Most period changes are normal, but these 3 must raise an alarm
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Women have a love-hate relationship with their periods. That’s because we get frazzled about them arriving every month, but even if they are a day late, we enter a panic mode. Isn’t this so relatable? We think something has gone wrong, and start imagining the worst possible scenarios. That’s exactly what we shouldn’t do, according to Dr Siddhant Bhargava.
In a recent video he uploaded on Instagram, Dr Bhargava spoke about how our bodies are susceptible to many changes, and some of these changes in the flow of our periods are no cause for worry! “Stressing about your cycle, blood flow and all the things related to your periods is so common,” he acknowledged in the video.
Check out the video for yourself:
So when should we not stress?
Dr Bhargava shared that little changes or variability is pretty NORMAL, whether it pertains to the duration of the periods cycle or when you bleed. “Do you feel stressed if your cycle is sometimes 28 days and other times 30 days? Do you get stressed if you sometimes bleed for three days, and sometimes five days? Female cycles can vary between 21-35 days and bleeding duration can vary between 2-7 days,” he adds.
Why do these fluctuations occur? Dr Bhargava answers this query for you, “Small fluctuations can happen if you have gained weight, lost weight, are sleeping less, stressing more, as well as smoking and drinking more. Only large changes should feel like a threat in your head, and you should see a gynecologist.”
But DO NOT neglect in case you face the following issues with your periods:
1. Heavy flow
If you are bleeding way too much, more than usual, it is a cause for concern. Dr Pratima Thamke, consultant obstetrics and gynecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Mumbai, tells HealthShots that heavy menstrual bleeding can be a sign of PCOS, improper functioning of thyroid, endometriosis, and fibroids.
2. Unbearable cramps
Having cramps is normal, but if your periods interfere with your day-to-day life, visit a gynecologist. There are a number of reasons why women go through this pain every month, including higher levels of prostaglandins, uterine fibroids, hormonal fluctuations, or endometriosis.
3. Presence of blood clots
“Menstrual clots are a mixture of blood cells, blood by-products, mucus and tissue from the lining of the uterus and proteins in the blood,” explains Dr Lakshmi Aswathaman, senior consultant and clinical coordinator, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, MGM Healthcare, Chennai, shares with HealthShots.
Lastly, a missed period must never be ignored!
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