On the other hand, Hashimotos disease, which often causes hypothyroidism, is more common in white women.
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How Do Pregnancy Tests Work
What pregnancy tests do is measure the concentration of the HCG hormone in our body. This hormone, naturally, is only produced when we are pregnant, so if there is a hormone, there is a pregnancy in principle. It can be an ectopic that would not thrive, a hollow egg that would not continue, or a regular and current pregnancy.
This hormone is secreted during pregnancy, although its levels are not stable. So we start by segregating a little bit, and things are increasing dramatically up to three months. After that, there is a slump in the second trimester, and it goes back up a bit at the end. I already copied the table of the quantities that we segregate on another occasion, but I copy it again.
What tests do is detect the presence of this hormone in the body. So the hormone is detected earlier in the blood. And it takes a little longer to be excreted in the urine. So, hence, we always have to wait longer for a urine test than for a blood test, because especially in the initial stages, it is likely that we are pregnant and not yet have reached the urine.
The hormone values should grow exponentially during the first weeks. After that, it is probably a hollow egg, and the doctors will keep it under control. But it will not be your safety case. There is nothing worse than obsessing.
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What To Do If You Have Two Periods In One Month
If you get your period more than once per month, contact your healthcare provider. You can have a weird period episode, especially since stress, diet changes, travel, or exercise can cause irregularities, but if its happening over and over, you should be seen by your doctor, Dr. Dweck explained.
They might also ask about other symptoms you may be experiencing along with the multiple instances of menstruation and run additional testingblood work, ultrasound, etc.depending on whats suspected. After that, the underlying cause will inform treatment, whether its thyroid medication, a new birth control method, or a plan for managing PCOS.
Figuring out why youre dealing with two periods in one month isnt always so cut and dry, but knowing why you might be having this experience can give you a better idea of whats going on.
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Potential Risk Factors For Shorter Menstrual Cycle
Teens and preteens who have just gotten their period could easily experience having two periods in one month simply because hormonal fluctuations during puberty are normal. Moreover, this could happen for up to two years after starting menstruating.
On the other hand, youre also at a higher risk of having a shorter menstrual cycle and sometimes getting a period every two weeks if you have a family history of early-onset menopause, cysts, and/or fibroids.
Of course, just because you may be in the increased risk group doesnt mean youll necessarily have to deal with more frequent menstrual bleeding at all.
You’re Seriously Stressed Out
High levels of stress can cause either more frequent periods or completely missed ones, says Dr. Masterson, because the hormones that trigger your ovaries to ovulate every month originate in the brain .
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Basically, when youre swamped at work or worrying a lot , those hormones can misfire and affect your cycle in negative ways.
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You’re On Or You Forgot To Take Your Birth Control
Duh, right? Missing birth control pills or forgetting your Depo-Provera shot will always cause irregular bleeding, says Dr. Richardson. Anytime you fail to take a birth control method correctly, you will bleed because you have an abrupt withdrawal of hormones. This kind of bleeding, though, is not an emergency.”
You can also experience irregular bleeding if you’re just starting to use birth control. “Birth control like the arm implant and IUD can be linked to intermenstrual bleeding or spotting, a.k.a. unscheduled bleeding or random bleeding that isn’t a true period. This is especially true the first few months after having either the implant or IUD placed,” says Jennifer Lincoln, MD, an ob-gyn based in Portland, Oregon, and the author of Let’s Talk About Down There. “In addition, this kind of bleeding can continue with the arm implant no matter how long you’ve had it, while for many it stops over time with the IUD.”
Changes To Your Hormone Levels
Young women often spot, or bleed very slightly, when they ovulate . 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.
As well as reduced oestrogen levels, you may also experience other hormonal imbalances, which are completely harmless. This could be as a result of stress, or a recent change of diet.
Girls who have just started their periods and women going through menopause are more likely to have irregular periods, which can be confused with bleeding between periods.
Your doctor may organise a blood test to investigate your hormone levels and will advise you on possible treatments.
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How Is Anovulation Diagnosed
Diagnosing an anovulatory cycle can be simple when a woman has no period, or periods that come very erratically. But thats not the case for every woman.
To diagnose an anovulatory cycle, your doctor may check:
- your progesterone levels
- the lining of your uterus
- your blood for the presence of certain antibodies
Your doctor may also perform an ultrasound to take a closer look at your uterus and ovaries.
Is It Normal To Have 2 Periods In 1 Month
For some people, it can be normal to have two periods in a month if it happens occasionally. However, it is not normal to consistently have two periods each month.
A typical menstrual cycle can range from 24 to 38 days. Every person is different, though, and your cycle may vary from month to month. You may simply have a shorter menstrual cycle that results in more frequent periods.
For teenagers who have just started to have periods, it is normal to have irregular menstrual cycles, including having two periods in 1 month. The years leading up to menopause can also include changes in menstrual patterns that increase the frequency of your periods.
However, for people who have gone through menopause, vaginal bleeding is not an expected symptom. Bleeding after menopause may be a sign of a serious condition, including certain types of cancer.
If you are past menopause and experience any type of vaginal bleeding, contact an OB-GYN.
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You Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal condition in which your reproductive hormones become imbalanced. Irregular bleeding is a common symptom of this condition.
Getting your period twice in one month usually isnt anything to worry about if it happens just once or you know you have a shorter cycle. But if this is happening repeatedly each month and is different from your normal cycle, youll want to see your healthcare provider to find out whats going on.
If you would like to meet with a knowledgeable doctor, consider contacting Womens Health Arizona. As Arizonas largest ObGyn group, were trained and solely dedicated to delivering the best ObGyn experience in convenient and comfortable settings around Phoenix.
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How To Find The Best Birth Control Method For Your Lifestyle
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We have to make choices of all sorts each and every day. These decisions range from simple things, like what to have for breakfast or which running route to take, to more serious things, like the best birth control to use. In fact, it can be totally overwhelming to sort through all of the information and advice out there when it comes to birth control.
Thats where this guide comes in handy. It will set you on the right path to making a solid decision about the best birth control method for you.
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