Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with menstruation

What Kung Fu movie am I thinking of?

Lutoslawski — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:49:13 -0800

Please ID this Kung Fu movie with missiles and menstruation. A couple years ago at an artsy film place in Denver I saw a kung fu movie where the hero uses these missiles to fight bad guys. He is also trying to acquire the menstrual blood of a virgin for some reason. There is a chief bad guy who is very bad.

Unfortunately, that's all I got. Please hope me MeFi; I'd really like to find this film!

Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization effective?

kimdog — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:55:16 -0800

I'm looking for advice, insight, and experiences with uterine fibroid embolization. I'm meeting with a doctor next week, and want to make sure I'm asking all the right questions. Let me tell you about my lady parts! After being misdiagnosed by my GP for about 4 months, I've finally confirmed that I have very large uterine fibroid tumors. The largest is 6 inches in diameter, and is pressing on my ureters and bladder causing enlarged kidneys (and making pee about every one to two hours). I've also been having other fun menstrual irregularities for the last year (bleeding for 6 weeks at a time, massive clots, bloating, but amazingly, very little cramping).

I've now met with Ob/Gyn who is recommending uterine fibroid embolization over hysterectomy. This is based on my age (36), lack of children (although I am 98% certain I don't want them), and the risks posed by hysterectomy because of the size of my tumor and uterus, and my weight (I'm fat). Her reasoning is that this will give me fairly immediate relief from my most bothersome symptoms, give me a couple more years to be certain about the children thing, and that should I need/want to have a hysterectomy in the future, it will be a much simpler surgery that she could do laproscopically once the size of my fibroids is reduced.

I know that this isn't a cure for fibroids, and that it does carry some risks of reduced fertility. But I am swayed by a less invasive procedure with a much shorter recovery time. Has anyone had uterine fibroid embolization done? Were the outcomes what you expected? How easy was the procedure and recovery?

Two Weeks Later...Not You Again!

fantine — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:05:07 -0800

Is there a way to lengthen my annoyingly short menstrual cycle? Discussion of menstruation and good times after the jump! OK, I'm a female college student, in good health, etc. Historically, my menstrual cycle is a solid 28 days, give or take (it's very predictable). However, whenever I come back to school, it drastically shortens to 19-21 days, which is hellaciously irritating. I don't have particularly awful periods, unlike some women I know, but it's a nuisance to have a 3-week instead of 4-week cycle.

Is there any way to regain a normal-length cycle? I have a good idea that it might be stress-related, but that might be just an inclination without medical merit. It's not just a beginning-of-the-semester thing where living on a hall with other women makes the hormones go nuts; this lasts for as long as I'm at school.

I'm not interested in taking birth control to artificially regulate it for a variety of reasons. But does anyone have other solutions or advice to go back to a 28-day cycle? My uterus will thank you.

period sex tips, please.

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:08:32 -0800

your tips for sex during a woman's period, please. we use towels to minimize staining, but I'm wondering if there's some better solution. Plus, does anyone have a trick for minimizing blood during the act? Neither of us has a problem with it, exactly, but it's not super sexy and sometimes the extra slickness is unwelcome.

Weird period

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:48:02 -0800

Weird period. What's up? Needless to say, if you find this stuff icky, read no further. I'm a forty year old woman who's been using Yasmin for about 10 years with no problems at all. My periods are generally very regular and start around the third day after the last active pill. A little cramping, a little moodiness, but nothing major.

So, this last period started early, maybe a day and a half after the last active pill. I had no cramping at all. The flow was very light, but the blood was very dark brown and has remained that way. A few clots. I'm accustomed to dark blood at the end of my period, but not at the beginning.

Also, in the last year I've noticed that it's become more painful to insert a tampon, and the last time I had sex, it was a little painful as well. If it matters, I'm kind of on a dry streak, so sex is infrequent. However, I seem to produce as much lubrication as usual.

I see my gynecologist twice a year for check-ups. Last one was a couple of months ago, and everything was normal. He did say that I have a few small fibroids, but nothing serious. I did a little googling, but I can't come up with anything that quite fits. I have no other symptoms, so I don't think it's endometriosis.

