Severe period signs you shouldn't ignore


LearnWomen's healthLiving with and treating uterine fibroidsSevere period signs you shouldn't ignore
What a typical period should look and feel like
Symptom #1: Spotting between periods
Symptom #2: Heavy bleeding
Abdominal pain and cramps

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Periods are a natural part of the biological monthly cycle for those with a uterus, and period signs like bloating and cramps can be typical for many people. But when these signs become intense or start to interfere with daily life, it could be time to see your healthcare provider (HCP).

Here are three severe period signs to watch for, possible health conditions that they could indicate, and how your HCP may go about checking for them.

Sources: Office on Women’s Health. Premenstrual s... + 23
  1. Office on Women’s Health. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your First Period: FAQ. November 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  3. Mayo Clinic. Women’s health: Menstrual cycle: What's normal, what's not. April 29, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  4. Office on Women’s Health. Menstrual Cycle. February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  5. Office on Women’s Health. Uterine fibroids. February 19, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  6. MedlinePlus. Cervical polyps. January 27, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. June 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  8. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last accessed June 2022.
  9. Mayo Clinic. Adenomyosis. June 18, 2022.
  10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). July 2021.
  11. Office on Women’s Health. Polycystic ovary syndrome. February 22, 2021. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  12. MedlinePlus. Anemia. July 29, 2016. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  13. Mayo Clinic. Endometriosis. July 24, 2018. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  14. MedlinePlus. Painful menstrual periods. March 31, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  15. Cleveland Clinic. Dysmenorrhea. November 20, 2020. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  16. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods. January 2022. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  17. NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Uterine Fibroids. November 2, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2022.
  18. Yara G. Alkilani & Irasema Apodaca-Ramos. Cervical Polyps. StatPearls Publishing. 2022.
  19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bleeding Disorders in Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. December 20, 2017.
  20. Mayo Clinic. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding). June 25, 2022.
  21. NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the treatments for endometriosis? November 2, 2018. Accessed July 15, 2022.
  22. Hassan Nagy & Moien AB Khan. Dysmenorrhea. StatPearls Publishing. 2022.
  23. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Last accessed April 4, 2023.
  24. ACOG. Hysteroscopy. Last reviewed November 2021
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Updated onAugust, 2026

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