Your Fertility After Having A Baby
You may be able to get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of your baby, even if your periods haven’t started again yet.
Some women feel that they wont need contraception so soon after having a baby, especially if they have found it difficult to get pregnant before. But your body goes through lots of changes during pregnancy and for some women they can have increased fertility. Even if you had your baby by IVF, it is important to think about which contraception youd like to use.
Skipping Or Stopping Birth Control
Oral contraception suppresses your normal menstrual cycle with hormones that keep your body from ovulating.
Birth control pills usually come with a three-week supply of pills with hormones followed by a week of pills without any hormones . The lack of hormones during the placebo week triggers your period.
The same thing can happen when you go off of the pill or even miss just a pill or two. This can happen even if you’ve had a recent period, leading to two periods in one month.
Your body can also react this way if you make a mistake with another form of hormonal birth control like the birth control patch or the ring.
The right way to restart birth control after missing one or more doses depends on the type. Always read the information that comes with your pills. You can also ask your provider or pharmacist what to do if you forget a pill.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Every woman has a heavy period from time to time. How do you know if it’s abnormal uterine bleeding? Only a doctor can tell for sure, but there are some signs that bleeding might not be normal.
One thing that can alert you to problems is the 1-10-20 test:
- You use more than 1 sanitary pad or tampon per hour.
- Your period lasts more than 10 days.
- There have been fewer than 20 days between your periods.
If you notice any of these things, call your doctor. Bleeding in between periods or after sex also can be a sign of AUB.
If your period stops for more than 3 months, ask your doctor about that too. If you’re not bleeding, the lining of the uterus can keep building up. Eventually it will need to flow out.
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Weight Gain Or Obesity
Rapid weight gain can throw your cycle. That’s because it affects the part of your brain that regulates hormones .
That can lead to hormonal fluctuations that may cause two periods in one month or to infrequent periods.
Obesity has a complex relationship with menstruation. High levels of fat can upset the balance of sex hormones and lead to excess estrogen.
Too much estrogen can make you have short menstrual cycles and more periods.
Hormonal imbalances can also cause heavier bleeding, more cramps, and longer-lasting pain during your period.
Menstrual changes related to weight are most severe when the extra fat is mostly around the belly.
Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for your body can help keep your menstrual cycle regular. If you need help losing weight, talk to your provider about your options.
If I Bottle Feed Instead Of Breastfeeding Will That Help My Cycle Go Back To Normal Quicker
This is possible, but there are many things that will influence your menstrual cycle. This includes things like stress or having a medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are exclusively breastfed for 6 months, and then for 2 years or as long as mother and baby want to, alongside solid food.
There are lots of benefits to breastfeeding. However, there are many reasons why women decide not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding after a time.
Finding the best way to feed your baby can sometimes be difficult or stressful. Dont be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because its important that youre happy about how youre feeding your baby.
Your health visitor is there to help you find the best option for you and your baby.
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Check If You Have Heavy Periods
You may have heavy periods if you:
- need to change your pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, or empty your menstrual cup more often than is recommended
- need to use 2 types of sanitary product together, such as a pad and a tampon
- have periods lasting more than 7 days
- pass blood clots larger than about 2.5cm
- bleed through to your clothes or bedding
- avoid daily activities, like exercise, or take time off work because of your periods
- feel tired or short of breath a lot
Not All Methods Of Contraception Will Be Suitable For You
Not all methods of contraception are safe for all women. For example, you should not use some methods if you have certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure .
There are some medical conditions where some types of contraception are not recommend because of the risk of a blood clot . These include:
- male or female condoms
- an IUD or an IUS .
An IUD OR IUS should be fitted within 48 hours of the birth. If you chose not to, youll usually be advised to wait until 4 weeks after the birth.
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How Long Does A Period Typically Last
There’s a pretty big range of normal when it comes to period length. “Usually, it can last anywhere between five to seven days,” says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a minimally invasive gynecologist in Dallas. “But there are times at which it can be a few days longer or shorter.”
Here’s a little Menstrual Cycle 101: During each cycle, your body’s sending hormones to thicken the lining of the uterus to make it a nice little home for a potentially fertilized egg. About midway through your cycle, one of your ovaries releases an egg, which then travels down the fallopian tubes to this newly plush uterus where, if it’s not fertilized by a sperm, it flows out of the body, along with the uterine lining that built up.
While this process is the same for nearly every woman, the length of their periods might differ depending on their specific hormonal shifts over the course of their cycle, which affects the endometrium development, and in turn, the number of days it takes for it to shed, Dr. Shepherd explains.
