116 glamour.comWe l l b ei ng / Health Report
It’s one of the most common questions
ob-gyn Katharine White, M.D.,
gets from her patients. If you’ve ever had
unpredictable periods, read this!Let It Flow
The most common
side effect of birth
control? Changes
to your period.Why Am I
Bleeding?
about switching methods. And if you’ve been on your
birth control for a long time and start spotting, your doc-
tor should know that too—the bleeding could be caused
by an infection or a benign growth.If It’s...MI A
First, take a pregnancy test. But if you’re not pregnant
or on a hormonal birth control, and you’ve gone three
months or more without a period, it’s time to be eval-
uated. The most common cause in your twenties and
thirties is PCOS, and early diagnosis is the best way to
manage symptoms. (In your forties, it could be peri-
menopause.) If you have an IUD or the contraceptive
impla nt , t houg h, hav ing you r per iod s st op is c om mon. I
tell my patients: Enjoy not having to buy tampons!Dr. White is an assistant professor of obstetrics and
gynecology at Boston University.BACKGROUND: APIMOOK 1983/SHUTTERSTOCKStars Daisy Ridley, Lena Dunham, and Halsey have recently
discussed their struggles with endometriosis, a disorder
in which tissue that normally grows inside the uterus starts to
grow outside it. Up to 15 percent of women have endo, but
traditionally, “it’s not a condition many women are aware of,”
says Jamie Renslo, M.D., a Kaiser Permanente chief of obste-
trics and gynecology in Southern California. Thanks to the
headlines, though, more women with abnormal bleeding are
wondering whether endo is the cause. Heavy periods and
spotting are two symptoms, but a better indicator? Your
cramps. “The severity of the pain is the distin guishing factor,”
says Dr. Renslo; endo-associated cramps are usually so intense
they interfere with your quality of life. (Another telltale sign:
difficulty getting pregnant.) It takes surgery to look for other
causes of the symptoms and confirm a diagnosis, so if your
doctor suspects you have endo, she may try to treat it first.
Various methods of birth control can suppress the growth of
uterine lining, which can help relieve symptoms. —Cheryl S. GrantCould It Be Endo?
f
rom the time you get your period, you’re tracking it;
I know patients who plan sex, their vacations, even
their outfits around their cycles. And then some-
times...it cha nges. Of course that would spa rk ques-
t ion s! He r e ’s w h a t t o k now b e f or e y ou f r e a k out.If Your Period Is Suddenly Heavier
Bleeding so much you need double your usual pads or
tampons? If one period is crazy heav y, wait it out, but
if a few in a row are, you may have developed a polyp or
fibroids in your uterus. Sounds scary, but these benign
growths are more of a nuisance than a danger. Or you may
be experiencing a hormonal imbalance in your thyroid
or pit uit a r y—a lso complet ely treat able. Your doc t or c a n
order blood tests or an ultrasound to figure out the cause.If It’s Erratic
An adult’s cycle can range anywhere from 21 to 35 days
(and in teens, up to 45 days). Some women never have that
regularity, which is fine, but if your periods are becoming
more random—or if you’re suddenly skipping two months
(or more)—tell your doctor. The most common cause is
polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, which often hits
women in their twenties. It’s a complex condition, so a
doctor should confirm the diagnosis and best treatment
for you. (If you’re using a hormonal form of birth control
and occasionally skip a period, that’s normal. Sometimes
the hormones do such a good job of thinning out your
uterine lining that you don’t bleed at all!)If You’re Spotting After Sex
Any amount of blood after sex can be scary. If it’s a rel-
atively rare thing, though, you don’t need to worry.
Happening often? Head in for a checkup. It could be an
infection like bacterial vaginosis, a cervical polyp, or a
sign of an STI.If It Just Doesn’t Stop
Birth control is usually the culprit. Breakthrough bleed-
ing is especially common with a new method, but it
usually resolves on its own: after two to three months on
the Pill, or three to six months with an IUD. If the bleed-
i ng doe sn’t i mprove i n t hat t i me f ra me , t a l k t o you r g y no