What Could Cause Periods to Occur Every 2 Weeks?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Having periods every two weeks is not typical and may mean your hormones are imbalanced, which can be seen in conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Explanation

A menstrual cycle that occurs every two weeks, sometimes called polymenorrhea, is unusual. Normally, cycles occur about every 21 to 35 days. When periods happen so frequently, it may be a sign that your hormones, which control your cycle, are not working in the usual way. One common reason is PCOS, where the ovaries produce higher levels of androgens (male hormones) and cause irregular menstrual patterns. In some cases, stress or other lifestyle factors can also affect your hormone balance and speed up the cycle, leading to more frequent bleeding. Some women might experience this pattern during periods of significant stress or during early changes in their reproductive health. It’s important to track your cycles and note any other symptoms you’re experiencing. Since having very frequent periods isn’t normal for most women, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider. They can evaluate your hormone levels, review your overall health, and help determine the cause of this change in your cycle.

(References)

Bae J, Park S, Kwon JW. Factors associated with menstrual cycle irregularity and menopause. BMC Womens Health. 2018 Feb 6;18(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s12905-018-0528-x. PMID: 29409520; PMCID: PMC5801702.
Rafique N, Al-Sheikh MH. Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences. Saudi Med J. 2018 Jan;39(1):67-73. doi: 10.15537/smj.2018.1.21438. PMID: 29332111; PMCID: PMC5885123.
Ganie MA, Rashid A, Baba MS, Zargar MA, Wani IA, Nisar S, Wani IA, Douhath S, Sriwastawa M, Geer MI, Asrar MM, Kutum R, Hassan S, Khan S, Rafi W, Bhat DA, Showkat W, Sahar T, Choh NA, Khurshid R, Mudassar S, Shah ZA, Shabir I, Sofi SA, Gupta N, Hafeez I, Sreenivas V. Pre-polycystic ovary syndrome and polymenorrhoea as new facets of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Evidences from a single centre data set. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2023 Dec;99(6):566-578. doi: 10.1111/cen.14964. Epub 2023 Sep 1. PMID: 37656656.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Irregular periods

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

Try our AI-based symptom check

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get an free AI-powered report on possible causes

Tips to try:

Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes, and the provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical practice. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.