Possible causes of multiple periods each month

[supergrover]

Hello,I'm 31, and have 2 kids.  Both were high risk pregnancies, so I had a tubal ligation almost 9 years ago.  Since then, my "cycle" has been a consistent 21 days, with severe cramping and heavy bleeding.  Last January I went 6 weeks between periods, and thought I was pregnant, but was not.  Since then there are anywhere from 10 days to 21 days between periods, still very painful and heavy.  I have had a couple cysts in the past, but none currently.  I have been tested for PCOS and bloodwork to check my thyroid, but everything has come back OK.  This past year, it seems like I'm either always on my period or getting ready to be.  It's driving me crazy!  Anyone have any thoughts or comments on what could be going on?  Am I too young to be perimenopausal?

[JoAnnaRF]

31 is very young to be premenopausal. My daughter is almost 17 and has had the same problem as you since she was 13 and started having her period. WE have been to SO many doctors and Specialists and still no answers as to the cause or how to stop it. She is on hormone therapy but that doesn't really help much. She is still having 3 periods in a months time, with just a couple days break in between. She has all the tests like you but we have been told by a family friend taht it is most likely a problem with either the ovaries or the Hypothalamus in the brain. He is a Gyno from another ountry and haven't been able to get very far with our doctors in that direction yet but are still pushing. I have no idea how to find out if it is a Hypothalamus problem. We are still, after almost 4 years, new at this and learning what questions to ask and what tests are needed. Hopefully one day we will have the answers and would love to share them with you. Please let me know if you find out anything as ALL info is welcome.
Hope we both get answers very soon.
--J

[TennVol]

I'm not trying to go against anything anyone else has daid but.... menopause can start as early as the 30's

[AnnJ]

There is also such a thing as premature menopause-- women who start menopause in their teens or twenties.
Could the first bleeding be with your ovulation? It sounds like it's around the middle of your cycle.

[AnnJ]

When you had laproscopy, did they mention anything about endometriosis? The number 1 sympton is severe cramping when you get your AF. Many women with heavy bleeding and severe cramps just let it go, thinking that cramps are normal and it's whimpy to complain. That's what I always thought. That's why it took 10 years of pain before my diagnosis.
Do you also have a lot of fatigue, severe PMS symptoms, bowel or bladder problems, allergies and/or chemical sensitivities? More than half of women with endometriosis unfortunately may never be correctly diagnosed or diagnosed at all. I'm not saying you have it, but it's on the rise. More and more women now than ever before have this common, chronic disorder.

[supergrover]

thanks for the input, I've never been tested for endometriosis, but was told once that it probably was that.  I do have a lot of the symptoms you mentioned.  One doc even said that I must have had some sexual trauma in my childhood that I don't remember and this is all in my head!  What a quack!  I go back to the doctor this week, a different doc.  I think I'll lobby for a partial hysterectomy.  Any thoughts on that?

[AnnJ]

The only thing with hysterectomy, partial or complete, is that endometrial lesions grow outside of the uterus. They've been found in the lungs, armpit, even the brains of all types of women at all stages of their lives. All I'm saying is, it may not make your symptoms go away, because the implants fuel the pain. You may want to try seasonale, or take continuous birth control, or maybe lupron. Anything that supresses the menstrual cycle for awhile. If none of those things work, then I'd go for the surgery. But, of course, every woman is different, and it's your decision to make.

[christina1988]

i am 19 years old. i have one child,and i have had five periods this month... they last 2 to 5 days long. someone help me cause it is intefering with mine and my husbands life....

[happymommy13]

I too, have had multiple periods for 2 years now.  I am 25. After my 2nd daughter was born, I did not stop having a period for 6 months... it would be really heavy and then would become very light, almost like it was going to stop, then it would start really heavy again.  I had severe cramping and severe moodswings.  Last year, I had a laparoscopy which showed really bad endometriosis- I adhesions all over and part of my bowel was attached to my abdominal wall.  I went on Lupron and the periods stopped like they were supposed to during that 6 month period (even though the moodswings, hot flashes, etc that go along with the treatment were almost unbearable).  After treatment, I started the Nuvaring and had 3 normal cycles and I thought I was cured... and then it began again... I have been on my period for 6 months now... My OB/Gyn changed me to Femcon which only made the cramps much worse, then changed to Nordette and that did not help at all... So I stopped taking all birth control about 6 weeks ago and this month, my periods have slowed down to about every 2 weeks which is better... but I still need to be on birth control.  I am going to see a specialist in Chicago next week and I hope that he will have some answers for me.  I was checked for thyroid problems as well as Von Willebrands which runs in my family but everything has been negative.  I do not want a hysterectomy yet and I still want one more child.   I hope that everyone else finds the answers they need too... I just thought I would share my treatments in case they might work for someone else.

