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Reasons for Frequent Periods

The average woman has a menstrual period every 24 to 29 days, but menstrual cycles that range between 23 and 35 days are also considered normal. The cycle can vary rather significantly depending on the woman. When you bleed more frequently than this it is called polymenorrhea, the cause of which is sometimes attributable to specific conditions or is unknown. When the reason for too frequent menstrual bleeding can't be diagnosed, it is considered dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

  1. Medications

    • Taking certain medications can disrupt the menstrual cycle, causing bleeding midway through the cycle. This condition, called intermenstrual bleeding, can be caused by medicines such as anticoagulants or oral birth control pills.

    Stress and Hormones

    • Other factors that can cause too frequent menstrual periods include stress or fluctuating hormones. Hormones fluctuate wildly when a woman is perimenopausal. Stress may cause an unexpected menstrual period, or it can do the opposite and cause a woman to miss her regular period. When a woman is experiencing stress she emits the hormone called cortisol, which effects estrogen, progesterone and DHEA, all of which are sex hormones. When women are in the perimenopausal phase or fully menopausal they may bleed irregularly or after having sex because the vaginal lining has thinned, which makes the vagina susceptible to infection or inflammation, both of which can cause postcoital bleeding.

      When a woman is nearing the end of her years of fertility, she is in menopausal transition, which means that estrogen continues to be secreted but progesterone secretion dwindles. This results in growth to the endometrium, or uterine lining, and too much tissue is produced, which can result in abnormal bleeding.

    IUD

    • When a woman has an IUD (intrauterine device) this can result in intermenstrual bleeding. The IUD is a birth control device that is inserted in a woman's vagina.

    STDs

    • STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, cause abnormal frequent menstrual periods.

    Fibroids

    • When a woman has uterine polyps or fibroids this can cause her to bleed heavier than usual when on her period or bleed between periods. Fibroids grow from the muscle that makes up the uterus. Fibroids are also referred to as myomas and leiomyomas. Fibroids can increase the length of the period. When a woman bleeds too much during her period she may become iron deficient (anemic).

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