Females: Your Period / Question
Published: February 18, 2004
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am 17-year-old girl. I have incredibly heavy periods and bad cramps every month. Is it possible to use the pill to lighten my periods?
Signed: Possible To Use The Pill To Lighten My Periods?
Dear Possible To Use The Pill To Lighten My Periods?,
TeenHealthFX is glad that you asked this question. Heavy bleeding, called menorrhagia, occurs in 9% to 14% of all women and can be caused by a number of factors. Excessive and heavy periods are a common problem during adolescence that often is due to anovulatory cycles. That is, no ovum is released. Clot formation is fairly common during heavy bleeding and is not a cause for concern. The cause of severe menstrual cramps is related to uterine muscle contractions induced by powerful chemicals known as prostaglandins and arachidonic acid. These cramps often accompanies heavy bleeding, in which prostaglandins also play a large role.
Oral contraceptives, commonly known collectively as "the Pill," contain combinations of an estrogen and a progestin. They are often used to regulate periods in women with menstrual disorders, including menorrhagia (heavy bleeding), dysmenorrhea (severe pain), and amenorrhea (absence of periods). There are many possible medical causes of heavy menses and bad cramps. The Pill may be beneficial to you as are are other options. You should make an appointment with your doctor or an Adolescent Medicine doctor or a gynecologist (a doctor that specialized in women's reproductive health care) to discuss this.
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and menstrual cycles. Again, TeenHealthFX recommends that you keep a diary of bleeding and no bleeding days, including notes about how heavy the bleeding was. You will also have a physical exam. You may need a blood test. The treatment depends on the cause of the problem. If you don't have a doctor and live in the northern New Jersey area you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973.971.6475.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The highest Chlamydia rates occurred among women ages 15 to 19 and 20 to 24.
