Irregular periods, menstrual bleeding and what you can do about them

Going through tampons or pads too quickly? Periods seem heavier, shorter or longer than usual? Woken up by your flow? If you experience one or more of these situations often, you may have an irregular period.

When you’re a teenager, it’s not unusual for your periods to be a little inconsistent. But later in life, persistent flow or timing changes can mean you’ve developed irregular periods. Sometimes, irregular periods are just that – your own personal menstrual quirks. But other times, they can be a sign of underlying health issues.

On this episode of For Health’s Sake, we talked to gynecologist Dr. Abigail Heller to learn the details about irregular periods. Dr. Heller gave us her expert perspective on:

• What’s normal during your menstrual cycle (and what’s not)
• What the signs are of an irregular period and what they could mean
• When to talk to your doctor about changes to your period

In many cases, irregular period treatment or management is available. But it all starts with knowing what to look for. Listen in to hear Dr. Heller explain the facts behind menstruation, periods and how to tell if your flow is normal.