I don't know if that is a sign of something but it's way more information than I ever want from anyone. Ever. Stop I kept thinking that if I clicked on the rest of the question that you would make it better but.....no.
2007-02-14 12:27:03
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answer #1
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answered by nin 5
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Irregular periods are very common:
Periods usually start to change long before menstruation finally stops. It is different for different women. Some women whose menstrual periods have been like clockwork for their whole lives find they can no longer predict. Other women who always had irregular periods start having them like clockwork. For some the time between periods lengthens; for others it shortens. Many women see similarities between their menstrual cycles during their forties and during adolescence. The bleeding can become heavier or spottier or even some combination.
These changes before the big change are all a normal part of perimenopause. It is rare that a woman has perfectly regular periods and then one month stops forever. Periods can start to change and continue changing for many years before they stop. Often they are accompanied by other symptoms of perimenopause, such as difficulty sleeping, night sweats, irritability or hot flashes.
We tell our younger patients that having two irregular periods a year is still considered normal. If you experience more than that, it's a good idea to have yourself checked out.
Technically to be menopausal a woman needs to not have had a period for one full year. We have seen many women stop having periods in the fall or around November and think that they are finished menstruating, only to start again in the spring. This may happen for a couple of years, but it usually means that the end is in sight.
The cause is related to our ovaries and how they are functioning. Before menopause, each month our ovaries produce and send out an egg in a process called ovulation. When this happens, usually 10-14 days after your last period started, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are excreted in high doses in case that egg gets fertilized. If the egg is not fertilized and implanted, the excess hormones are not needed and a woman has a period.
Due to many factors, some known like emotional or physical stress or poor diet, some not understood, the ovary does not always produce an egg and the hormones excreted are not at their usual levels. Often there is less progesterone secreted to counteract the estrogen. This can create heavy bleeding from the uterus.
(You can learn more in our Library article on irregular periods.)
Changes in your menstrual cycle should always be discussed with your health care provider. Having an annual pelvic exam and Pap smear is good preventative health care. If you are having very heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) or bleeding or spotting between periods, extra tests should be done. Blood tests for anemia and thyroid function are helpful. While rare, unusual bleeding can be a sign of a malignancy and an ultrasound, endometrial biopsy or a D&C should be performed. Some doctors use birth control pills to control the irregular bleeding and these can work well. Many women we see in our practice have no need for contraception and do not want to take a pill every day and instead feel comfortable just better understanding what is going on.
We recommend making some diet changes, finding some sort of regular exercise you can enjoy and reducing stress. Along with our Personal Program’s multivitamin and mineral supplements which are designed to support and promote more optimal and normalized hormone levels, our low-dose natural progesterone cream also helps in replacing low levels and providing feedback to the brain to resume regular periods. Progesterone usually limits how much estrogen stimulates the lining of the uterus, and it creates structure and roots to this tissue to regulate the menstrual cycle properly. All these factors can help regulate ovulation, balance hormones and normalize menstruation. Of course beginning early on our Personal Program can only help ease the transition into menopause.
2007-02-14 12:24:56
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answer #2
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answered by chieromancer 6
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some ppl just have weird cycles. i say keep track of ur cycles at least for 3 months. then see what ur average is. if ur body just normally does that then ur fine. once u get pregnant, u will definitely stop menstruating (well, few weird cases where they still did but almost 100% of the time, women stop menstruating). so the only way u can tell if ur pregnant is if ur really late.
kinda gross but one way to tell if ur pregnant is if u take the temperature of ur cervix (or around the area) after ovulation. if the temperature keeps rising, then ur probably pregnant. the temperature is suppose to go down after ovulation. or u can just get a pregnancy test but most of them can only tell if u are around the time when ur suppose to get ur period.
but if ur getting ur period on a regular basis, then no ur not pregnant yet.
2007-02-14 12:29:34
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answer #3
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answered by graciedai 2
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