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Reasons for Having a Period Every Two Weeks

 
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Menstrual Cycle related image Andres Rodriguez/PhotoSpin

The menstrual cycle occurs in all females from the onset to puberty (average age 11 or 12 years) to the menopause in middle age (average age between 45-55). The lining of the uterus is shed via vaginal bleeding when a girl or woman has not conceived a pregnancy.

The menstrual period lasts between two days and seven days, usually occurring once every 28 days, although anything from once every 24 days to once every 35 days is considered normal.

If you are having a period more than once every 24 days, it is considered an irregular cycle.

Having a period once every two weeks, or twice a month is abnormal and you should see your doctor because you may become anemic if you are having very frequent periods. They are sometimes a sign of infection or other medical problem that would need treatment.

Reasons for a period every two weeks could be:

• Dramatic weight loss or gain -- This changes the hormones in the body and these are responsible for directing when the period will start.

• Excessive exercise -- This too disrupts hormones.

• Stress -- Exams, family argument, financial worries, divorce, even a holiday can cause a temporary change in your menstrual cycle.

• Illness and/or medications -- Some medications can affect your cycle. Talk to your doctor about altering or stopping your medication if you think this is happening.

• Uterine problems such as polyps, cysts, fibroids or tumors (either benign or cancerous).

• Sexually transmitted infections -- These can cause bleeding in between periods which can be mistaken for a period.

• Thyroid problems -- Thyroid disease could cause a thickening of the uterine lining, resulting in more bleeding than normal.

• Reactions to contraceptive methods -- Sometimes the pill, depo provera injections or the copper-only IUD can result in a change in your cycle.

~ The pill and IUD can make you bleed in between periods, known as "breakthrough bleeding" and this may be mistaken for a period.

~ The IUD can also make your periods heavier.

~ The depo-provera injection can make your cycle irregular, however, it often stops your period altogether instead of making it more frequent.

~ Sometimes changing or stopping your method of contraception can cause a sudden drop in hormones and this can result in a change to your cycle.

• Onset of menopause -- In women aged 45 and over, having periods every two weeks can be a sign that you are about to go through menopause. It can be a sign of ovulation beginning to shut down. If you are under 45, having irregular periods in addition to other symptoms commonly associated with menopause, may signal premature ovarian failure.

Treatment

Sometimes treatment is not necessary, for instance, if the disruption in cycle is due to stress, weight loss or gain, or illness, it may be temporary and may correct itself in time.

However, to rule out other possibilities your doctor will perform a pelvic examination. Your doctor may also take a sample of the uterine lining as well as doing an ultrasound scan to see if there are any obstructions in the uterus, such as fibroids.

If any obstructions are found, you can be referred for surgery to have them removed. If any cancer is found, you will be referred to an oncologist who will plan your care with you.

Sexually transmitted infections can be treated with antibiotics (and the use of condoms to prevent further infections). Your partner may have to be treated as well.

If the problem is caused by a contraceptive device or medication, this can usually be changed to stop the problem.

Heavy and/or frequent periods can sometimes be controlled by certain brands of the pill. If you find they are really disrupting your life, for instance, you are bleeding through your clothes, have to miss work days and can’t plan your holidays, this may be an option depending on your medical history.

Hormone treatment could also be given in this scenario, if you have thyroid disease or if you are starting menopause.

Sources:

Periods, Heavy. NHS Choices. Web. 26 May 2012. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods-heavy/pages/introduction.aspx

Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia). WebMD. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
http://women.webmd.com/guide/heavy-period-causes-treatments

Top Ten Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. About.com Women's health. Retrieved May 27, 2012. http://womenshealth.about.com/od/abnormalbleeding/a/causemenorrhagi.htm

Irregular Periods Every Two Weeks, 34 Menopause Symptoms. Web. 26 May 2012.
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/irregular-periods/articles/irregular-periods-every-two-weeks.htm

Premature Ovarian Failure, National Insititute for Child Health and Human Development. Web. 26 May 2012. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Premature_Ovarian_Failure.cfm

Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/ She is the mother of five children and practices natural childbirth, delayed cord clamping, full term breastfeeding and organic food diet.

Reviewed May 28, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

Add a Comment221 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Yes, stay on it. For years i went undiagnosed. Oh, it's in your head, it's normal, etc, etc. Till I was finally diagnosed a decade later and unable to have children.

May 16, 2017 - 2:42am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I've had my period every 2 weeks for as long as I can remember. It started at 11, I am now almost 16. Is there any way I can stop it and get it back to normal?

May 2, 2017 - 4:45pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I couldn't find a similar problem like mine
While my period comes once every 17 days and lasts for nearly other 17 days and it's happening this way since I was 21 and now I'm 25 and still this way
I went to a doctor two years ago who told me it's normal to have a long period with short time in between two periods
But I don't think it's normal since my period has never regulated
When I first had my period I was 12 and since then it didn't happen to be regulated
In the first two years I have it once every 24 - 27- 30 days and lasts for 6-7
After that I started to have it once every every 17 - 20 days and lasts for 10 days then by the age of 21 it happened to be messed up when I have it every 17 - 15 days and lasts for 15-17 days
Can you help me? Is it really normal as the doctor said or I should see another one?

April 30, 2017 - 10:29pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

This is my third period I over the last month in a half. I have blood clots and it seems to keep coming every 11 days. Normally I have a period 1 every three weeks or 20 days so I'm use to it being some what abnormal. I'm 35 years not on birth control I know I don't have a STD, am I premenopausal? At my age? Thank you in advance for any advice.

April 17, 2017 - 9:55pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I'm 13 and I started my period (or platypus as i call it) 2 years ago and ever since then i've been getting dizzy, throwing up, terrible period pains, Diaherrea and two periods a month usually beginning and middle of the month as of this i dont think its my inhaler or my nightly tablets to help so i dont really know, I'm also not sure if its hormone imbalance (thats what my mums friend said) but i just wanted to know if there was anything that could balance this or make it so they arent as bad or do i just wait?

April 10, 2017 - 6:14am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was hoping some of you who have had this problem (period every two weeks) for more than 1-2 periods would post your outcomes. I have been getting my period roughly every two weeks and I can't get to a doctor yet. I just moved to a new city and don't have a job, thus insurance, yet. I'm 41 years old and I'm a little worried since I've had such normal periods all my life. Am I just premenopausal? What have all of your experiences been? Did things normalize or was there some medical issue that needed to be addressed?

March 26, 2017 - 9:13am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I got periods after 20 days as i was earlier taking primrose capsules for pain in brests now again i have taken the capsules primrose 1000 is this effecting the periods

February 10, 2017 - 6:14am
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anonymous,

I could not find any credible information to support the link between primrose capsules and the menstrual cycle. Some claim this herbal supplement helps relieve PMS.

But, it does seem to have caused changes in your menstrual cycle. Consider discussing this with your gynecologist.

Regards,
Maryann

February 10, 2017 - 12:31pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I got period in month 3 tyms its not that heavy flow but still .... What should I do plzz help

January 28, 2017 - 2:20am
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anonymous,

Did you read this article? Do any of the mentioned reasons apply to you?

With such limited information, I cannot tell you why you got a period three times in one month. Consider speaking with your gynecologist.

Regards,
Maryann

January 30, 2017 - 10:06am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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