I'll make an appointment if necessary, but I'm hoping there's an explanation for this that won't keep me up at night. Thanks for your help. Are you my doctor? No, you're not.

How are menstruating comatose women cared for?

amicamentis — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:04:47 -0800

What happens when comatose women menstruate? For pre-menopausal women, how does the hospital staff deal with menstruation? Do they use maxi pads or tampons? It seems that laying down in bed would create a mess on the sheets even with maxi pads. Do they wash the women often?

Are there any cases where comatose women were put on some sort of hormonal drugs so that menstruation was arrested? Is the period lessened at all by the coma?

How would you explain menstruation to little kids?

widdershins — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:58:59 -0800

Please help me find an age-appropriate way to explain menstruation to my young kids. (This question is obviously not for anyone squicked out by female things.) I have 3 kids - 2 girls who are 3 1/2 and a boy 2 years younger. With kids this young there really isn't any such thing as bathrooom privacy, which isn't a problem for us. However, occasionally they will see blood in the toilet bowl as I'm flushing it or a blood stain on underwear. One of my daughters once asked me if I'd pooped my pants and I really didn't know how to respond...

So I'm trying to come up with a good age-appropriate way to explain menstruation to them. We are very open about our bodies and all that, so there's no embarrassment factor, but I don't want to freak them out by explaining that I'm bleeding from my vagina. To them, blood = injury. I'm also conscious that whatever we teach them will immediately get repeated at daycare. Again, totally fine, but I want to keep it as low-key and non-sensationalist as possible.

Another factor is that my wife and I are two women (who somehow are not on the same schedule), so there's a greater-than-average chance that someone in the house is having their period at any given time...

So. How did you handle this with your kids?

Early period while on BCP--best choice to minimize the bloodbath

not that girl — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:01:28 -0800

Period starting a week early on Seasonale: your best educated guess about whether I should skip the sugar-pill week or not? This is my first 13-week cycle on Seasonale. I already had 18 days of heavy bleeding, tapering to spotting in the last few days, beginning in late June. Now my period has started with a week yet to go of the active pills, after several days of spotting. I see myself having three choices:

1. Given that my period has started, make this my sugar-pill week and then start the next 13-week packet of pills.

2. Keep taking the active pills and take my sugar-pill week as scheduled.

3. Keep taking the active pills and then start the next 13-week packet immediately, without a break.

I am interested in minimizing the suffering and blood, especially the blood. I've been having epically long periods with heavy heavy bleeding and flooding at roughly 24-day intervals for a long time. Regular 28-day BCP stretched my cycle to 28 days, but my period always started during the last week of active pills and lasted 8-10 days. My doctor and I are trying Seasonale in the hope that I can finally get some relief.

I know this is hormones speaking but (weeps quietly) I am just so tired of bleeding all the time and I want to make the choice now that will minimize this period that has just started.

Firsthand information about endometrial ablation

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:19:23 -0800

Please tell me what you know about endometrial ablation as a means of lessening or hopefully stopping my bleeding. (This is a female-parts question.) I'm looking for firsthand information on this procedure, if possible. I have only seen it mentioned a few times in a couple of threads from several years ago. I have Googled and gotten a pretty good idea of the mechanics of the procedure and how it's performed; what I'm looking for is personal experiences, info on whether I'd even be considered a candidate for it, that sort of thing.

I'm a single woman in my mid-thirties, live in the southern United States, casually sexually active, with no children and no desire for them, ever. I have had two abortions in the past. I only reveal this to really drive the point home that I do not want kids and will not be changing my mind.

Ever since I got my first period, my menstrual cycles were unpredictable, prolonged, heavy, and incredibly painful. When I was about 21, my doctor told me about Depo-Provera and I started using it (this was several years before the bone-loss issues were widely known). I was on Depo off and on for about ten years or so (got pregnant and had my second abortion during one of the "off" years). I absolutely loved the complete lack of bleeding while I was on Depo.

