Health A-Z

Menstrual Disorders

Women tend to be very familiar with their period, so if you notice that something's off, it's important to find out why. Educate yourself about cramps, PMS, ovulation, spotting, and more.

Woman with hot water bottle healing stomach pain

Heavy Menstrual Periods Leading to Iron Deficiency Anemia

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

a woman laying on a couch cradling a hot water bottle

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman running to the toilet

Why Bleeding or Spotting Occurs Between Periods

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Female doctor using digital tablet in consultation

Asymptomatic Disease: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Explore Menstrual Disorders

All Cycle Disorders Cramps Normal Menstruation PMS & PMDD

Pile of tampons

What You Should Know About Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Close up of monthly calendar with date circled in red

When You Haven't Had Your Period in Months

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman with a headache

Understanding Premenstrual Syndrome

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Get Relief for Your Severe PMS/PMDD Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Nurse holding a model of a uterus

Endometrial Hyperplasia Risks, Types, and Treatments

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Overview of Polymenorrhea and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

A new mom holding her baby

Is Postpartum Bleeding Normal?

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman sitting on the toilet

What Blood Clots During Your Period Mean

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

Doctor and Patient, Abdomen Palpation

An Overview of Anovulatory Bleeding: Causes, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Teen girl looking at her phone on her bed

Menarche Medical Definition

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman with menstrual cramps

Adenomyosis Symptoms and Treatments

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Teenage girl with headphones doing homework with laptop

How to Make a Menstrual Cycle Calendar

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman laying on bed holding stomach in pain

Do You Have Mittelschmerz Pain Between Your Periods?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Folded woman's clothing with a menstrual cup on the panties

The 10 Best Period Panties of 2020

Fact checked by Ashley Hall

Modern Menstruation - calendar and tampons

Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Calendar tracking period cycle and some feminine hygiene products

Things Everybody Should Know About Menstrual Bleeding

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Teenagers dancing together at prom

Androgen Insensitivity: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD

Feminine hygiene products and calendar

Metrorrhagia: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman holding tampon and pantyliner

Oligomenorrhea: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Black woman hugging her knees

Heavy Periods and Hair Loss: Is There a Link?

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Sick woman in bed

Primary Dysmenorrhea in Teenagers

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman rubbing her chest

7 Ways to Manage Premenstrual Breast Pain

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

woman in bed with hands on stomach

6 Common Reasons for Lighter Periods Than Normal

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman holding stomach, cropped view

Overview and Types of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Prevent Oral Contraceptive Failure

Hormonal Contraceptives as Menorrhagia Treatment

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Modern Menstruation

What to Know About Irregular Periods in Teenagers

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Young woman looking out the window

10 Reasons for a Missed Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman scratching her skin

Allergic Reactions Related to the Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD

women's gynecologic history

Can Celiac Disease Cause Skipped Periods?

Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD

Asian woman running

Missed Periods and Marathon Training

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Dizzy woman portrait

What Can Cause Dizziness During My Period?

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Menstrual cramps

What Causes Heavy Periods?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Having advise with a gynecologist

Treatment Options for Heavy Periods

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Female doctor consulting female patient

Is My Period Normal or Not?

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Woman With Stomachache Lying On Bed

Period Concerns to Discuss With Your Doctor

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Young woman holding pack of birth control pills

Treatments for Common Menstrual Cycle Disorders

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Stuck in dreamland

Menstrual Cramps: Causes and Risk Factors

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

woman with menstrual cramps

Menstrual Cramps: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

4 Herbs to Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc

woman balled up on bed with cramps

Learn If Birth Control Can Help With Menstrual Cramps

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Ginger to Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman sitting on edge of bathtub holding stomach

Do I Need to See My Doctor for Menstrual Cramps?

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

A woman laying on the couch in extreme mensural pain

What Is Mittelschmerz?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

A woman holding her abdomen

Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO

Woman suffering from abdominal pain. France

How Menstrual Cramps Are Diagnosed

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Medical Marijuana for Menstrual Cramps?

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Woman hugging her knees

How to Treat and Reduce PMS Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

A woman standing behind a treatment table

Common Causes of Pelvic Pain in Women

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Young woman holding a hot water bottle on her stomach

How Menstrual Cramps Are Treated

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman laying on bed holding stomach

How to Make a Homemade Heating Pad for Menstrual Pain

Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig

She's a little under the weather

Dealing With Menstrual Cramps and Painful Periods

By Tracee Cornforth

An Overview of Menstrual Cramps

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman with stomach cramps in bed

Gluten Can Make Your Period Miserable

Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS

Tampons on pink background.