[cancerx3]

Back in 2000, I had a period for 6 months & I was diagnosed with chriocarcinoma in the uterus( form of cancer). I did chemotherapy for 4 months and my cancer went into remission. In 04 it came back as a metassis on my lower left lung, I again went through chemo & remission again. 2007 the metassis reappeared in the same spot on my lung & I had a porton of my lung removed in July 07! Multiple periods isnt good & should be checked out.  

[Mono11]

I have started in the last 6 months having multiple periods and now lots of cramping. My mom was adopted so we have no history on her side of the family. No one on my dads has this problem. All blood work has checked out normal. I am going to be 31 this month. I had a child 11 years ago. Nothing strange until now. Anybody know a good specialist on the West Coast?

[ErinB924]

Starting last November, I started getting my period twice a month for about 2-3 weeks at a time...(that would carry over to the next month)....during that time, because I was bleeding so much, I was so EXHAUSTED all the time! It was horrific. Took me until Febraury to finally see a obgyn. He prescribed me luestrin 24(sp) and it has almost fixed the problem, in feb and march I will got the periods twice a month but they were much shorter. The gyno advised me that it can take 3 months to correct the cycle, well I am on my third month so we will see. My 'placebo period was very weird this month, lasted about 2 days and there was minimal to no cramping. Altho my breasts are sore as hell and I feel like I am going to get it again soon, even tho I just had it 10days ago...I don't know. We will see.

[mommyE3]

I am 36 years old and have had 3 children,For the first time this month I had 2 periods in 15 days. The first heavy and lasting for about 7 days. Then I started again 3 days later it has been light.  I always have cramping the Dr. said that can be due to prolaps cervix. I am suprised to see how many of your are experiencing the same thing. At first i was thinking it could be caused from the excess stress I have had lately,  but sounds like there are several reasons why it happening. I am one of those people that assume the worst when something doesnt go the way I think it should. I am making an apt. with my OB and I will be sure to post my results.. good luck to all of you WOMEN

[Mssierra]

i no longer have insurance and can not afford to see a doctor, so i would like to know what i am in for here. I have been having excessive periods a month for a while now. it's like i am opposite. i go a total of about a week not on my period a month. i am 20 years old and never have had kids or had miscarriage. My mother had endometriosis  (sp?) and i hope that is not the case with me. I have a Hypoactive thyroid, and am no longer on medication because of the lack of insurace and the ability to even pay for the medication. I still want to have kids within the next 10 years or so, so i was wondering if anyone knew of any natural remedies or whatnot of a problem like this? Please help me out!

[CaGry]

Im 20 years old (no kids, no previous issues with anything).
I recently switched my pill from Microgynon to Femulen (because this is the only pill that doesn't contain lactose), and since I've been on this pill, I've been having.. too many periods! From starting Femulen on the first day of my period, I had a full 7 day period. Fine. Then about a week later, I start bleeding again, after getting quite worried, we decided it was another period. This lasted about 4 days. Fine. But now... I wake up this morning, me and my boyfriend fool around for a bit, then find out, AGAIN, that Im bleeding. It was only very light, but as today has gone on, its got slighty more heavy. I don't really have any period pain, but Im starting to think this again is another damn period!

After reading everyone's response.. I am fairly worried and scared that this is going to continue for a long time. I really hope this is NOT the case, otherwise I am going to go seriously crazy!!!

Any and ALL advice is much appreciated and welcome!

