OverBleeding

Dear Thenmozhi,

You are troubled by your periods that seem to last almost ten days. The first three days and last three days are brownish discharge. The middle four odd days is “normal” bleeding. In addition to periods lasting for a longer than usual time, you say your cycles happen every 21 odd days. This must make it difficult for you as you are wearing protection every other ten days.

In your description what you have clearly not mentioned is that you pass clots or that the bleeding is heavy.

Brown discharge means old blood so it would mean that you have some mild spotting / bleeding a few days before your real period starts and by the time it comes away it is no longer red but brown. The four days when you have red blood would be the main period. The last four days would be again residual blood coming away. It is for that reason I suspect, your periods are not heavy enough to cause anemia but they do cause a lot of inconvenience. Would be best to check a full blood count and see that the hemoglobin is normal.

You are 25 years of age you haven’t said if you are married/ in relationship and if you are trying for a baby. If you are sexually active and planning contraception then perhaps the combined oral contraceptive pill will be your best pet. It will regularize your periods and make them clock work.

For problems such as these it would be prudent to see a gynaecologist who may do an ultrasound scan mainly to check that the uterus is normal and the endometrium is growing normally. A few hormones like prolactin and thyroid tests will also help the gynecologist be assured that all is well. He may also be able to do physical examination to check for any tented signs of hormonal imbalance.

There are quite a few things from hormonal imbalance, weight issues, stress which can all cause something like this, but it is nothing that cannot be addressed easily.

I hope this has been of help.