Period/menstrual cycle has changed...

[Br00k3_w]

Hey all!
I’m 21 years of age and in the past 6-12 months I have noticed my periods have started to become really light, shorter and my cycle has become longer but also slightly unpredictable (period tends to be either 2 days earlier than expected or 4 days late). I know they’re not huge changes but I find it slightly concerning as my periods used to be predictable and spot on when I was younger, even when I first started. I used to have a medium flow that lasted 7 days with little to no cramping, but now it’ll last only 4-5 days and is usually really light but I spend the first few days with painful cramps especially lingering on the right hand side...

I found this change happened a few months after I went to ER with crippling right lower abdominal pain... they couldn’t find anything wrong with me (except for the fact that I was in severe pain and couldn’t stand up straight) so they sent me home. After being to multiple doctors and specialist they couldn’t find anything wrong. I still get the pains (not as bad) but I find when I ovulate on my right side thats when the pain will appear severe and it’s usually when I get severe period pains as well.

I’m just after some advice... should I be concerned? Is this just normal? Is it a part of getting older?

[talkhealth]

Hi Br00k3_w,

Sorry to hear about the changes in your periods. Perhaps you may want to ask your Dr if they can test to see if you have a hormone imbalance?

Some people do get a pain around ovulation, please find information here about it which will hopefully help:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovulation-pain/

Kind regards
talkhealth