Is There Such a Thing as a “Normal” Period?

“It’s not you, it’s your period.”

(This post was sponsored by Kaiser Permanente #thriveambassador)

Have you ever wondered, IS there such a thing as a “normal” period?!? I know I have, probably for longer than I would like to admit. Well, I had the opportunity to talk to a medical professional from Kaiser Permanente of Orange County regarding this topic and I have to say it was FASCINATING!! I learned more about my body in the one hour phone call than I have in the past 20+ years since starting my menstrual cycle.

The OBGYN that I had the privilege to talk with was Dr. Betty Shen, who has worked for Kaiser Permanente for twelve years and has been in the field for sixteen years. I have to add that she was one of the easiest Doctors I have ever spoken with, which made this topic so much easier to attack full force, no holding back.

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Here are the questions and answers from our interview…

Why does the female body have a period? Every 21-35 days a woman’s body sheds the thick lining in the uterus. The body creates the thick lining in order to prepare the body for a possible pregnancy. Two weeks before the lining is shed an egg drops and the body thickens the lining so that if the egg is fertilized by a sperm, it has a a place to attache and grow. When the egg is not met with sperm the egg disintegrates and then the lining thins by bleeding. (And here I was thinking all this time we had to have a period to shed the unfertilized egg, but that is not the truth).

What is the “normal” length of a period? Up to 7 days.

What is the “normal” timing of a cycle? Approximately 21-35 days, or 3-5 weeks. You are supposed to count your cycle from the first day of your period and lasts until the first day of your next period.

What is a “normal” flow? On your “heavier” days changing a tampon or pad no more than every 2 hours is pretty normal. Also, there will probably be a few heavier days and a few light days. If you experience large blood clots, it might be a sign that you should see your doctor.

What are the other “normal” symptoms of a period (AKA: PMS)?

• CRAMPS – are fairly common, especially on your heaviest days. If it starts to affect your life to where you can’t do regular activities like going to work or school then you would want to talk to your doctor about it. To help alleviate the discomfort of cramps Dr. Shen suggests Motrin/Ibuprofin (which can actually lighten your period), or Aleve/Naprosyn. (I have also found that a heating pad can sometimes help as well as an essential oil called “ClaryCalm.”)
• HEADACHES – If you have migraines during this time, they may be Menstrual Migraines. Hormones fluctuate so much during your cycle that it is common to get headaches. The decrease in estrogen just before your period, could cause the headache. Dr. Shen says that you could take a migraine medication as soon as you see any sign as an attempt to stop it in its track. She also suggests avoiding your well known triggers (which I’ve talked about in previous articles). Dr. Betty Shen also suggests trying Birth Control, which can help prevent the decrease in estrogen
• ACNE – is unfortunately something we are going to have to deal with until our period actually stops for good (I know, not the news we wanted to hear). You can try to do a deep cleansing wash/mask before your period begins and/or try an acne medication at the first sign of your trouble spots. Again, being on birth control could also help with the period related acne.
• BLOATING – is a very common symptom and can try to be avoided by lowering your salt intake during this time. You should also consider having smaller meals to try to alleviate the bloating.
• FATIGUE – can be hard to measure. Dr. Shen suggests doing the opposite of what you feel like doing and that is to exercise. She says when you exercise it releases endorphins and actually gives you more energy. I have to say that this is particularly difficult for me, I do get EXHAUSTED leading up to my period and on my period. Dr. Shen says to make sure you get your thyroid and iron levels checked to make sure there is nothing else going on with your body.
• EMOTIONAL – is, again, caused by the fluctuation of the hormones. The hormones actually affect the chemicals in the brain, one of those being serotonin, which causes mood changes. Some things that can help are; exercise, meditation, even trying vitamin B6 (no more than 100mg a day). You can also find B6 in foods like salmon, eggs, avocado and spinach. If are feeling severe depression and anxiety it could be PMDD, which occurs in less than 2% of women and you can either try an anti-depressant like Prozac or Zoloft or try Birth Control.
• Nausea – Dr. Shen said that pain in general can cause nausea, so if you have painful cramping it is not uncommon to experience nausea with it as well.
• Breast Tenderness – Also a cause from hormones and totally normal. I find wearing a sports bra to keep things from moving around too much is helpful. Taking some form of over the counter pain reliever can help as well. Decreasing your caffeine intake may also help.

What are other some signs we should talk to our doctor?

• Pelvic/Vaginal Pain – Could be signs of Endometreosis, which is fairly common and happens when cells that normally grow inside the uterus start growing into the muscle on the outer part of the uterus.
• Hives/Rash – Dr. Shen shared that nothing is impossible as a side effect, but a rash or hives is a little out of the norm, so you may want to get that checked out.
• Irregular Period – Not having a period every month and signs of high levels of male hormones (such as, hair growth in unusual places or excessive acne) can both be the common signs in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. To confirm this diagnosis you would need lab work to confirm a higher amount of male hormones and/or an ultrasound of the ovaries. Going on the pill will help thin the lining that gets too thick if you have gone without a period for more than 2-3 months. You should never go more than 3 months without a period unless you are on a birth control that allows you to not have one. Taking a progesterone pill is also an option if you prefer not to go on the pill.
• Affecting Your Everyday Life – Dr. Betty Shen says that when symptoms are starting to affect your everyday life that is when you should probably talk to your doctor. If you feel like you can’t go to school or work or do everyday activities then it’s time for a check-up.

Here are a few more questions from my readers…

Why does my period always come so early in the morning? A lot of times when you are laying down the blood can store up inside, but as soon as you stand up gravity will pull it down. If you have some warning signs that your period is on its way, you might want to go to bed with a pad just in case.;)

The birth control that completely stops you from having a period, is that safe? Will it affect someone from getting pregnant later? Dr. Betty Shen informed me that it is safe to not have a period every month on the pill. However, one of the creators of the pill added in a week of placebo pills to induce a period because he felt that women would feel more comfortable this way and because it might help the Catholic Church to accept this method (which it did not).

In short, our period is just the shedding of the lining inside the uterus, but when you are on the pill it regulates the lining so it never gets too thick. When that is regulated there really is no need to have a period. If you are trying to get pregnant you would obviously want to get off of the pill, but this particular one would not hurt your chances of getting pregnant. It is completely safe to take and from the sounds of it might be a great solution to someone with severe PMS symptoms.

So there you have it…your period in a nut shell. Did you learn something new? If you found it helpful and you think a friend might as well, don’t forget to share it with them.;)