Unfortunately, last year I had a bone scan and was diagnosed with severe osteopenia (just shy of having actual osteoporosis), so my GYN insisted that I get off the Depo immediately and she put me on Sprintec birth control pills, to be taken continuously. I was aware that I probably wouldn't be completely bleed-free anymore, but I only expected occasional "spotting." After six months on the Sprintec (presumably the Depo had finally worn off) I started bleeding and didn't stop for a month and a half. Then I took a week off the pills (the "placebo" week, the way BC pills are normally taken, and on the recommendation of the GYN), stopped bleeding briefly, and then started bleeding again. Not monsoon-strength bleeding, but just enough to inconvenience me and constantly make me highly uncomfortable. I was pretty freaked out and expressed my concerns to the GYN, wondering if something might be wrong with me.

Without having me come in to see her, the GYN then switched my prescription to the lower-dose Lessina birth control pills, which I've been on for four months now. For the first three months there was just a little spotting, but now once again I'm bleeding constantly, with all the attendant discomforts (cramping, irritability, etc.) of a real period. I tried taking a week off, again, and the bleeding briefly stopped, but as soon as I got back on the pills I again started bleeding just enough to need tampons. To be clear, the bleeding is not what I think most people would consider "heavy," i.e., needing to change my tampon every hour, but it is constant (not stopping). I am taking the pills as directed, faithfully at at the same time every morning.

The last time I spoke to my GYN about all this, she told me dismissively that "every woman has to deal with some bleeding" and pretty much told me I should get over myself. I won't be going back to her. I'm not a moron and I don't want a doctor who only tells me what I want to hear, but I expect my doctors to be a little kinder when I'm freaking out about my body acting up.

When I find a new GYN, I will of course tell them everything and agree to any tests they might want to run. But I'd like to bring up the subject of endometrial ablation, which I didn't know about until recently and which I've been Googling and reading about, but I don't know anyone in real life who has undergone the procedure. Can any of you provide firsthand information? Will any doctor just refuse me outright if I ask about it? I am still relatively young and have no kids, and I keep reading stories about how doctors won't agree to sterilization procedures on younger people with no kids unless there's a serious enough medical condition to warrant it, and are always assuming a woman will inevitably change her mind later about wanting babies (about which, see above; I really won't).

I also have never been diagnosed with endometriosis, fibroids, cysts, or anything serious like that. My last few PAP tests have been completely normal, though I have not yet had one since going off the Depo last year. There is a history of breast cancer in my immediate family so I'm probably at a higher risk there. Would my current condition be considered "not bad enough" to justify a procedure like this?

Other things I've considered: The Mirena IUD, which was mentioned by my last GYN as an option (but not at the top of her list, since she said I need the estrogen in BC pills to help build my bones back up), but I really don't want to use an IUD. I have read up a lot on those, including many comments here on AskMe, and I know they're now considered very safe and effective, but for personal reasons that's not an option for me. I've also, in desperation, thought about begging to go back on the Depo and take some sort of calcium-building supplement at the same time, but I'm almost certain no doctor would agree to that, knowing what terrible shape my bones are already in.

I will follow up via the mods if necessary, but just to be clear, what I'm really looking for here is firsthand information about endometrial ablation, like, "I/my sister/my friend had the procedure and it was [a big help/a disaster/whatever]," or "I work at a GYN office and you [would/wouldn't] be considered a candidate because [whatever]. You would have to [ask nicely/get off the pills/bleed harder/have a baby/wait a year/whatever] before they would perform this on you."

I know that there is no guarantee it would completely stop my bleeding.

P.S., Any idea how much it would cost, assuming no insurance?

The condition of my condition

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:28:06 -0800

Oh, my god. I've had a nearly month-long period after a Mirena insertion. I've been to the doctor and everything is seemingly fine - but I would like recommendations on how to deal. In theory, I love the Mirena. The blood-free week immediately after insertion was fantastic. Sadly, it's a distant memory at this point - I quickly moved on to a period-like flow for nearly three weeks, and then my actual period came on schedule complete with crummy side issues. I've always had somewhat heavy, but relatively comfortable periods, so I have no idea how to handle this new stuff - cramping, moodiness, backache, stomach upset.