So, if your period is a day or two longer or shorter than your usual period length and you don’t notice any other symptoms or issues that seem unusual for you , it’s probably not a reason to be concerned.
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 girl’s first few years of getting her period.
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Youre Medically Overweight Or Obese
Obesity can affect your menstrual cycle, says Dr. Horton, because larger bodies produce excess estrogen, which can affect how often you have your periods and eventually cause you to stop ovulating regularly. When you stop having periods every month, the lining of the uterus will become thick, and eventually shed, resulting in very heavy and prolonged bleeding.
Losing weight can help you regulate your periods, she says. Your doctor may also prescribe birth control pills or progesterone to help with the prolonged heaving bleeding.
Will Contraception Affect My Breastmilk
If youre using a hormonal method of contraception, a small amount of hormone will pass into your breastmilk. There is no evidence that this will harm your baby, but you are advised to wait until the baby is 6 weeks old before starting the combined pill, the contraceptive vaginal ring or the contraceptive patch. This is because these methods contain the hormone estrogen which may prevent your milk production from starting.
Using the IUD doesnt affect your milk, and copper from it doesnt get into the milk.
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What Is Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding is the name doctors use to describe when something isn’t quite right with a girl’s periods. Doctors also sometimes call AUB “dysfunctional uterine bleeding” . Like lots of medical names, it can sound worse than it is. Most of the time, AUB isn’t something to worry about.
Abnormal uterine bleeding means that periods may be heavier or last longer than normal or not come at all. Bleeding between periods is also a sign of AUB. AUB isn’t usually a major problem, but it can lead some girls to develop anemia .
If a girl has AUB, it might mean her periods last longer or have more bleeding than normal. Or, it might mean the opposite that her bleeding is light and her periods aren’t coming as often as they should.
Because AUB isn’t usually a problem, doctors often don’t do anything about it. But sometimes they take action if a medical condition is causing AUB. Doctors also might treat AUB if it is causing another problem. For example, doctors may worry that a girl could get if she is bleeding more than she should.
When Should You Call Your Doc About Long Periods
If your period lasts longer than seven days, or if it suddenly changes significantly in length for three or more cycles in a row, that warrants a call to your ob-gyn, says Tom Toth, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF. It’s also worth seeing your doc if you’re soaking a pad or tampon every hour for several hours or passing clots.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dealing with something serious, but you want to get to the root of your period problem sooner rather than later. That’s because once you’re north of seven days and still bleeding, you’re at an increased risk for menorrhagia.
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Simply put, menorrhagia is when bleeding is too heavy and interferes with your quality of life or requires interventions like blood transfusions, iron transfusions, medications or surgical procedures, Dr. Shepherd explains. Menorrhagia can also lead to other issues, like anemia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Anemia can cause you to experience fatigue, weakness, and, in severe cases, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Taking iron supplements can help improve symptoms, but you need to see your doc to get an the cause of the heavy bleeding.
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How Can I Know If My Period Is Too ‘heavy’
It can be difficult to know whether you have normal menstrual bleeding or if your period is too heavy. Your period shouldnt interrupt your daily activities such as going to school or work, nor should it make you feel stressed or anxious. Signs that you may be bleeding too heavily during your period include:
- having to change your tampon or pad every hour
- bleeding or ‘flooding’ which is not contained by a thick pad
- having to change your pad during the night
- bleeding for more than 8 days
- passing clumps of blood bigger than a 50-cent piece
If you are concerned that your period is too heavy, you should speak to your doctor to help you work out the cause of your heavy bleeding and to seek solutions.
When To Call A Healthcare Provider
Keep in mind, that there are some symptoms that should prompt you to see a healthcare provider so that they can assess the symptoms, make a diagnosis if an underlying condition is causing the problem, and recommend a treatment to help make regulate the menstrual cycle.
Some signs that you should talk to a physician include:
- The sudden absence of a period
- Regular periods that become irregular
- Periods that are very heavy
- Periods that last more than a week
- Periods that occur more than every 21 days
- Periods occurring less than every 45 days
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Severe cramping or abdominal pain
That said, if your teen is showing no other signs, like being extremely lethargic, getting sick to their stomach and such, just keep an eye on them. However, calling a healthcare provider to get an opinion is always a good idea.
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What Is A Normal Cycle
A menstrual cycle is measured from the beginning of one menstrual period to the beginning of the next. The average menstrual cycle is about 28 days, but it can range between 21 to 45 days and still be considered a normal cycle. Menstrual bleeding typically lasts 3 to 5 days, although a range of 2 to 7 days can be the norm for some women.
