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Women's Health

Very Long & Vaious Menses

08/26/2010

Question:

I started my cycle on June 29, 2010 and bled until August 4th. I thought it was done. I started bleeding again august 8th. Some days it`s heavy. Some days it`s light. Some days I`m hurting like hell, where other days I`m okay. What could be wrong with me?

Answer:

While most menstrual cycles occur at regular intervals and just last a few days, a period that lasts more than 8 days or bleeding that occurs in between the normal periods is considered excessive bleeding.  If the periods are otherwise regular, and the bleeding goes back to normal the following cycle, such bleeding can just be a "glitch" of hormonal regulation that is not serious.  However, such bleeding can also be a sign of a serious problem such as infection, tumor, or a hormonal imbalance that requires treatment.  Any bleeding that is unusually heavy, persistent or accompanied by symptoms such as severe pain, fever, or discharge should be evaluated by a clinician who can rule out such a problem.

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Response by:

Jonathan A Schaffir, MD Jonathan A Schaffir, MD
Clnical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University