{"id":8957,"date":"2025-07-24T09:02:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mariestopes.or.ug\/?p=8957"},"modified":"2025-07-24T09:02:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T09:02:40","slug":"why-have-my-periods-changed-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mariestopes.or.ug\/sw\/help-and-advice\/why-have-my-periods-changed-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Kwa nini hedhi yangu imebadilika?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Depressed frowning young adult black woman with headache lying in bed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not unusual for your periods to change overtime. Bleeding can get heavier or lighter, and cramps can come and go. But sometimes, changes in your menstruation can be the sign of a problem. Endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can all cause menstrual problems. Find out what\u2019s normal when it comes to periods, and when you should seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are my periods normal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most women have a period every 28 days, although anywhere between 21 and 40 days is normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, a period will last about five days. Your bleeding will be heaviest in the first few days. At this stage it\u2019s usual for the blood will be very red. After that it will change to pink and then brown or black as the bleeding gets lighter. Most women lose around 2 or 3 tablespoons of blood during their period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s very common to get cramps that start just before you get your period and last for up to three days. If you\u2019re experiencing period pain, there are some things you can do to help. While exercise may be the last thing on your mind, just going for a walk can relieve your cramps. You can also try over-the-counter painkillers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re finding it hard to cope with the bleeding or the pain, it could be a sign of a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What counts as a heavy period?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may already suspect you have heavy periods but it can be hard to be sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to tell if your periods are heavier than they should be is if you\u2019re getting through a sanitary pad every hour or two or have to get up in the night to change your pad. Another sign is if you have clots of blood that are bigger than a 100 shilling coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When should I get help for my heavy and painful periods?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re bleeding so much that it\u2019s making your life difficult, it\u2019s time to get it checked out. Even if nothing serious is causing your heavy periods, losing extra blood each month can lead to an illness called anaemia. Anaemia can make you feel unwell and very tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get checked out too if:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 you notice a change to the period pain you\u2019re experiencing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 your period arrives much earlier or later than it normally does<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 you\u2019re bleeding in between periods or after sex<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s causing the changes to my periods?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve just started taking the pill or another hormonal contraceptive, you\u2019ll probably notice your periods changing. They should settle into a regular pattern again after a few months. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) can cause your periods to get heavier but they shouldn\u2019t be so heavy you can\u2019t cope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t think either of these are to blame, you could have one of these conditions. They are all treatable, so talk to MSI about getting help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibroids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibroids are lumps which grow in or around the womb. They\u2019re not cancerous. As well as painful, heavy periods and bleeding between periods they can cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 pain or pressure in your lower tummy or back<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 constipation or feeling the need to wee a lot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 pain or discomfort when you\u2019re having sex<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can vary in size from a pea to a melon. The bigger they are, or the more fibroids you have, the more likely it is you\u2019ll get symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on how badly affected you are, they can also be to blame if you\u2019re finding it hard to get pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pelvic inflammatory disorder or disease<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID) can be caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhoea that aren\u2019t treated properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PID can cause pain in your lower tummy and bleeding between periods or when you have sex. Your vaginal discharge may change and you can sometimes have a fever too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ovarian cysts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sacs filled with fluid grow on your ovaries and are very common. They usually go away on their own without you even noticing them. But if they get very big, they can cause heavy periods and pain in your lower tummy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endometriosis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endometriosis can cause very heavy, painful or irregular periods that are very difficult to manage. Endometriosis can also lead to infertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endometriosis pain is usually worse during your period, but it can last throughout the month. It can also be worse when you wee or poo. You might also have pain during or after sex and feel sick, have constipation or diarrhoea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ectopic pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ectopic pregnancy is when a baby starts to grow outside your womb. You\u2019ll usually miss your period but if it does arrive, it will look watery and dark brown. You may also have pain in your lower tummy down one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ectopic pregnancy can\u2019t be saved. It can become life-threatening if it gets big enough so it needs urgent treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can I get help for painful, heavy or irregular periods? If your periods have changed or you think you may have one of these conditions, get in touch with us or visit one of our clinics.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Si jambo la ajabu kwa hedhi yako kubadilika kadiri muda unavyoendelea. Kutokwa na damu kunaweza kuwa nzito zaidi au nyepesi, na maumivu ya tumbo yanaweza kuja na kuondoka. Lakini wakati mwingine, mabadiliko katika hedhi yako yanaweza kuwa ishara ya tatizo. Endometriosis, \u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,7],"post_tag":[59,58],"class_list":["post-8957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gynaecology-consultation","category-help-and-advice","tag-gynaecology","tag-gynaecology-consultation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy have my periods changed? - Marie Stopes Uganda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mariestopes.or.ug\/sw\/help-and-advice\/why-have-my-periods-changed-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why have my periods changed? - Marie Stopes Uganda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s not unusual for your periods to change overtime. 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