Women's Health Community

Dear MidWstGirl: There are two common reasons for a "period" every two weeks. One is a heavier than usual breakthrough bleeding due to ovulation (peri-ovulation bleeding). The second is consistent missed ovulations. Given what you have shared (never had very regular periods) my best GUESS is consistent missed ovulations.

Here is how prolonged missed ovulations cause such symptoms. In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month. The good news is that you have enough estrogen to make a lining that does shed sometimes.

In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation and release of an egg.. Progesterone ?stabilizes? the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining?your period. So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don?t decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus?as a missed period or one that sheds erratically. In your current instance, when the lining gets too thick, the top layer can breakdown and be shed. Sometimes this can seem to be on a fairly regular basis.

Causes for not ovulating are multifold: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), illness, emotional stressors (problems with parents or boyfriends/girlfriends, exams), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc.

Interestingly, one hallmark of a non-ovulation bleed is the absence of cramps and the usual premenstrual symptoms. You are correct, bleeding from polyps or an infection (eg chlamydia) can also be erratic and/or frequent.

I would urge you to get a reliable pregnancy test (if you have a risk for pregnancy). And you do need to see a GYN as soon as your new insurance becomes active. Given the variety of reasons for frequent bleeds a GYN is needed to help sort things out. When you see a GYN or clinic about this pattern they should try and found out the cause. If it is because of low thyroid then thyroid medication is given. If it is because of being heavy set, losing about 10% of body weight can help. If it is about a severe level of stress, counseling or medication may help. If it is about polyps, they can be removed. If it is a new chlamydia infection then antibiotics can be given.

Yours, Jane

Thank you so much for the insight! I'll be getting to my GYN as soon as I can.

I actually have the same exact problem except my period last 2 weeks and I barely get 2 weeks off. I also dont have health insurance and im getting married next year so i have to wait for my insurance. My main concern is that I tend to clot alot, I feel like it drives me a little crazy because i'm always concerned about havin a miscarriage and not knowing. Is there anything that can be done at home to try to straighten things out with my mentral? And should I be concerned about waiting too long and possibly not being able to have children?

I have the same problem and when I went to the doctors they put me on birth-control. I quit taking it. My period was way heavier and would not stop till I stopped taking the birth control. It worries me for when I get older about having kids too.

This happened to me too, I would bleed for 2 weeks and be off for a week then start again. This went on for a year and finally got a D and C done about 4 months ago. Now I bleed every 2 weeks, so i'm going back to the doctor.
What my doctor told me is that i had polyps in the uterus and they had to clean me out.
As for you trying to get pregnant, if it is the same as me, you have a very high chance of getting pregnant right now. Higher chance then usual that is.

I am having the same problem bleed for two weeks and off a week. This just started to happen to me. Not sure what to do.

iv been going through the same thing its so annoying exp when your trying for a baby,am 30 now, iv never fell pregnant i have a retrovated uterus i dnt know if this could b causing me to bleed its only jst started happening to me the past month i have had problems b4 with my periods wen i was younger, a few mnths ago i had bv but got that cleared up and everything was fine now this,