Most of what you've read on these pages is the ordinary work of a healthy body. This list is what isn't. The sooner you ask, the simpler the answer is.
Right now
your local emergency number, or your nearest emergency department
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If you could be pregnant and you have pain or bleeding. Especially one-sided pain, dizziness, fainting, shoulder-tip pain or spotting. Don't wait for morning.
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Very fast bleeding. A pad filling in less than an hour and the bleeding going on for several hours, or bleeding with dizziness, weakness, a racing heart or breathlessness.
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Sudden, severe pain, especially one-sided or with nausea and vomiting. Or any pain that's worse than usual and doesn't ease with painkillers. A fever with the pain counts too.
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Signs of toxic shock while using a tampon or a cup. A high temperature, shivering, muscle aches, a rough rash, vomiting, difficulty breathing or confusion. Take it out then and there.
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A sudden, severe headache. Or a headache with trouble seeing, speaking, balancing, weakness in a limb, or a very high temperature with a stiff neck or discomfort in bright light.
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Numbness in both legs or around your genitals. Or a change in your control of peeing and pooing.
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A breast that's red, hot and swollen — or a fever with it. The same day.
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Thoughts of harming yourself. Call emergency services or go to your nearest emergency department, and tell someone you trust. Don't be alone.
Book an appointment, but don't put it off
- Heavy bleeding — changing every 1 to 2 hours or emptying your cup more often than recommended, clots larger than about 2.5cm, a period lasting more than 7 days, or using two products together
- Period pain — pain that gets in the way of your usual daily activities every month, or periods becoming more painful, heavier or more irregular
- Missed or irregular periods — three periods in a row that haven't come, and a negative pregnancy test — or gaps shorter than 21 or longer than 35 days that keep repeating
- Bleeding at other times — bleeding between periods, or — if you have sex — after sex
- Your breasts — a lump in your breast or armpit, a change in the shape of a breast, or fluid leaking from the nipple
- Discharge or pelvic pain — a change in the colour or smell of your discharge, itching or soreness, or pelvic pain
- Pain when you pee or poo — pain when you pee or poo — and, if you have sex, pain during sex
- Vomiting — vomiting that stops you drinking water — the same day
- Bloating or weight loss — a swollen abdomen that doesn't settle, loss of appetite, or unexplained weight loss
- Tiredness or breathlessness — tiredness, breathlessness or a racing heart
Take your own entries with you; a few months of data says more than any description.
And if you're told “that's normal” when you know it isn't, you're allowed to ask again.
Sources
- NHS — Period problems
- NHS — Heavy periods · Irregular periods · Breast pain · Toxic shock syndrome · Back pain · Headaches · PMS · Vaginal discharge · Ovulation pain · Doing a pregnancy test · ACOG — Painful Periods
Health information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For your own symptoms, talk to a doctor.
Your cycle, honestly.
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