Period symptoms: Periods are part of life, and most of us learn to live with the usual package: some cramps, mood shifts, cravings, maybe a day or two of low energy. But there’s a difference between “common” and “normal.”
Sometimes the body repeats a problem so often that it starts feeling routine, even when it shouldn’t. Your menstrual cycle is basically a monthly check-in from your hormones and reproductive system. If something changes suddenly, feels extreme, or keeps getting worse, it’s worth paying attention to, because it can be linked to issues like thyroid imbalance, PCOS, fibroids, or other conditions that are easier to manage when caught early.
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Very heavy bleeding:
If you’re soaking through a pad or tampon every hour, passing large clots, or bleeding longer than seven days, that’s more than just a “heavy period.” If it’s leaving you drained, dizzy, or affecting your daily life, it’s time to speak to a gynaecologist. Heavy bleeding can sometimes point to uterine fibroids or polyps (non-cancerous growths), or a hormone imbalance, often related to estrogen and progesterone not being in sync.
Pain that feels too intense:
Cramps happen because the uterus contracts to shed its lining, so mild to moderate discomfort can be expected. But if the pain is severe, like you’re missing work, curled up in bed, or depending on painkillers every cycle, that’s a red flag. Pay attention if the pain starts before bleeding and continues even after your period ends, or if sex becomes painful too. This kind of pattern can be linked to conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, or pelvic infections such as PID.
Missed periods:
If you’ve gone three months without a period and pregnancy isn’t the reason, your body is trying to tell you something. Even if your cycle is simply becoming irregular for two to three months in a row, it’s worth checking, especially if you’re also noticing acne, unusual facial hair growth, weight changes, or mood swings. One common cause is PCOS, which is tied to hormone imbalance and can affect fertility and long-term metabolic health if ignored.
Severe PMS that feels emotionally overwhelming:
A little bloating, irritability, or low mood before a period is common. But if the emotional shift is intense: crying spells that feel uncontrollable, sudden anger, panic-like anxiety, or a heaviness that affects your work and relationships, it may be more than “just PMS.”
Some women experience PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), where symptoms are strong enough to disrupt daily life almost every month. Counselling, lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication can make a real difference. This can be linked to a higher sensitivity to normal hormone changes (estrogen/progesterone) and may also involve serotonin, the brain chemical that helps regulate mood.
Bleeding between periods:
Occasional light spotting around ovulation can happen, and it’s not always serious. But repeated spotting, bleeding that becomes heavy, or bleeding after sex should be taken seriously, especially if it shows up cycle after cycle.
Sometimes it’s due to hormone fluctuations, fibroids, or cervical polyps. It can also be caused by infections (including STIs) or thickening of the uterine lining. Rarely, persistent abnormal bleeding can be an early warning sign of cervical or uterine problems, so it’s better to rule things out early rather than guess.
When to seek medical help?
Most period issues aren’t emergencies, but don’t wait if:
- You’re soaking through a pad every hour for several hours
- You get sudden, sharp pelvic pain that feels unusual
- You feel faint, dizzy, or unusually weak repeatedly
- You have any bleeding after menopause
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Every woman’s cycle looks different, but your period shouldn’t leave you scared, drained, or emotionally wrecked every month. If something feels “off,” it deserves a proper check, not just tolerance.