Why do periods last so long

Maita recommends downloading a period-tracking app so you're aware of what's normal for you. If you spot anything off, it's most likely not a serious problem, but it still can't hurt to get it checked out. Even if there's no underlying issue, the blood loss can leads to anemia or exhaustion, says Dr. Ross, so it's important to make whatever adjustments are necessary. By Alice Victoria Winslow. By Melanie Hamlett. After years of dealing with chronic pelvic pain, I tried to pretend I didn't even have a vagina.

By Allyson Byers. By Rebecca Nelson. Rewards Free Stuff Promos. Topics periods. Your doctor will make a diagnosis after performing a series of tests. Depending on your age and other symptoms, your doctor may test your blood for pregnancy , hormone levels, and thyroid function. Other diagnostic tests may include Pap smears, endometrial biopsies , ultrasounds, and other procedures. Many causes of prolonged bleeding can be treated with birth control pills of estrogen and progesterone.

This not only provides contraception, it can regulate hormone production and so treat bleeding caused by hormones. In some cases, such as for endometrial hyperplasia , the hormone progestin may be prescribed alone. Other medicines may also be used. Lysteda tranexamic acid is a prescription drug that treats heavy menstrual bleeding.

It comes in a tablet and is taken each month at the start of the menstrual period. Prolonged bleeding caused by uterine fibroids can be treated with medication or with minimally invasive procedures such as endometrial ablation or laparoscopic surgery known as a myomectomy.

In severe cases an abdominal myomectomy or a hysterectomy may be recommended. Often, the biggest problem from having a long menstrual period is the way it impacts your quality of life. And since blood is rich in iron, women who bleed a lot are at risk of anemia , she says. Birth control pills generally help with prolonged menstrual bleeding, but on occasion may cause it.

IUDs, especially copper IUDs, sometimes cause prolonged bleeding, especially in the first year after insertion. Always remember that you know your body best. Determining what is normal and what isn't is up to you and your doctor. Menstruation, whether in the form of a normal or long period, is only part of a woman's menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is the process during which a woman's ovaries produce eggs, release those eggs, and, in the absence of fertilization i.

In other words, there's a lot going on within the body before, after and during menstruation, much of which varies depending on the cycle and the person. To answer, how long does a period last, it's crucial to understand the menstrual cycle's four phases. In simple terms, a menstrual cycle is a natural cycle that occurs every month that gives a woman the possibility of pregnancy. It can be divided into the following phases:. This is the phase of the menstrual cycle with which women are most familiar.

Technically, what happens during this phase is the following: The body releases the endometrium, otherwise known as the uterus' thickened lining. The menstrual fluid then passes through the vagina, resulting in a period. Keep in mind that the body releases a lot more than blood during menstruation: Menstrual fluid also contains mucus and cells from the endometrium.

The healthiest and most comfortable way to deal with long periods is with a menstrual cup because they offer up to 12 hours of period protection AND can be made from medical-grade silicone, like the Casco Cup. The follicular phase may include menstruation and end when ovulation begins. As you could guess from its name, the follicular phase involves the production of follicles within the ovaries.

Each follicle houses an egg, though not all these eggs survive. According to some research , only one follicle and egg survive. The ovary releases the mature egg, usually around the middle of the menstrual cycle.

The egg travels through the fallopian tubes in the direction of the uterus. Usually, an egg will only live 24 hours. If it isn't fertilized by sperm, it will die, and result in your period. The uterine walls thicken in preparation for a fertilized egg. If the egg is fertilized, it will stick to the side of the uterus, which results in more hormones that continue to thicken the uterine lining.

Fun fact: These are the hormones that a pregnancy test detects. Their production indicates that an egg has been fertilized and implanted successfully. If an egg does not implant, the uterine lining will shed, resulting in a period.

How does the menstrual cycle determine how long a period lasts? Definitive answers are best left to doctors. However, before determining what constitutes a "long period," is important that she develop a baseline understanding of what is normal menstruation for her. That means paying attention to:.