Is my menstrual cycle (ab)normal?

Is my period normal?

A period is considered normal when:

• You don’t bleed for more than seven days.

• You don’t bleed so much that you have to change your sanitary pad or tampon every two hours.

• You don’t have large blood clots (larger than a 1 euro coin).

• You can do your normal daily activities while on your period.

If any of the above doesn’t apply to you, your period may be abnormal and it’s wise to discuss this with your GP.

What is a normal number of days to be on your period?

On average, your period is between three and seven days at a time. If your period often lasts longer than seven days, you might want to discuss this with your GP.

I’m actually bleeding a lot. When is this not normal?

On average, you lose about 25 - 40 ml up to 80 ml of blood every time you have your period. It feels as if we can fill cups full of blood every month, but luckily it always seems more than it actually is. You’re likely to experience heavy menstrual bleeding if you have to change your tampon or sanitary pad every two hours for a fews days in a row. This can have several causes and it’s wise to have this checked out. It’s also a good idea to visit your GP if you find blood clots that are larger than a 1 euro coin in your period blood.

I never lose a lot of blood, is that bad?

No, it’s often not a bad thing. There are big differences in the amount of blood you lose. How much you bleed can vary each period, depending on many factors. Stress, sleep, nutrition, illnesses and fever all influences your hormone balance, which in turn influences your period.

If you’re on the pill, your withdrawal bleeding is often lighter and shorter than when you’re not on the pill. No reason to worry, this is completely normal.

My period is shorter than three days, is that bad?

That’s okay. There are differences between periods, everyone is different.  While one has six to seven days of bleeding, the other only bleeds for a few days. If you don’t or hardly have your period, it’s in most cases due to a low body weight. There’s no reason to worry if you’re younger than fifteen, but after that age it might be wise to have it checked out. 

Even if you’ve always had a very short period (and this hasn’t suddenly changed), for example of only 1 or 2 days, that doesn't have to be reason for concern. But, if things have suddenly changed a lot, then a visit to your GP is our advice.

I have a much heavier period once every few months, how’s that possible?

This can have various causes and doesn’t have to mean anything. For example, your period can be different each month because your hormones fluctuate, which can cause heavy periods. Underlying reasons can be, for example, that you don’t get enough sleep, that you suffer from (more) stress, or it can be your diet (too much processed food, something you often crave more when you're stressed).

When do I have an irregular cycle?

We speak of an irregular cycle if it’s shorter than 23 days or longer than 35 days. On average, a cycle is between 26 and 28 days, but it can vary greatly. So if you get your period within this number of days, it’s normal. Everything that falls outside this range is seen as irregular. This can have a simple and innocent reason, for example if you just got your period for the first time and your hormones still have to ‘settle’. Other reasons can be if you’re going through the menopause, if you stop taking the pill or after pregnancy, because in all these cases your body and hormones need a while to settle and get going again. It can also be caused by intensive exercise, severe weight loss, being overweight or a life-changing event.

Is there no clear reason or do you suffer from an irregular cycle for more than a few months? Then it might be time to visit your GP to find out why that is.

I experience a lot of pain and cramps when I’m on my period, is this normal?

Being on your period sucks for everyone. Most people suffer from it and don’t feel that well. But if you’re really in so much pain and/or have psychological complaints that you can no longer go to school or work, then there may be more going on. Taking some painkillers for the first few cramps is fine, but if you can’t get through the day without taking these pills every few hours, it’s a sign of an abnormal period.

Experiencing feelings of depression or (serious) feelings of anger just before or during your period so intense that you can no longer function normally is also a sign of an abnormal period. If you recognize this, there’s a chance that you suffer from PMS and/or PMDD. In this case a visit to your GP is really not a luxury, trust us.

Want to read more about PMS? Here you can learn what it is and what the symptoms are.

My period is suddenly much longer, how's that possible?

If you suddenly get a (much) longer period, and this is not just a one time occurence, then that’s something to watch out for. It can lead to fatigue and anemia. Possible causes for a longer period are that you’re going through the menopause or that you’ve just stopped taking the pill. In both cases, there’s a hormone imbalance and your body needs time to regain the balance. In any case, don’t keep walking around with this problem and discuss it with your GP and/or gynecologist.

My period is suddenly much shorter, how’s that possible?

A disrupted cycle is usually the culprit when your period changes or just completely stops. There are several reasons for a disrupted cycle, the most obvious ones are: The premenopause, chemotherapy, drugs, an overactive thyroid, but also heavy weight loss, severe trauma, infectious diseases, diabetes and celiac disease.