So - what works for you to make your period more bearable? OTC medications, hot water bottles, baths, a yoga position - I'll try anything. Have you figured out a way to avoid doing laundry every goddamn day? What gets blood stains out best? How do you deal with raging mood swings? You'd think that I'd have figured this stuff out over the last, oh, twelve years, but it turns out that I need Monthlies 101.

Any and all recommendations are helpful, whether an IUD lives in your uterus or not. If you DO have a Mirena...did you go through anything similar? How long did it take to balance out? Looking around for women with similar experiences got me a host of horror stories, which were pretty unhelpful. Relevant details: I'm 26, nulliparous, smallish but not too-small uterus, normal paps. I use a menstrual cup. I didn't do well on oral HBC, but my doctor and I decided that the super-low-dose Mirena would be a good option.

I've been assured that this is within the "range of normal" and to just wait, but the waiting is becoming a serious inconvenience. Halp!

Weight gain causes amenorrhea because...?

starbaby — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:45:14 -0800

How does weight gain cause you to stop having your period? I was on two medications that cause "massive weight gain." I have since come off of them, but in the meantime, I gained about 30 pounds in about three months. As a result, I have not had a period in 90 days or so. I've been to my GP, who ruled out all the thyroid/anemia/bloodwork-related causes. I have been to my gyno, who pretty much just said, "it's the weight gain."

So now that I know the cause, I'd like to know how it works. Why does weight gain or loss cause changes in your period? It's my understanding that I am probably not ovulating, and that's why my period isn't happening, but why does obesity cause anovulation?

And, finally, if I am not ovulating, is there a lesser chance of a horrible, month-long period when it finally does come back? I'm sure hoping so.

Why is my period so weird?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:17:22 -0800

Question about menstruation after an abortion. I had an abortion a few months ago and, when I restarted my period, my period was/is very different than it was before. I now have these big blobs of blood, which never happened before when I had my periods before the abortion. The first time I had my period, I freaked out and called the nurse practitioner all panicked and she said that my period would be different now because I had been pregnant. I don't understand why, though and I stupidly didn't ask. I've been googling endlessly and only come up with forums where someone asks a similar question and is berated for having had an abortion in the first place.

So, why is my period so different now than it used to be? Is it normal? Will it stop being blobs and return to what it used to be like?

Is there a scientific reason for a menstruating woman not to use a hot tub?

dahliachewswell — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:22:55 -0800

Is there some scientific or medical reason why a menstruating woman would be banned from a public/shared hot tub or pool? (I'm talking actual findings, not just general cultural ickiness.) I've come across this women's health spa in my area that claims it will not admit women to its facilities (soaking tubs and saunas, etc.) if they are having their period.

Does anyone know if there is science to back this up (transmission of diseases in hot tubs, etc.)?

Obviously, you don't want large amounts of blood contaminating a semi-sanitary environment but menstruation is not equivalent to hemorrhaging. Likewise, menstruation is not equivalent to having a contagious infection or skin condition. It seems like if a woman had showered and is using a tampon or menstrual cup it would be a non-issue. The ban mostly seems like a continuation of a taboo or cultural distaste for menses, "eww, women on their period are unclean" sort of thing. Am I missing some hard facts?

Ironically, I lost my Keeper.

arianell — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:14:40 -0800

LadyFilter: Can menstrual cups be purchased in retail stores? (More specifically, in Los Angeles?) I'm visiting family for Easter, and I forgot to bring my Keeper with me. I'll suck it up and use tampons for a few days if I have to, but I'd really prefer to buy a spare menstrual cup. As far as I know, though, the Keeper is only available online. Do any stores in Southern California sell something similar?

I have tried Instead, and I found them to be less than ideal.

Can protected sex change a menstrual cycle?

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:08:11 -0800

Can having protected sex change your menstrual cycle? (Possible TMI) I'm 30 years old. My period has been regular since I first got it at 11 years old. The only time it changed was two years ago when I had sex with a guy (I usually sleep with women). That time it was about 5 days late, and since the sex happened on vacation, I assumed it was a travel thing, and all ended fine.

