Early Menstrual Periods

An early menstrual period occurs after a cycle of no more than 21 days. Normal menstrual cycles last from 21 to 35 days, with 28 days being the median.

Identification

• Polymenorrhea is the medical terminology for early menstrual periods. The number of bleeding days typically is the same as for a menstrual period, which is between three and five days.

Psychological Causes

• Mental stress, anxiety, mood disorders and burnout can all cause polymenorrhea. These mental disorders can cause hormone levels to fluctuate, causing irregular menstrual cycles.

Physical Causes

• Conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause transition, and other causes such as childbirth and withdrawal from oral contraceptives can result in imbalances in hormones responsible for menstrual cycle and ovulation regularity.

Treatment

• Polymenorrhea caused by stress will normally resolve after the stress has subsided. If polymenorrhea is caused by a physical reason, medication to treat the cause must be administered. In some cases, basic treatment is not effective, and the condition must be further investigated.

Special Considerations

• If you have polymenorrhea and you experience bleeding for more than five days or bleeding is accompanied by pain, contact your physician immediately.