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What Causes Two Periods in One Month? Top 12 Possible Reasons Why

– What Causes Two Periods in One Month? –

What Causes Two Periods in One Month? There are lots of factors that could cause you to have irregular menstrual flows. However, can anyone have 2 periods in one month? Yes. In this article, we’ll explain the reasons why you might be having and what causes 2 menstrual periods in one month.

What Causes Two Periods in One Month?

Overview

It’s normal for adult women to have a menstrual cycle that ranges from 24 to 38 days, and for teenage girls to have a cycle that lasts 38 days or longer. But every woman is different, and each person’s cycle can vary from month to month.

During some months, your cycle may last for more or fewer days than the previous month, or it may start earlier or later than it has before. Sometimes, you may even have two periods in a single month.

If your cycles are on the shorter end of the spectrum, you could have your period at the beginning and end of the month with no reason for concern.

But if you experience bleeding outside of your normal menstrual cycle and suspect you’re having a second period, the first thing you should do is figure out if it’s spotting or menstrual bleeding:

  • If you’re having menstrual bleeding, also known as your period, expect to soak through a pad or tampon every few hours. The blood may be dark red, red, brown, or pink.
  • If you’re having spotting, you won’t bleed enough to fill a pad or tampon. Blood from spotting is usually dark red or brown.

After you’ve determined if you’re having spotting or menstrual bleeding, you can start to explore what may be causing your increased bleeding.

What Are Irregular Periods?

You have irregular periods if the length of your menstrual cycle (the gap between your periods starting) keeps changing. Your periods may come early or late.

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, although it’s normal for it to be shorter or longer than this. After puberty, many women develop a regular cycle with a similar length of time between periods. But it’s not uncommon for it to vary by a few days each time.

Read Also: Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Pregnancy.

Causes

There are many potential causes of irregular periods. Sometimes they may just be normal for you.

Common causes include:

  • puberty – your periods might be irregular for the first year or two
  • the start of the menopause (usually between the ages of 45 and 55)
  • early pregnancy – take a pregnancy test to rule this out
  • some types of hormonal contraception – such as the contraceptive pill or intrauterine system (IUS)
  • extreme weight loss or weight gain, excessive exercise or stress
  • medical conditions – such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or a problem with your thyroid.

12 Reasons you had two periods this month

12 Reasons you had two periods this month

If your period is coming the second time this month, there is definitely something going on. Most likely what you’re experiencing isn’t a second period at all, but breakthrough bleeding or spotting between your periods.

Here are possible reasons it might happen a second time in one month.

1. Birth Control

If you’re on the pill or another form of hormonal birth control like an IUD, an extra Flow is pretty common. If you’re new to hormonal birth control, your changing hormones can lead to extra bleeding. Some women always experience spotting between periods while on the pill.

Forgetting to take your BC or taking the pill at different times each day can also lead to spotting. If you just went off the pill, you could also experience additional bleeding as your body tries to adjust to your new hormone levels. It could take a few months for your cycle to get back to normal.

2. Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you can experience spotting that looks like a light period. When the fertilized egg implants in your uterus it can kind of burrow in there and cause bleeding.

Implantation bleeding usually looks brown or pink in color and will only last from a few hours to about 3 days.

3. Ectopic pregnancy

Pregnancy

Unlike normal pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg attaches in the wrong place (outside the uterus). This usually happens in the fallopian tubes and can be life-threatening.

4. Miscarriage

Losing a pregnancy can also cause unexpected bleeding. If you find this second period is unusually heavy and is accompanied by cramping in the lower abdomen or back, you could be experiencing a miscarriage.

4. Fibroids

A heavy, painful period or bleeding between periods could be a sign you have fibroids. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow on the uterine wall. Very, very rarely are fibroids cancerous.

5. Cysts

Similar to fibroids, ovarian cysts can cause a double period. When these fluid-filled sacs form on an ovary, they can produce hormones that mess with your menstrual cycle. Most cysts don’t cause problems, but if they’re too large they can push on the bladder or rupture.

6. PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which occurs when there are a bunch of small cysts in the ovaries, can also cause double periods. A woman with PCOS also produces extra testosterone that prevents the egg from developing properly.

7. Endometriosis

No one really wants to join the endo club, but if you’re having an “extra period” it could be endometriosis. Women with endometriosis have tissue growing outside the uterus that is like the uterine tissue (the endometrium).

According to the Mayo Clinic, this tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds just like the uterine wall would normally, but it’s trapped elsewhere in the body like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic tissue, or intestines.

Endometriosis can cause severe pain, scar tissue, adhesions, and fertility issues.

8. Sexually transmitted infection (STI)

Usually, if anything strange is going on down below, STI’s are the first thing that comes to mind if you haven’t been careful. STI’s cause a bunch of unpleasant symptoms, including bleeding.

If you’re experiencing a lot of pain in your nether regions accompanied by cold symptoms and weird discharge, you could have an STI.

9. Thyroid issues

Your thyroid creates a hormone that helps your entire body of work right, including your menstrual cycle. If your body makes too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), you can have irregular periods and light or heavy periods.

10. Early Menopause

The “change” isn’t supposed to show until you’re middle-aged, but it can happen early. The Cleveland Clinic notes about 1 percent of women under 40 and 5 percent under 45 go into early menopause.

If you’re experiencing premature menopause, your periods can become irregular and you’ll have standard menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.

11. Stress

If you’re stressed out of your mind, your body takes an enormous hit. It’s way easier to get sick and it can also mess with your cycle.

A 2015 study of 100 female medical students found that high-stress levels are associated with irregular cycles. If you’re stressed, you could have extra bleeding or lose your period altogether.

12. Weight gain or Weight Loss

Gaining or losing a few pounds is unlikely to alter your cycle. But if you gain or lose a lot of weight fast, you could destabilize your flow. Crazy weight changes mess with your hormones, which is the captain of all your period woes.

When to See a Doctor

What Causes Two Periods in One Month?

If someone has two periods a month over the course of 2 to 3 months, they should see a doctor. People should also speak to a doctor about heavy bleeding, such as passing blood clots that are the size of a quarter or larger or bleeding through one or more pads or tampons every hour.

Other period symptoms a person should talk to a doctor about include:

  • feeling faint
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • pain or bleeding during intercourse
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • pelvic pain
  • shortness of breath
  • irregular heartbeat
  • unexplained weight changes, including weight gain or loss

Frequent periods can show an underlying condition that requires treatment. Having too many periods can also result in blood loss that leads to anemia or low blood counts, so it is essential to seek medical advice.

Preparing for your Doctor’s Appointment

Changes to your menstrual cycle can show a health problem, so it’s always important to discuss abnormal bleeding with your doctor. 

If you need to know what causes 2 periods or flow in one month, your doctor will likely ask you a lot of questions about your symptoms.

By being prepared for your appointment, you can help your doctor find the correct treatment as quickly as possible. Here are some questions your doctor may ask:

  • How long are your cycles? Is this normal for you?
  • If your shorter cycle isn’t normal for you, when did the changes to your bleeding start?
  • How long does the bleeding last?
  • What color is the blood?
  • How heavy is the bleeding? How quickly does it fill a pad?
  • Are there clots? If so, how big are they?
  • Do you have any other symptoms?

To calculate the length of your cycle, start counting on the first day you bleed. This will be day one. Your cycle will end on the first day that you bleed again.

Many smartphone apps are available to help you track your cycle.

If you have a history of irregular bleeding, tracking your cycles on an app can help you identify a problem more quickly. It can also make it easier to share your cycle information with your doctor.

If you think you’re having two periods each month without known causes, talk to your doctor. They can help you balance your hormone levels and regulate your bleeding.

You may need to try a few different options, but with treatment, you can increase the length of your menstrual cycle. This can help you get back to having one period each month.

We hope this article has been helpful to you. Please share it with anyone you think will appreciate the information and kindly drop your comment below.

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