[concerned_maleX907]

I am i no way female...so my knowledge on periods and menstral cycles is all a little vague...my question is my girlfriend is 16 and she is having light spotty periods for 3 days at a time so far she has only had two each month for the past two months but she thinks shes going to have another and that makes three this month so what is the problem and where do i look to figure out whats wrong her doctor told her it was nothing i want another opinion

  Worried boyfriend

[Let_The_Saline_Dry]

First, I have no idea how I got here but I doubt I'll be able to find my way  back, so here's my email, PLEASE email responses here:

let.the.saline.***@****

I'm nineteen, I started menstrating around 15, with one period a month for 10 days, without cramps or pain or anything! Doctors put me on the pill, the shot, and those hurt more than helped. Now I'm nineteen and the only one that did help was the ring, but I can't have sex while on it, which isn't an option. I have two full periods a month, and was tested for endometritis, which came back negative, I now have horrible cramps in my back. The doctors and gynos won't listen, they just want to push me back on the pill. Any other suggestion?

[teewest83]

I am 24 & from the UK.
I have been on microgynon for about 2 years & for the last 3 months I have had 2 periods a month. The first one is normal, and then 2-5 days after this finishes, I get another one, with no pain which lasts 1-2 days.
I have recently been to see my Doctor who noticed my blood pressure is also very high. (I am slightly overweight but my BP is usually low, if anything)!! I have to go back for a full bloodwork in 2 weeks.
I suddenly feel very lucky to be in the UK & to get all of my healthcare for free.
I'll post my results when I get them.

[Goldengirldlt]

I am 41 years old and have four children (16,12,9,7). I started having what they call breakthrough periods before i got pregnant with my second child 29 i got pregnant whilst taking two different types of birth control pills.My job required alot of heavy lifting so i figured it was related to this. I had to have emergency C-section with my second and therefore opted for C-sections with last two. My last weighed 10.5ozs and the others were 6lbs plus. My Dad dies (1998) from complications of diabetes. I bled for 7 weeks straight with my 7year old (heavy) whom i was strictly nursing. I continue rite up to now to have 2/more periods per month. I have been to four different OB/GYN both here and in Fla.A chinese doc of natural medicines gave me a teapill called"in the calm of life" if i can keep up with taking 20teapills for the rest of my life its the only thing that has helped. Guess i'm too old to shoten this. smile

[DuTcHeSs1978]

Hi all!  I am 30 yrs old and from the Netherlands!

But above all... I am desperate and quite exhausted.  Since this past June I've had multiple periods a month, varying anywhere between 3 to 4 times monthly, not just a tid bit of spotting but the whole nine yards every single time.  

I've been on birthcontrol since i was about 20, then went off at 24, and starting back in June 2008 at age 29.  I too have heard from the doctor that nothing is wrong with me, they have done several tests- all resulting into that if anything is wrong it's in between my ears, or to give myself some time to adjust to the hormone switch due to the Pill.  We're nearly approaching the month of December- 6 months have passed, one would think that it would be regular for a while now- when starting on the Pill before, I didn't experience any of the above mentioned, none of the exhaustion, the pain, etc.

All of this is draining me, I feel dirty and embaressed- I am after all one of very few woman at work (for instance) who goes to the toilet packed with a weekend bag- if you catch my drift- multiple times a day!!!

Does anyone know what might cause this? Any answer is welcome to eleviate any doubt, etc!!!

Thanks a billion and, of course, looking forward to ya'lls response!

DuTcHeSs1978

[lizo5887]

Hi all, dont know how i stumbled upon this but noticed CyGrys post with reagrds to femulen, Ive been on femulen now for 2/3yrs and have same symptons, often slight bleeding after sex and usually a period, followed a week later by a duplicate. have been checked out at doctors and clinics so nothin apparently rong just a side effeect that ive have had to get used to as there seems to be no other alternative, with no other mini pills on offer (have tried cerazette and micronor) :(

[Awal2000]

I just went to the doctor yesterday complaining about severe cramping to the point of almost fainting. I'm married and am not on birth control anymore. I took a pregnancy test at the ER, and it came up negative. However, I was told I have a bladder infection. I was almost certain my appendix was going to be removed, I wasn't expecting a bladder infection. anyway, I've had my period about a week ago....I got the antibiotics and went home.....to my suprise I started a second period of this month!! I dont understand the intense pain, followed by a second period. answers anyone??

[berries665]

i too have had multiple periods. its horrible and ive had three this month.

[monday777]

I AM HAVING A PERIOD TWICE A MONTH,AND IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY...CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME ABOUT WHAT'S GOING   ON ....                                                                                                                                                                                   MARYANN

[Lisi251]

Sorry about your tough times. As far as your womens problems you can go to
planned parenthood anywhere & it will be free of charge based on your income.
Hope this helps