On Nov. 21st I had sex -- with a condom. I was due for my period Decemer 11-13th. I have not gotten it yet. I have taken 3 different pregnancy tests, all negative.

I'm getting slight cramps, similar to what I feel when I'm ovulating, but still I'm almost 10 days late. This is only the 2nd guy I've slept with, and the third person. Is it possible that even protected sex can change a cycle like this?

My main concern is not whether I'm pregnant or not, really, it's just that it's the holiday season and drinks are happening. Like I said, I've taken 3 pregnancy tests, all negative, on the day before I knew I might be drinking. Since they've all come back negative, and I've had no other symptoms, I've gone ahead and had drinks.

I guess my ultimate questions is -- is it possible for sex to have this effect, or even being 9-10 days late the drug store tests aren't detecting the "normal hormone levels"?

PS -- I know stress can do this too. I'm not particularly stressed one way or the other though. I'm old enough, make good money, etc. that if I were pregnant...well..okay.

It's not easy bein' cheesy...

jonmc — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:24:29 -0800

A hitherto unknown (to me at least) urban legend. I just went on a run to the corner store. Pips asked me to pick up a bag of Cheetos. Athena (her real name) The Countergirl (i'd put her age around 19-20), a casual acquantianceof ours, was ringing up the purchase. "Cheetos are for my wife, I don't like 'em, I'm a chip guy," I said. "I like Cheetos, they delay a girls period." "Whaaa?" "For like a couple days." "Where'd you hear that?" "I dunno, I just heard it." I realize this is bullshit, but it's always nice to pick up a new urban legend. I'd be interested to know if anyone else knows this one or it's origins.

Are there any traditional positive menstruation myths or customs?

xetere — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:18:52 -0800

Are there any *traditional* positive menstruation myths or customs? Traditionally, menstruation was the 'curse" and menstruating women were unclean. Jewish women have to go to a mikveh and having sex with a menstruating women is unclean in both Judaism and Islam. I really can't think of a positive ritual or myth about it.

Are there any traditional myths or customs regarding menstruation that are positive? Sort of like;

'the so-and-so tribe recruit menstruating women to go into the fields and squat so that their fertility is imparted to the crops.' or

' the clan leader of the yadda-yaddas, upon learning of their daughters menarche, slaughter a goat and invite the entire village to a feast.'

I realize that many modern and progressive people have instituted positive rituals. This is great and while not disparaging them, I am more interested in traditional folk, or religious myths and rituals, from any culture and any religion.

Can't seem to Google up anything, but perhaps some anthropologists can help?

Bulimia-filter, unfortunately: why is my period in overdrive?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:30:37 -0800

Eating disorders can make your period stop. So why does it seem like mine is making my period occur more often? I know YANAD and YANMD - and I have a great shrink, am in hardcore treatment, and am seriously getting better, I promise - but I have a lingering question about menstruation and eating disorders.

I am currently recovering from bulimia. Over the course of my eating disorder, I've noticed that if I purged a lot (more than 3 times a week) that I would start getting my period twice a month, instead of just once.

The "second" period would come with no warning, no PMS or anything else that I usually feel before proper monthly menstruation. It tends to be a bit lighter but still more than just spotting.

Do any medically-minded MeFites know what could cause this? It's happened to me four or five times. I had a bad week last week and was purging again, and - wham bam - there comes the random period.

Any ideas would be wonderful. Thank you.

Red States vs Blue Pills

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:25:05 -0800

Dumb birth control pill question: why don't I need to use a backup method while taking the sugar pills? I started the pill a week ago. The brochure states that if I miss more than two days of the pill, I MUST USE A BACKUP METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL OR I MIGHT GET PREGNANT (It really is in all caps). But during the "period" week, when you're missing seven days of active pills, no backup method is necessary. Why? What's the difference, especially when I'm supposedly allowed to reschedule the inactive week anyway?

I'm on Ortho-Cyclen, so there's no funny business with varying levels of hormones - all the pills are the same, except Week 4.

