When To See A Doctor
Parents and caregivers may wish to seek medical advice if a child has a menstrual period or develops other features of puberty before they reach 8 years of age.
This can indicate that a child is entering puberty sooner than they should, which doctors refer to as precocious puberty.
Meanwhile, female adolescents who do not show signs of breast development by the may have delayed puberty.
Delayed puberty can happen for numerous reasons, including insufficient body fat, genetics, and problems affecting the ovaries.
Treatments for issues concerning the onset of puberty vary, depending on the underlying cause.
- difficulty sleeping
What Is The Difference Between Premature Menopause And Premature Ovarian Failure
Premature menopause isnt the same as premature ovarian failure, although some people use the terms interchangeably. Healthcare providers now refer to premature ovarian failure as primary ovarian insufficiency .
POI is a condition where your periods stop suddenly and spontaneously, either early or prematurely. POI isnt the same as premature or early menopause, because with POI, theres a chance your period will come back. People with POI may still ovulate, menstruate or become pregnant. With early or premature menopause, you dont ovulate or menstruate, and you lose the ability to get pregnant.
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Reasons Why Your Period Is Shorter Or Lighter
So, lets say your overall menstrual cycle is still happening as usualmeaning you get your period regularly and between about day 26 or 32but youre having light bleeding, a shorter period, or other changes in flow.
There are several common underlying causes for short or light bleeding, too:
Breastfeeding can shorten your period, or make it lighter. Nursing an infant suppresses reproductive hormones that normally regulate your menstrual cycle. As you breastfeed less and less, your cycle and period should eventually return to normal.
Early pregnancy can sometimes result in implantation bleeding, which usually lasts for a day or two and is very light. Implantation bleeding usually occurs around the same time youre expecting your period, which is why it can be confusing.
Thyroid problems can make your period very light, very heavy, or cause irregular cycles. Low thyroid is also common with PCOS. If you suspect symptoms of thyroid issues, youll want to make an appointment with your holistic doctor asap.
Birth control will also affect your flow. Many women who take hormonal birth control report having shorter, lighter periodsand sometimes none at all .
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome often results in a long history of irregular cycles, including shorter, lighter periods that dont arrive at predictable intervals.
Read: Signs You Have Estrogen Dominance + 6 Steps to Balance Hormones
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So Can Working Out Make Your Period Come Early
While changes to your workout routine can cause spotting, it can’t make your period come early. Still, abnormal vaginal bleeding is a good reason to get checked out by your doctor to make sure nothing’s amiss. It could be one of the issues described above, or just a fluke.
“Sometimes there is unexplained bleeding during exercise,” Dr. Sridhar says. “Occasionally, the body does things that are not by the book.”
On that note, she also points out that not everyone has a 28-day cycle. “We are not robots, and each body is different,” Dr. Sridhar says. “The typical frequency of the menstrual cycle spans from 24 to 30 days, so your period might come a little early and still be in the normal range.”
If you’re concerned about why your period comes early, see your doctor.
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Can Having Sex Make Your Period Start Earlier
30 Sep, 2021
Weve all heard the rumor that having sex can make you start your period earlier than expected. Finding yourself a day or two late can even make you wonder if doing the deed would be enough to get the ball rolling.
Discussions about sex and your period can get a little intense, but at Rael, were all about normalizing things that are normal, including talking about having sex around your period.
Whether youre trying to kickstart your cycle or worried youll end up with an inconvenient situation the next time youre intimate, weve got all the information you need to know. Well talk about what makes your period happen, how sex affects it, and what you can do to be prepared for any period situation.
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Signs Of Implantation Bleeding
It isnt easy to tell the difference between implantation bleeding and an early period. But here are some signs to clue you in to whats happening.
- Color. Implantation bleeding is more likely to be a pinky-brown color. Menstrual bleeding, on the other hand, may start off light pink or brown, but it soon changes into crimson red.
- Strength of flow. Implantation bleeding is usually super-light spotting. Your period may start off light, but the flow gets stronger.
- Cramping. Cramping that signals implantation is usually light and short-lived. Cramping that comes from your period is usually more intense and lasts longer. Every woman has her own pain threshold: You know your body best, so listen to it.
- Clotting. If you notice clots in the bleeding, you can be pretty sure that this is your period. Implantation bleeding will not produce this mix of blood and tissue.
- Length of flow. Implantation bleeding lasts 1 to 3 days while your period lasts 4 to 7 days.
- Consistency. Implantation bleeding is more like on-and-off spotting. Your period, however, starts off lightly and gets progressively heavier.
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Is It Ovulation Or Anearly Period
Ovulation usually occurs in the middle of your cycle, and that can roughly be two weeks before youre supposed to get your period. Therefore, what you think is your period coming early, could actually just be spotting.
Spotting is caused by normal hormone fluctuations in your cycle and can be recognized by the color and length of bleeding. The main difference between your period coming earlyand entering ovulation is that spotting is much lighter and doesnt increase in volume.
It only lasts for about one or two days and is usually pink or red in color. Some light cramping can be expected, too.
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If You’re Bleeding Frequently After Sex It’s Important To Go To A Doctor
Although it’s normal for some women to experience occasional light bleeding after sex, you need to see a doctor if you’re bleeding consistently throughout the month, according to Streicher.
“There is a very long list of things that could cause bleeding and most of them are not serious but there’s no way to really know unless someone checks it out,” Streicher told INSIDER.
Basinski added that recording when you’re bleeding can help you notice patterns that you can discuss with your doctor.
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Can A Uti Be A Symptom Of Early Pregnancy
Early in your pregnancy especially in the first trimester you may notice some signs that could point to a UTI. These include fatigue, frequent urination, back pain, and nausea. Bad cramps during early pregnancy can also feel similar to the cramps youd have with an infection.
How can I treat a UTI at home while pregnant?
Home remedies for a UTI include:
What are symptoms of not having a period?
Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, you might experience other signs or symptoms along with the absence of periods, such as: Milky nipple discharge. Hair loss. Headache.
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Period A Week Early: Is There Anything To Worry About
If your period comes early once in a while, it is likely normal and not a cause for concern.
Menstruation might start early because of a change in your lifestyle, intense physical exercise, illness, or stress. However, sometimes it happens with no reason, and this is still not necessarily abnormal. So, if you get your period a week early, try not to worry. If your period is consistently irregular, you can let your health care provider know to rule out any problems.
Many people have irregular periods occasionally others have them throughout their lives.
Some possible causes of getting your period early:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Sudden weight gain or loss
Your birth control method can also affect your cycle. An emergency contraceptive pill can cause an early period. If you skip a few combined oral contraceptive pills, your hormone levels may drop, and bleeding may start before its due. If you have recently had an intrauterine device inserted, your body may react to it by bleeding.
To avoid unpleasant surprises with your period coming early, it might be a good idea to have period products on hand, even if youre not expecting your period. If youre getting your period early for a prolonged period of time, make sure to ask your health care provider about it.
- Analysis of period and cycle length
- Chances of getting pregnant and ovulation forecast
- Predictions of next period
Why Did My Period Come Early If Im On Birth Control
It is because contraceptives influence hormonal changes that affect and change your cycle. Both emergency contraception and hormonal birth control can cause your period to come early. When it comes to emergency pills, like the Plan B pill, they work by disrupting ovulation, meaning they can cause an early period, as well as a late one.
Taking birth control pills will also affect the timing of your next period. How early or late your period arrives will depend on what part of your cycle you started taking birth control and whether youre also taking a week of reminder pills.
Keep in mind that other birth control options, such as an IUD, can also cause hormone fluctuations and period fatigue. Furthermore, switching from one type of birth control to another, as well as abruptly going off birth control, can all cause issues with your cycle for a few months.
If you experience heavy bleeding or more pain than usual, you should always visit a good Womens Health Clinic if the bleeding lasts longer than anticipated. This is because the birth control youre taking may be causing more harm than good, and a doctor will be able to prescribe something that suits you better.
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Period Problem: Unusual Bleeding
Unusual or abnormal bleeding is any bleeding that is different from your typical menstrual period or happens when you do not have your period.
Causes of unusual bleeding include:
- Hormonal changes. Changing hormone levels during puberty and perimenopause, the transition to menopause, can cause longer, heavier periods. They can also cause irregular cycles.
- Endometriosis. This condition happens when the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus where it does not belong.
- Ovarian cysts. Unusual bleeding may be a sign of an ovarian cyst that has ruptured .
- Cancer, such as uterine, cervical, and ovarian cancer. Any vaginal bleeding after menopause can be a sign of a serious health problem, including ovarian, cervical or uterine cancer.
Get In Tune With Yourself
Lots of things about your period — like how often you get it, how long it lasts, and how heavy your flow is — can be different for every woman. Some of them can offer clues to what’s going on in your body. Pay attention to what’s normal and healthy for you so you can pick up on early signs of trouble.
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What About Endometriosis
Endometriosis is characterized by severe cramps,period fatigue, chronic back pain, and pain during or after sex. It can also cause irregularities with your period but can go undetected for years.
This condition is caused by the tissue that grows inside the uterus and starts growing in different body areas. The ovaries, bowels, and abdomen can all be affected.
Since endometriosis can cause prolonged and very painful bleeding, dont be afraid to go to the gynecologist on your period. An experienced doctor has seen it all by now, and your health and comfort should come before anything else.
Before you visit the gynecologist, though, check with your female relatives whether they experience similar symptoms to you.
You are at higher risk of having endometriosis if someone in your family has it, so knowing your family history before you talk to your doctor is essential.
Why Is My Period Early
Imbalanced hormones are the main cause for an early period. They can become unbalanced by:
- Taking contraceptive pills, or emergency contraception
- Stress or anxiety can release stress hormones that can alter your flow or cycle, being an important reason why your period came early.
- Abrupt weight loss or weight gain
- Not getting enough sleep.
- Puberty or menopause. When your body goes through changes, hormones fluctuate.
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Can Intermittent Fasting Cause Early Periods
There are also many anecdotal stories of women who have experienced changes to their menstrual cycles after starting intermittent fasting. Such shifts occur because female bodies are extremely sensitive to calorie restriction.
Can intermittent fasting cause delay your period?
A few days of fasting is unlikely to affect your period. But it really comes down to diet quality, caloric intake, and BMI. You need to keep an eye on what you eat and make sure that you arent having any nutrient deficiencies or low blood sugar levels. And if you arent already, its a good idea to track your period.
When Is A Period Not A Period
Many women experience some sort of spotting during some menstrual cycles, which can easily be mistaken as the beginning of a new period. It can be due to ovulation as mentioned previously or hormone imbalance or pregnancy.
If youve unprotected sex and the spotting occurs around when youd expect your next period, it may be a sign that a fertilized egg has implanted in your uterus. This is called implantation bleeding. If you think that you may be pregnant, take a pregnancy test bearing in mind you might have to wait a couple of weeks in order for a pregnancy to show up as positive. Each pregnancy test manufacturer is different, so read the instructions. If you are pregnant consult your doctor about your next steps.
An early period could also indicate the start of an irregular menstrual cycle. This can be caused by a temporary imbalance in your hormones due to lifestyle changes. However, it can also be a sign of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. More on that in our posts about PCOS and irregular periods.
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- An early period may be due to lifestyle changes like periods of stress, strenuous exercise, or drastic weight changes that alter your hormone production.
- But early periods can also be caused by underlying conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and endometriosis.
- Age-related hormonal changes, like puberty and perimenopause, may also cause early periods.
Most people get worried if their period is late or they miss a period, but an early period can be just as concerning. There are multiple causes of an early period, ranging from stress to medical conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome .
Here are 11 reasons why your period might be early.
Why Did My Period Come Early
A menstrual cycle can last anywhere between 21 and 35 days. Even women with the most regular and consistent periods can get them two weeks earlier than expected. There are plenty of reasons for bleeding, but they dont have to be indicators that theres something wrong. Well help you get to the bottom of things by giving you the right questions to ask yourself.
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Follow Proper Diet Plan
Dysmenorrhea is very common in women with poor constitution of health and dietary profile. The lack of proper nutrients and microelements in the body not only delays periods but greatly disrupts the normal rhythm.
So, having a well to do diet plan with adequate amount of both micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients will even out the period rhythm.
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We Know Youre Wondering: Is It Possible To Be Pregnant And Still Have A Period
Nope, experts say. Some people may experience bleeding or spotting, but those are different bleeding patterns from the cyclical menses your body experiences in absence of a pregnancy.
Dr. Michele Hakakha, an OB-GYN and author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy, told Parents that people definitely can experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, but that when they bleed, they are not having a period. Thats because your body needs to reserve the uterine lining as nourishment for the growing pregnancy.
Although bleeding during pregnancy doesnt always mean cause for concern, it can indicate something more serious like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In the earliest stage of pregnancy, however, some very light bleeding is totally normal and leads us to our first pregnancy clue: implantation bleeding.
Implantation bleeding usually doesnt last more than a couple of days, and its much lighter than most peoples periods .
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When To Call The Doctor
- You get irregular periods after having normal cycles.
- Your period happens more often than every 24 days or less often than every 38 days.
Treatment depends on the cause of the irregular periods. Your doctor may give you hormonal birth control, such as a hormonal IUD,8 the pill, shot, or vaginal ring,9 to help control your menstrual cycle. Hormonal birth control is sometimes prescribed by doctors for womens health concerns other than preventing pregnancy.