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08 March 2006

Girl Talk Warning: Discussion of Female Body Issues inside... [More:]

My period has a break in it- almost always has. After a few days, it stops for anywhere from 18-36 hours, than starts again. Is that weird?
TPS, my mom had the same symptoms, almost since she started having periods when young. It never really bothered her, but (and I don't mean to alarm you, just telling you to get thee to a gyno if you're really worried) she also eventually up having ovarian cancer and had to have an emergency hysterectomy in 1977.
posted by WolfDaddy 08 March | 08:34
wolfdaddy, what TPS is describing is not a symptom of ovarian cancer. I would be surprised to learn that there was any connection in your mom's case. Honestly, TPS, I would not trouble yourself over this. Women's periods vary widely. If you're really worried, ask your gyn about it, but it's very likely to just be a normal variation.
posted by amro 08 March | 08:47
My apologies, I wasn't making a direct connection between the two, just trying to give a complete history of my mom's plumbing strangnesses. Again, apologies if I alarmed you unnecessarily.
posted by WolfDaddy 08 March | 09:16
AHHHH I HAVE OVARIAN CANCER I'M GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

j/k wolfdaddy.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 09:44
Honestly, I'm not "worried" about it; I was just wondering how many other women have the same thing.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 09:48
I usually have a short break. Not 18-36 hours, but there's always heavy bleeding for a couple days, then a light day or so, then a little more heavy at the end.

Maybe just bring it up at your next annual?
posted by Miko 08 March | 09:59
Confession: I never go to the doctor. Ever. Maybe I should start now that I'm a grownup and have health insurance.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 10:01
Yeah, you should, TPS. Those annual girly tests are a good thing.

posted by JanetLand 08 March | 10:05
TPS, if you are sexually active you MUST go annually and get a pap smear. Even if you aren't. Early detection is the key and all.
posted by amro 08 March | 10:10
Alright, alright, I will go sometime. I promise.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 10:13
TPS, I will join the chorus haranguing you to go. It's important to go to the GYN whether or not you are getting busy with anyone. The Pap test alone is really important because it can detect very early cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. When you catch it early, it's no big deal at all to treat. If you wait, very big deal.

Also, you can ask questions like this. Sometimes GYNs prescibe the Pill to help regulate menstruation.
posted by Miko 08 March | 10:16
Ahhhhhhhhhh I really didn't want this to be "Go to the doctor" thread. This is a fun "aren't periods funny?" thread. But thank you for your concern.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 10:22
Periods are horribly annoying! That's my take. Such fuss and bother.

Though 10 years from now I'll probably be missing them and what they represented...
posted by Miko 08 March | 10:23
.
posted by mike9322 08 March | 10:26
In high school during lunch I sat at a table full of pretty girls because all of my guy friends had a different lunch, er, period. Anyway, they talked so much about periods and bra-sizing and shaving and waxing and other stuff, that I am now completely inured to it all.
posted by sciurus 08 March | 10:49
In the last year or so my period has really lightened up and there is frequently a 24 hour gap in the middle of it. I'm 39 and believe I'm pre-menopausal. My doc told me I was too young, but I told him my mum went through it in her early-mid 40s.

I won't tell you to go to a doc. I have to go fairly frequently due to being diabetic and being on other prescriptions. But I tend to avoid the female stuff. I was 34 before I had my first pelvic exam.
posted by deborah 08 March | 11:04
Oh, you guys, you guys. I don't want to be one of those doctor-naggers, but seriously. My aunt died at 42 from a cancer which could have been detected a lot earlier, and very likely cured had she had annuals.

That's all I need to say, I hope.
posted by Miko 08 March | 11:18
In related period oddness... mine has gone away.
*poof*

I am a mite worried.

I am, according to the stick I pee'd on, not pregnant. And the three other brands I used after that.
It never got beyond "spotting" this month.

I am hoping it is just a side effect of starting NuvaRing last month. My doc said not to worry, and I have an appointment in a month anyways, but even so...
posted by kellydamnit 08 March | 11:26
It's common to skip periods with hormonal birth control. Mine would vanish from time to time when I was on the pill.