What got me wondering about this is that I inadvertently began taking the pill a week before my actual period, because I was spotting and mistook it for Day 1 (my cycle is super irregular, which I'm hoping to correct with the pill). So now, my actual period is here (I'm still taking the active pills), and I was thinking about putting off the sugar pill week for four weeks so I don't have to deal with this again so soon.

But when I take the sugar pills, how is that different from just missing pills? Are they assuming you won't have sex while you're bleeding?

I really, really, really, really, really don't want to get pregnant.

(Anonymous due to the hysterics that would ensue if by some hiccup of the cosmos my mother were to find out that her 27-year-old daughter is having premarital sex.)

Make my period stop. Please.

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:06:31 -0800

My doctor put me on a new brand of birth control (Lybrel, which claims to "remove your period"). After one month, my period started and has not stopped--and I am almost completely done with month two. It is aggravating. How can I stop my period? For more explanation, I am 19 years old, can't put birth control on my insurance (my parents would not be happy people), so my doctor gives me sample packs. It's really up to what's in the office on the day I come in which determines what brand I'm on for the next three months. I am sexually active, but not over the summer.

This happened last time I tried to skip my period with the pill, but I was switched to Loestrin 24 Fe shortly after, which I loved, and that stopped it immediately.

Basically, um, why is my menstrual cycle refusing to allow me to not have a period? This isn't just "light spotting" but light to heavy legitimate bleeding, for over three weeks.

How can I stop it? I have a Pap smear scheduled for later in the month (which I've already had to reschedule twice due to this stupid period) -- should I just go off the pill until then and then ask for either a prescription for Loestrin or a different sample pack with placebos? Or should I ride this pack out and see what happens?

If I just stop taking the pills, will my period fizzle out? Is there ANYTHING I can do to make my period stop? It is seriously getting annoying. Would switching IMMEDIATELY to another brand stop it? If so, I can call my doctor and have her write me the prescription.

Any help is appreciated. If you need further info, email ihateyoulybrel [at] gmail.com.

Do animals menstruate?

kyrademon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:22:16 -0800

Do animals menstruate? More specifically, are there non-primate mammals that shed their uterine lining in a manner analogous to menstruation, either seasonally (if they have a seasonal cycle), or year-round? Also, are there non-primate mammals that bleed in a manner similar to menstruation, but stemming from another biological cause (i.e., not a shedding of the uterine lining)?

Abnormal menstrual bleeding with no apparent cause; has this happened to anyone else? (Not for the squeamish, sorry!)

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:52:51 -0800

I'd really appreciate any thoughts. My period is usually pretty regular - every 26-32 days for years, (though three months ago my cycle was 37 days long). Last month it came and went as normal (5 days long) but then, about three days later, I noticed more kind-of watery blood. Then, in the night, I coughed and some very bright, red, new-looking blood dripped out for about an hour. There was no pain and it wasn't excessive (didn't fill a pad), but kinda scary. This lasted in a more watery form for another 4 days. I went to the doctor and she did some STD and pap smears - normal. I got a blood pregnancy test about a week and a half later, (just to rule that out) and there were no hcg levels. My doctor set me up for an ultrasound. This also came back normal.

I can't seem to find anything on google that fits these symptoms, yet that bright blood seemed so weird. It wasn't just like a long period. I understand that diagnosing polyps requires another test. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I just want to make sure I'm covering the bases as I am leaving the country for a while in September. I am Canadian and (gratefully) covered by medicare here.

I'm 32, and in good shape/health, no drugs, no medication other than a vitamin supplement I've taken for a long time. Some stress in my life but not too excessive.

How can I shorten my period naturally?

