Q:

This month my period has lasted for 2 weeks.

This is very unusual for me. I have been on birth control for nearly 7 years, and my periods are clockwork. I start at the same time, on the same day, and they always last for 4 days. And they are very light.

However, this month I have been on my period for 2 weeks. It has been very very light, and I haven't been cramping or feeling bloated, or anything else.

I googled why this is happening and I've gotten "menopause" (yeah right) "stress" (definitely not stressed) and "hormonal imbalance" as my answers....but I really feel like these don't apply to me.

Should I come in for a visit? Should I wait it out?

 

A:

Low dose contraceptives often don't sustain the endometrial lining with their meager hormone levels so a prolonged light bleed is often due to insufficient hormonal levels to keep the endometrium stable.  However, the automatic things we think about and evaluate for are:

• pregnancy
• sexually transmitted infection
• thyroid or other hormonal imbalance

If those are not found, then the way to get things back to what you are used to is to up the pill dosage.  That will usually take care of the spotting.

~The Doc