Menstruating twice in the same month may be normal, but in any case it is worth investigating the real causes of irregular bleeding.
Truth be told, menstruation is far from the best thing that happens to a woman. Despite being something natural and part of life, menstruating includes several unpleasant things, such as cramps, mood changes and bleeding. Once a month is bad enough, and menstruating twice can be even worse.
However, this can happen to many women, and it is completely normal. Although depending on the cause, it may be an indication to investigate a possible health problem.
If you menstruate twice in the same month from time to time, it may just be a consequence of drastic changes in your routine, or a lot of stress. If the problem is recurrent and is accompanied by very strong cramps and greater discomfort, it’s time to look for a professional to find out what is altering your menstrual cycle.
Therefore, today we will better understand the possible causes that lead women to menstruate twice in the same month. In any case, as this is not the rule, it is always a good idea to investigate the cause with a doctor.
menstruation
Menstruation is nothing more than bleeding that occurs due to the desquamation of the internal lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. Typically, it occurs in women once a month. This is because the female reproductive system works every month to produce and eliminate an egg, preparing the woman to become pregnant. However, if there is no contact with a sperm, fertilization will not occur. In other words, there will be no pregnancy.
Therefore, about 14 days after the release of the egg, menstruation occurs. A woman’s first menstruation usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 15. Despite this, the average age for this to occur is 12 years old, extending until menopause. This can happen after the age of 40, and can occur before or after that age, which varies greatly from woman to woman.
However, although a new cycle begins every month, and only one menstruation is expected per month, a woman may menstruate twice. In many cases this is not a problem, being completely common, but depending on what caused this second bleeding, it could be a warning about possible health problems for the woman.
Menstruate twice a month
Generally, a woman’s period lasts between 4 and 7 days, with the interval between one period and another lasting an average of 28 days. However, this can vary between 25 and 45 days, due to various factors, such as stress, hormonal changes, health problems or just irregular menstruation.
Therefore, menstruating twice a month may be due to shorter cycles, that is, those that last less than 25 days. This is more common to happen in the first months of menstruation, because at this stage, the woman’s body is still adapting to this change and the hormonal levels that come with it.
However, there are women who have a shorter menstrual cycle naturally, and this can happen. For example, imagine a woman with a 25-day cycle. So, if she menstruates on the first day of the month, on the 25th she will menstruate again, that is, adding two periods in the same month. In this case, menstruating twice is completely normal, and there is no reason to worry.
Furthermore, it is common for menstruation to become irregular after pregnancy, and to come more than once in the first few months after giving birth. In the case of women who do not fit into these situations, menstruating twice may be caused by other factors.
Possible causes
Therefore, let’s find out the possible reasons why women menstruate twice in the same month:
Stress
That’s right, stress can be a real villain for your health. So, when a woman is not doing very well with her mental health, this begins to affect the health of her body, and that is when changes occur, such as in the menstrual cycle, for example.
Therefore, high levels of stress may be one of the factors responsible for women menstruating twice a month. In this case, look for ways to restore yourself, such as practicing physical exercise, yoga, meditation, etc.
Contraceptive pill
Having your period twice a month could be because you forgot to take your contraceptive pill. This is completely normal to happen when you suddenly stop taking these hormones. Therefore, one of the consequences may be irregular bleeding. In this case there is also not much to worry about, just take the pill correctly again to regulate your menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy
For many women, pregnancy marks the momentary end of menstruation, but this is not a rule. It may occur in some cases that a woman menstruates during pregnancy, having irregular bleeding. This is more common to happen in the first trimester of pregnancy, due to several factors, such as excessive exercise, injuries to the uterus and sexual intercourse.
Uterine polyps or fibroids
Lesions or tumors, such as polyps or uterine fibroids, are very common, most of the time they are benign, but they can result in hormonal problems. Therefore, they can result in bleeding between periods. In this case, the ideal is to see a gynecologist to investigate the problem.
Vaginal infections
Vaginal and cervical infections are a problem that must be investigated, and can also cause bleeding outside the cycle, that is, making a woman menstruate twice a month. This type of infection must be treated as soon as possible, as other, more serious problems can develop.
Thyroid
A dysfunction in the thyroid gland can be one of the causes that lead a woman to menstruate twice. This happens because this gland is regulated by hormones produced in the same area as the hormones that control ovulation. If this is the case, the diagnosis is made from a blood test and treatment is carried out with medication.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a very common hormonal imbalance that affects around 8 to 20% of women. It can be one of the causes of an irregular menstrual cycle, as it directly affects ovulation, causing a change in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels.
In addition to irregular bleeding, other symptoms include acne breakouts, difficulty maintaining weight, irregular hair growth and fertility problems. So, if this is the case, it is recommended to see a doctor.
Menopause
Menopause or the beginning of it, called perimenopause, can be another cause of irregular cycles. Perimenopause can occur from the age of 30, with one of the main symptoms being irregular menstruation, which is more frequent than expected. If this is the case, there is not much you can do, as it is completely normal and expected for this stage of life.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where a small part of the lining of the uterus sticks out. Therefore, there is more tissue to be shed monthly, which can result in more frequent and heavier menstrual flows. Therefore, it can cause a woman to menstruate twice a month. Additionally, other symptoms include intense cramps, nausea, and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
So, if this is the case, a doctor should be consulted to investigate the problem, and may order an ultrasound and pelvic exam to confirm.
Change of routine
As incredible as it may seem, drastic changes in routine, such as traveling, for example, can alter the menstrual cycle. This is because interference with the circadian rhythm causes changes in the hormones responsible for regulating the cycle, and this can result in more than one menstruation per month.
Anyway, in any case, if menstruating twice a month starts to be very frequent, the ideal is to consult a doctor and inform him about this change. Furthermore, investigate the other symptoms linked to this change to have an assertive diagnosis of the real problem.
So, what did you think of this article? In fact, take the opportunity to also check out 13 causes of late menstruation.
Sources: Tua Saúde Pantys IstoÉ
Featured image: Women’s Health
Images: Women’s Laboratory O Bom da Notícia MD Saúde