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:11:47 -0800

Is there a way to shorten my period that does NOT involve birth control? I have a period that lasts seven to nine days, seven if I'm lucky. At least three to four of those days are quite heavy. It's a huge pain, for reasons detailed under the cut. Would weight loss work? Diet? Increased exercise? Ancient herbal secrets? Is there anything, anything at all? Has anything caused a permanent shortening of your cycle? The heavy seven-to-nine day period has been the norm since I hit puberty, minus the time I was on birth control. Three to four of that is extremely, change-a-heavy-flow-tampon-every-hour-or-two heavy. Another three to four is moderate flow. I get one or two light days on a good month. It is a pain--it's expensive as I go through pads and tampons like mad. The heaviness is a deterrent to my sex life, since neither of us are keen on doing it under an endometrial waterfall. It provides a week of constant worrying about leakage. And due to the length combined with the need for the pad-tampon duo, I don't get as aired out as I should and develop a monthly yeast infection at least halfway through.

My total cycle length is anywhere from 30-32 days. While on birth control, it shortened to 28 days, with a four-day period of light to moderate flow. I was very pleased, just not with all of the negative effects of it. I have tried multiple forms of hormonal birth control and all have caused problems, so I'm not looking for that answer right now.

I would like any suggestions, even wacky ones, of ways to shorten my cycle naturally. Weight loss, diet, herbal remedies, whatever. Please, I'm desperate!

Having extra periods?

Anonymous — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:57:58 -0800

I've been getting "extra" periods... Lately, I've been getting an "extra", very light, period between my normal ones. This has happened three times now, and I wanted to see whether you think this is something to worry about.

I might be providing way more info than is required for a relatively simple question, but I wanted to make sure!
I started my periods when I was 11 (now 20), and, after initially being a bit irregular, everything evened itself out until things were pretty much normal.
I started university in Autumn 2006, and since then things haven't been quite the same: first, my first period since arriving at uni was about 2 months late. I assume this was due to moving to a different city and suddenly living on a corridor in halls full of other girls. After that, my period came back, pretty much as it had been before.
A few months after that, I started getting worse period pains, different to those I'd had before - 'aching' pain in my hips and thighs, and feeling a lot more 'hot and bothered'. This usually goes away after the first day or two, and it's been getting a bit better the past few months.
Now, since March, I've been getting "mini" periods in between my usual ones - so a period every two weeks or so. The "extra" ones are very light, so light the first couple of times that, if I didn't wear a tampon or sanitary towel, it wouldn't seep through my underwear. The most recent one (this past week) was a little heavier, though not much. These "extra" periods have also been coinciding with my girlfriend's periods (we've been living together since last Autumn).
I am not, nor have I ever been, on the Pill or anything like that. I have been fairly stressed at times during the past few months, perhaps over a longer time period than usual, but I've never noticed stress affecting my menstrual cycle before. I don't think my diet has changed much lately.

Any advice on whether this is normal or something I should get checked out?

So the horror stories about Depo were true...

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:47:45 -0800

I was on depo briefly, reacted badly, went off as soon as I could, but the after-effects still linger. Do I wait for the drugs to flush out, or is this more serious? I went on Depo Provera in December of last year. The first 5 weeks or so were great, but then the bleeding started. It's pretty brutal - essentially I'd have 17-19 days of bleeding ranging anywhere from spotting to light-period, a 3-4 day breather, and it'd start all over again.

Naturally, I did not go in for my second shot. I was supposed to get it renewed on February 28th of this year. At the time of this writing, it is April 3rd, and the cycle of 19-days-3-days-19-days has not stopped, and it is driving me insane (I am on day 20). It's light enough that I only wear a liner, but it won't. Freaking. Stop.

I've read enough horror stories about women reacting badly to depo and the effects lingering long after, but those seemed to be more in long-term cases. I was on it for all of three months. I have no other symptoms to speak of. No fatigue that I can tell, no headaches, no cramps (not since February at least), I occasionally feel a bit bloated but even then it's a bit of a stretch. Normally I'm on a 29-35 day cycle depending on how stressed I am that month, with each period lasting around 6-8 days.

I am 19, not on any other forms of drugs (other than caffeine, ha-ha, and even then at most one cup a day), healthy, relatively fit, lower end of weight spectrum, etc. Fairly stressed, yes, but that usually manifests itself in slightly later periods and acne for me, not spotting/breakthrough bleeding.

Is it normal for the effects to linger THIS long after such a short time on the drug? When can I expect it to fully flush out? Or could it be something more serious?