Irregular Or Painful Period Specialist

Capital Women's Care

OBGYNs located in Manassas, Haymarket and Fairfax, VA

Irregular or painful periods could be a sign of a serious women’s health problem, which is why seeing your doctor for a checkup is crucial. At Capital Women’s Care in Fairfax, Manassas, and Haymarket, Virginia, the experienced OB/GYNs detect, diagnose, and treat irregular or painful periods to restore your quality of life and prevent complications. Call Capital Women’s Care at the first sign of abnormal bleeding or request an appointment online today.

Irregular or Painful Period Q & A

What are irregular or painful periods?

If your menstrual cycle isn’t consistent or is painful, it could be the sign of a gynecological problem. A normal menstrual cycle is usually between 21-35 days, and a typical period lasts about five days. The following signs and symptoms could indicate abnormal uterine bleeding:

Irregularities in your monthly cycle
Painful periods
Bleeding after menopause
Bleeding between periods
Heavy bleeding during periods
Bleeding after sexual intercourse
Menstrual cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days

Any time you experience changes in your usual menstrual cycle or painful periods, it’s important to see your doctor to determine what’s causing it.

What causes irregular or painful periods?

If you experience irregular or painful periods, it could be a sign of one or more of the following conditions:

Uterine polyps
Fibroids
Cervical or uterine cancer
Thyroid problems
Taking blood thinners
Early pregnancy
Platelet dysfunction
Hormone changes
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Menopause

Having painful or irregular periods isn’t necessarily cause for concern, especially if you’re going through menopause, but routine gynecological exams are important to rule out or diagnose women’s health problems.

How is an irregular period diagnosed?

When you arrive at Capital Women’s Care for your appointment, your OB/GYN reviews your medical history and symptoms and completes a pelvic exam, which might include a Pap smear. They may use hormonal and endocrine blood tests, ultrasound, or a biopsy to detect or rule out gynecological problems.

What is the treatment for irregular or painful periods?

After establishing the cause of menstrual irregularities, your Capital Women’s Care provider reviews your treatment options with you. They might recommend:

Birth control pills

Birth control pills help regulate your periods and make them lighter to restore your quality of life and prevent pregnancy.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy can reduce menstrual irregularities due to hormone fluctuations and alleviate unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Your doctor might recommend estrogen or progestin treatment or thyroid medicines, depending on which hormones are off-balance.

Minimally invasive surgery

Some minimally invasive surgeries help reduce or eliminate period irregularities associated with specific women’s health issues. Examples include endometrial ablation to cauterize your uterine lining, fibroid or polyp removal, or hysterectomies as a last resort.

Don’t let unpleasant irregular or painful periods go untreated when they could be a sign of a serious women’s health problem. Schedule an appointment with Capital Women’s Care over the phone or request one online today.