I've had my period for 2 weeks, gynecologist appt tomorrow, what should I expect?

Question

I started my period three weeks ago, it lasted 6 days and then stopped for a day then picked up and has not stopped. My period has been going on for 14 days now, and shows no signs of stopping tomorrow which is when my first gynecologist appointment is. What should I expect? What are they going to do to me? What could be the cause of such a long period?

Answer 1

The bleeding that you are experiencing is called breakthrough bleeding. When it occurs, especially if it happens to someone for the first time the first thing they think is that it's their period. Breakthrough bleeding is any bleeding that continues longer than an actual period (which lasts from 3-7 days). When it occurs it can act a lot like a period by causing cramping, clotting which is why it's easy to think it's a period.

Breakthrough bleeding can occur because of infection or things like polyps (which are most often benign-noncancerous) or in some cases hormone imbalances such as with the thyroid. Infections can also cause breakthrough bleeding too (see further below).

The Medical Assistant will ask when your last period was and take your blood pressure and weight. After she gets the information for your chart she will take you in to a room to take off your pants and panties and then have you sit on a table (ask for a drape to sit on to catch some of this bleeding). She will then hand you a sheet to cover your lower half while you wait for the doctor to come in.

The doctor will then come in and ask how things are going and about what you have noticed when you started this bleeding. After asking that and any other additional questions they will then come around and have you put your feet in the stirrups and then get a special instrument called a speculum (looks like the bill of a duck) and insert it in to your vagina.

The Medical Assistant will be there to help the doctor as well. After the speculum is inserted the doctor will look around to try and see the bleed. They can tell by looks as well if an infection is coming in to play because infections such as with the cervix can cause bleeding too.

If it is an infection they will give antibiotics to clear it up. They may run additional tests like ultrasound to check your uterus and ovaries to see what clues if any are given for the cause of your bleeding.

Then depending on the results they may order additional tests. They may also take some of your blood to check your iron levels because it could be signs of anemia (being low on iron) as well as check your thyroid levels to see if a hormone imbalance there or somewhere else is going on.

If you have additional questions for me please feel free to e-mail or IM me off site any time.