Debating Whether Smart Tampons Are a Smart Choice

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Dizzy woman on the side of the road

Why You May Faint During Your Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Group of strong women working out in gym

Changes Exercise May Have on Your Period

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

a woman with birth control pills

Estrogen and What It Does to Your Body

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman in bathing suit wading in crystal clear tropical water

How to Skip Your Period Using Hormonal Contraceptives

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

woman swimming in the pool

7 Common Myths About Your Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Cyclical Breast Pain and Menstrual Cycle

Cyclical and Noncyclical Breast Pain: Causes and Differences

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Group of girls walking together

What Is Puberty for Girls and How Does It Start?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

woman holding and looking at a plastic brain

Your Hypothalamus and Your Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Waldman, MD, RD

Diabetes and Your Period: 5 Things Women Need to Know

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Uterus and ovaries model

Body Changes During the Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman with hot water bottle on her stomach

How Your Period and the Menstrual Cycle Works

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman holding tampon

Tampon Questions and Tips for New Users

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Pile of tampons

Are There Toxic Chemicals in Your Tampons?

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Mid section view of a young woman showing a candle

How to Use Tampons

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Women's white daytime hygiene pads on a dark marble background. Hygiene.

How Many Days Should You Bleed During Your Period?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Menstrual Blood

Period Blood Color: What It Says About Your Health

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Romantic couple

Tips for Having Sex During Your Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Tampon and Calendar

How Often Do Girls Get Their Period?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Shur, MD

MENSTRUAL CYCLE, DRAWING

Hormones and Your Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Woman's legs in the bathtub

How to Keep Yourself Clean During Your Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Birth control pills

Hormonal Contraceptives Can Help Manage Problem Periods

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Nurse holding a menstrual cup

Managing Your Menstrual Flow

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Tampons of various sizes in a row

Choosing the Best Tampons, Pads, and Menstrual Cups

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Midsection Of Woman Against White Background

Overview of the Female Hormone Progesterone

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

The human uterus, showing the boundary between the endometrial glands and the smooth muscle. (Magnification x100)

The Endometrium: Conditions and Its Role in Pregnancy

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman on toilet

History Behind the Slang Term 'On the Rag'

Fact checked by Dale Brauner

Doctor holding injection

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones Agonists Overview

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman holding tampon

How to Remove a Stuck Tampon

Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD

High angle view of a young woman showing a candle

How Often You Should Change Tampons or Pads

Medically reviewed by Meredith Shur, MD

woman floating on her back, swimming in ocean

Can You Go Swimming While on Your Period?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Rocket pear and walnut salad

Healthy Diets and Your Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Stretching to the max

6 Yoga Poses for Your Period to Help Relieve Cramps

Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc

Teenage girl laying on sofa using laptop

5 Common Questions About a Girl's First Periods

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

a young woman holding a hot water bottle while curled up on a couch

What Teen Girls Should Know About Having Periods

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Teenage girl sitting on bed, embracing pillow

What Are the Symptoms of Being on Your Period?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

two teenage girls whispering

What to Expect When You Get Your First Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman circling day on wall calendar, close-up

How Do You Keep Track of Your Menstrual Cycle?

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

What Tampon Absorbency Ratings Mean

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman holding menstrual cup

The 8 Best Menstrual Cups of 2020

Fact checked by Ashley Hall

calendar with period start date marked

Factors That Can Affect Your Menstrual Cycle

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman using a hot-water bottle on her belly to relieve abdominal pain.

How a Big Change in Your Weight May Affect Your Period

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

woman curled up in pain on a bed

Common Period Problems During Your Reproductive Years

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Photo of three different sized wrapped menstrual pads

An Overview of Menstruation

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

Woman doing downward dog

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Overview and More

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman and doctor

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Signs and Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

black woman hugging her knees

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Causes and Risk Factors

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

How Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder (PMDD) Is Diagnosed

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Woman and her doctor

How Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Treated?

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

girl eating ice cream

The Food-Mood Connection and Your PMDD Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD

A woman experiencing breast pain with her menstrual period

Breast Pain And Menstrual Periods

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman holding head in hands sitting at foot of bed

Breast Pain and Your Menstrual Period

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

Female doctor listening to patient

The Symptoms and Causes of Menstrual Molimina

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

woman talking to doctor

Surgical Management of Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Woman running on the beach

How To Stay Healthy After Surgery For PMDD

By Andrea Chisholm, MD

chaste tree berry

Chasteberry for Treatment of Menstrual Problems

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD

two friends in a coffee shop

PMS and Food Cravings Are a Weight Loss Dilemma

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Natural Remedies for PMS Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO

Woman taking pill in the morning

Treating PMDD With Hormonal Birth Control

Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

PMS: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD