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Severe period signs you shouldn’t ignore

Bleeding and cramping are typical, but these signs may mean it's time to see a provider.

Updated on August 18, 2023

A smartphone app for tracking menstrual period symptoms.
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Periods are a natural part of the biological monthly cycle for those with a uterus, and period signs like bloating and cramps can be typical for many people. But when these signs become intense or start to interfere with daily life, it could be time to see your healthcare provider (HCP).

Here are three severe period signs to watch for, possible health conditions that theyShow More

tampon, pad, calendar, pms, period
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What a typical period should look and feel like

Period signs can vary from month to month and from person to person. As you go through different stages of your life, your periods may also change. So how do you know what’s typical and what’s not?

Your periods should be predictable, but they may not occur at the same time every month, saysShow More

period, blood, blood stains
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Symptom #1: spotting between periods

Usually, bleeding lasts for up to eight days during menstruation. What’s not typical is to see blood in your panties or on toilet tissue between periods.

On one hand, spotting between periods could be a sign you're experiencing an irregular menstrual cycle. On the other hand, it could indicate aShow More

period, tampon, pad, pantyliner, pms
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Symptom #2: Heavy bleeding

Menstrual bleeding is considered heavy when it:

  • Lasts longer than seven days
  • Soaks through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours
  • Requires more than one pad or tampon at a time, or requires changing pads or tampons in the middle of the night
  • Is accompanied by blood
  • Show More
cramp, pms, cramping, hot water bottle
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Abdominal pain and cramps

Abdominal pain or cramping often accompanies menstruation. But very painful periods, otherwise known as dysmenorrhea, may be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to typical menstrual pain caused by an increase in activity by the uterus-produced hormone prostaglandin.Show More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Office on Women’s Health. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your First Period: FAQ. November 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Women’s health: Menstrual cycle: What's normal, what's not. April 29, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
Office on Women’s Health. Menstrual Cycle. February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
Office on Women’s Health. Uterine fibroids. February 19, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Cervical polyps. January 27, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. June 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last accessed June 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Adenomyosis. June 18, 2022.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). July 2021.
Office on Women’s Health. Polycystic ovary syndrome. February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Anemia. July 29, 2016. Accessed July 13, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Endometriosis. July 24, 2018. Accessed July 13, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Painful menstrual periods. March 31, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
Cleveland Clinic. Dysmenorrhea. November 20, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods. January 2022. Accessed July 13, 2022.
NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Uterine Fibroids. November 2, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2022.
Yara G. Alkilani & Irasema Apodaca-Ramos. Cervical Polyps. StatPearls Publishing. 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bleeding Disorders in Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. December 20, 2017.
Mayo Clinic. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding). June 25, 2022.
NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the treatments for endometriosis? November 2, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2022.
Hassan Nagy & Moien AB Khan. Dysmenorrhea. StatPearls Publishing. 2022.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Last accessed April 4, 2023.
ACOG. Hysteroscopy. Last reviewed November 2021

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