During the first few years after the first period, your teen’s cycles may not be regular or predictable. These early cycles are frequently anovulatory, meaning no ovulation occurs during the cycle.
Although cycles usually become regular within 2 years of the first period , it can sometimes take 6 years after the first period to ovulate regularly.
It would be impossible to predict which cycles would have ovulation or not, so it doesn’t mean teen girls in these early years are not fertile.
How Long Should Periods Last
First, its important to know how long your period should last. On average, the menstrual cycle is every 21 to 35 days and during your period, bleeding can last 2 to 7 days. But what is normal for one person might not be for another. However, heavier or longer periods can increase your chances of anemia.
Menorrhagia is when your period lasts longer than a week or its heavier than whats considered normal. Heavy bleeding means you are soaking through a pad or tampon after less than 2 hours, or you are passing clots that are larger than a quarter. Menorrhagia can increase your chances of anemia, a condition where your red blood cells dont have the capacity to carry oxygen to various tissues throughout your body.
If youve had heavy or prolonged bleeding, talk with your doctor to see if you should be tested for anemia. Supplementing or eating high-iron foods such as red meat, spinach, and poultry, or taking an iron supplement may help.
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Period Bleeding Thats Cause For Concern
Your daughter probably doesnt want to discuss her periodwith you. But talk to her if you notice that she:
- Is going through a huge stack of pads each month
- Has periods that last longer than 10 days
- Has heavy bleeding throughout her entire period
If she does have a bleeding disorder, you might notice theseother signs as well:
- Blood loss when a baby tooth fell out or whilebrushing teeth
- History of significant bleeding during minorsurgery
- Family history of bleeding disorders or heavyperiods
Some unlucky women just have heavier periods than others. But if you have any concerns, its worth taking your teen to see a doctor even if it means risking some heavy-duty eye rolling.
You Could Be Pregnant
Periods lasting for three weeks or more dont always indicate a miscarriage. It indicates pregnancy as well. Yes, you read it right. In some cases, you dont miss your periods altogether. Rather, you will bleed longer than usual. To rule out the pregnancy, just take a home pregnancy test and get to know whether good news is on its way or not.
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Mayo Clinic Q And A: Irregular Periods Can Be Common At First
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My daughter had her first period at 15. That was six months ago, and she hasnt had a period since. Should I take her to see a health care provider, or is this typical?
ANSWER: When they first start, periods in teens are often irregular. Its not uncommon to go several months without a period within the first year or two of beginning to have menstrual cycles. In your daughters situation, a gap of six months at this point probably doesnt require an evaluation. However, if she goes another three to six months without another period, make an appointment for her to see her health care provider.
For the first few years after menstruation begins, long, irregular cycles are common and not cause for concern. The unpredictability during this time is due to whats called anovulatory cycles. That means the body isnt ovulating monthly. In teens, this often happens because their bodies havent yet settled into a pattern of regular menstrual cycles. In time, the cycles should become shorter and more predictable.
If a girl has her first period and then doesnt have another one for about a year, an evaluation is appropriate. To see if an underlying medical condition may be responsible for the absence of periods, a health care provider may recommend blood tests or imaging exams, such as an abdominal ultrasound. She or he also might do a pelvic exam.
Other Causes For Period Changes
The regular monthly period is not the only reason why people may bleed.
Because a persons periods are often irregular during perimenopause, they should pay extra attention for any abnormal symptoms particularly as some uterus-related conditions are more common during and after perimenopause.
People may bleed because of:
- Endometrial atrophy. Low estrogen in perimenopause and menopause can cause the tissue of the uterus to get very thin, which can cause irregular bleeding.
- Uterine polyps. These are benign growths that can grow inside the uterus and cervix. Polyps do not always cause symptoms, but some people notice bleeding after sex.
- Endometrial hyperplasia. Hormonal shifts can cause the lining of the uterus to thicken in perimenopause. When the body has too much estrogen without enough progesterone, this thickness may cause bleeding. Bleeding is its most common symptom. Endometrial hyperplasia is treatable but can increase a persons risk of cancer.
- Uterine Cancer. Uterine cancer happens when abnormal or atypical cells progress into cancer. Though rare, it generally presents with heavy bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding.
Perimenopause is not a disease and does not require treatment. It can, however, increase peoples risk of developing certain diseases. Moreover, the menstrual cycle can change for reasons other than perimenopause.
Anyone experiencing changes in their menstrual cycle should see a doctor for a diagnosis.
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