I can't wait for menopause.
posted by JanetLand 08 March | 12:11
I know, but I was on the pill for about a decade and never had this happen. I just figured the side effects of the ring would be the same as the pill, if not less because of the lower hormones.
posted by kellydamnit 08 March | 12:16
I also can't wait for menopause (if it's not already happening), JanetLand. Having lighter periods is a blessing.
posted by deborah 08 March | 12:39
Mine are just getting more and more painful and annoying, and a shorter cycle, the older I get (never been on any kind of hormonal birth control). Hurry up already, menopause!
posted by matildaben 08 March | 12:46
My period is totally messed up these days. I was on the shot for a year and a half, so I only got it every three or four months, and it was either barely there, or HOLY HECK BAD CRAMPS heavy. Then I became single again and consequently celibate and shot-free, and had my period twice in December and for the entire month of January. It's gotten shorter again, but it's still awfully frequent.

I also just discovered the wondrous Diva Cup and don't know how I never realised how DIRTY tampons are. This is so much cleaner! And I never have to pay for it again! Hurrah!
posted by heatherann 08 March | 15:59
heatherann: are you serious? I haven't even looked into the cup because I assumed it would be actually yuckier than tampons.
posted by Miko 08 March | 16:05
I love my Diva Cup, heatherann! I suppose it is "messier" than tampons, miko, but to me, it feels better.... tampons can be so drying and the Cup is not. Plus, you don't really have to empty it all that much- 3 times a day for me, tops.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 16:27
miko: With the cup, all the blood stays inside you until you say so. With tampons, there's always that bit on the string, and the string also gets pee on it, and ew. And yeah, the cup doesn't dry you out, which is nice. You do have to reach in there to take it out and put it in again, but the area you're touching is below the rim of the cup, so it doesn't have blood* on it (most of the time).

I used those ob tampons before, the ones without applicators, and whenever I inserted them, I got my finger covered in blood. No more!

Menstrual Cup Support Livejournal Community

*Blood and mucous-like tissue-ish stuff! I had no idea!
posted by heatherann 08 March | 16:44
I was thinking of trying that, but I don't know how it would react with the ring. (not react, but, well, FIT).

On preview... heatherann, that's the exact reason why I won't buy OB. I don't care if they're the best 'pons on the face of the earth. I'm not walking out the the bathroom stall at work over to the row of sinks covered in blood. No way, no how.
posted by kellydamnit 08 March | 16:49
Which brings up the question about using the Diva cup in a public bathroom?

I should probably just go to the lj page.
posted by Miko 08 March | 16:56
The thing about the Diva Cup is, you're probably not going to need to wash it in public, if you time it right. Wash it before you leave your house, wash it right when you get home, wash it before bed. That's my take, anyway.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 March | 16:59
i am so glad i have a penis
posted by flopsy 08 March | 17:35
ThePinkSuperhero, my period does the same thing-I have a gap, same time frame as yours, then it kicks back in. I'm forty-seven, so I am guessing it is a hormonal thing.

Couldn't hurt for you to go get checked, anyhoo. But I doubt it's anything but a curiosity and an annoyance.
posted by bunnyfire 08 March | 20:24
OK, I just read the Diva web site. Y'all may have convinced me. $32.50? That's, like, just 4 months' worth of tampons, anyway. And the idea of not having leaks? Not having to change 'em all freaking day? I'm interested.
posted by Miko 08 March | 20:36
I use the Instead cup every so often.

I hate periods though. I always get cramps from hell and it really messes with my body.
posted by sisterhavana 08 March | 21:06
Yep, mine almost always has a break in in for about a day too, though in my case usually towards the end of the period rather than the beginning. I'm 37 but it's been this way for years. (Caveat: I tend to have light-to-medium periods in general, and they are even lighter and sometimes non-existent when I'm on the pill. Which I'm not anymore, for various medical reasons, which is actually fine because I feel much better these days not being on it.)
posted by scody 08 March | 21:12
That Instead cup doesn't really fit me right but I wear it overnight sometimes. I still have yet to try the Diva. Many years ago I used the sponge, which had similar problems with finding the right place to clean up during the day.
posted by matildaben 08 March | 21:20
OK, I just ordered a Diva. Their web order form is so 1996!
posted by matildaben 08 March | 21:26
Something you might like. || Vegas?

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