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- What is a normal period? Dr Natalia Novikova shares some signs that your period may be abnormal.
- For many women, periods are usually associated with intense pain, but Dr Natalia warns that severe pain should be checked.
- Other signs of an abnormal period include heavy flow, irregular cycles and prolonged bleeding.
For many women and girls, periods are usually associated with intense pain. We're all too familiar with hot water bottles and painkillers as we attempt to soothe ourselves.
In a society where menstrual cycles are still considered a taboo subject, women end up suffering in silence, believing what they're enduring is "normal".
"I've always thought that's normal because that's what my mom would tell me - she said she had severe period pains, and so did her mom, and it's just a thing that females go through," *Mpho Radebe told News24 in an interview.
It's a story that a lot of women likely share. But what is a normal period, and when should we start to get concerned?
For me, intense period pain has been a part of most of my life. I thought it was normal, too. It isn't. I would later find out that the cause behind my pain was endometriosis.
There are various reasons women could have abnormalities in their menstrual cycles. But before we get to those, we first need to ask: what is a normal period?
READ MORE | How women managed periods throughout history
Back to basics
Let's start by understanding the basics. "The menstrual cycle works based on changes in hormonal levels," gynaecologist and endoscopic surgeon Dr Natalia Novikova explains.
"Basically, the actual menstrual bleeding occurs when a woman does not fall pregnant. So, the whole meaning of a menstrual cycle is to prepare for the pregnancy."
Every cycle, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) thickens to prepare for pregnancy. If that pregnancy does not occur, the lining sheds and leaves the body. This is what we call a period.
"In the beginning of menstrual bleeding, or just before it occurs, there is a drop in oestrogen and progestin levels, and that's what causes bleeding. If a woman fell pregnant, her progestin would have remained elevated, and the bleeding would not occur," Dr Novikova explains.
How to identify an abnormal period
Dr Novikova shares some signs of an abnormal period that could indicate a problem.
Extended bleeding
A normal period usually has bleeding that lasts for "1 to 7 days", says Dr Novikova. While some women may bleed for longer than this, periods stretching beyond the seven-day mark are usually worth looking into.
Extremely painful periods
"Periods may be slightly painful or uncomfortable," says Dr Novikova, but once they become severe, they should be checked out.
"If periods are painful to the point of missing regular activities or having to take multiple painkillers, it is not normal and has to be assessed and treated by a specialist."
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Heavy bleeding
"Very heavy periods can lead to anaemia and also should be assessed and treated.
"Having to change a thick pad every hour, that's abnormal."
Irregular periods
"If the menstrual bleeding occurs anywhere between 21 and 42 days between the periods, it's normal," Dr Novikova explains. "However, if the period is irregular, or if there's bleeding between the periods, that's an abnormal menstrual cycle, and it should be investigated."
What does this all mean?
"There are various causes of such abnormalities, for example, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and polyps, ovarian cysts and more."
SPECIAL HUB: Endometriosis: Normalise periods, not period pains
