A.1/ what is ‘normal'
This article is to help you understand what a ‘normal’ period looks like.
We are told to visit our GP if our periods are affecting our daily life, but what does this actually mean? Women live in a society that normalises women’s pain, with 83% of women with an endometriosis diagnosis being told at some point within their journey to diagnosis that their symptoms were ‘normal’.
It’s not just healthcare professionals that can be dismissive of women’s concerns. Many women have been told by family members “the women in our family just have heavy periods”. This unknowingly perpetuates cycles of suffering creating generations of women living unnecessarily with severe pain and other debilitating symptoms.
Another compounding factor is shame. Whilst many issues have entered the public domaine in recent years, shame and embarrassment still exist when talking about periods. This means that workplaces and other social groups lack appropriate understanding and support and women continue to suffer in silence.
All of this, makes it difficult for women to know when something should be cause for concern and also make it more difficult to access care when they need it. So… what is normal?
a.1/
What Is ‘Normal’
To put it simply, you should visit your GP if your periods cause you to make adjustments to your everyday life, or if you have seen any significant changes that have lasted for the last 3 months. Your periods should be regular with the whole cycle taking about 28 days. During your bleed, some discomfort should be expected you may feel the need to rest, but feeling exhausted or like you want to spend all day in bed is concerning.
Your periods shouldn’t require you to alter your daily routine or change your plans, you shouldn’t feel the need to take days out from work or school. You should not experience pain when going to the toilet and you should not be passing blood in your urine. You should also not be experiencing chronic pelvic pain - this means that whilst some cramping is expected during your period, outside of your bleed days, there should be no pain in your abdomen or pelvic region. You should not be passing large clots (over 2-3cm in length) on bleed days and you should not experience any unexpected pain during sex.
Large changes in mood, like experiencing thoughts of worthlessness or suicidal ideation should also not be present, any one fo the symptoms listed from the description above is enough to warrant a visit to the GP, especially if these symptoms last for longer than 3 months. Fainting and vomiting from pain is not normal and should be taken very seriously.
Let’s be clear, women’s concerns not being listened to results in 55% of women with endometriosis having to attend a&E before they recieved a diagnosis
Part of the reason why conditions can go undiagnosed for so long is because in 80% of cases, women are offered the contraceptive pill to ‘regulate’ their cycles. Whist the pill can create a regular (usually lighter) bleed, this a not a period and it does not treat any underlying condition.
If you have concerns about any issues you are experiencing or you are worried about taking your concerns to your GP please have a look at our ‘GP Resources’ section on the Support page. Here you will find ways to track your symptoms, map your cycle and recommended reading.