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Published on: 3/5/2025

What Are the Potential Causes of Having Two Periods in One Month?

Having two periods in one month can be caused by hormonal changes, conditions like PCOS, or natural shifts in your body due to aging or stress.

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Explanation

When you experience two periods in one month, it may mean that your hormonal balance is shifting. This can happen for different reasons. Sometimes, conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cause your hormones to be out of balance, leading to an irregular cycle with unexpected bleeding. It can also happen when starting a new birth control method. Other times, the body naturally adjusts as you get older or go through perimenopause, a time when your hormones start to change, and this can lead to irregular bleeding. Stress, changes in your weight, or heavy bleeding that comes at unexpected times might also be behind having two periods in one month. In some cases, a very heavy or prolonged bleed could be mistaken for a second period. Keeping track of your menstrual cycle and any symptoms you notice can be very helpful. If you’re worried or this happens often, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider who can check your hormone levels and help figure out what might be causing these changes in your cycle.

(References)

  • Harris HR, Titus LJ, Cramer DW, Terry KL. Long and irregular menstrual cycles, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian cancer risk in a population-based case-control study. Int J Cancer. 2017 Jan 15;140(2):285-291. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30441. Epub 2016 Oct 6. PMID: 27667654; PMCID: PMC5542050.

  • Allshouse A, Pavlovic J, Santoro N. Menstrual Cycle Hormone Changes Associated with Reproductive Aging and How They May Relate to Symptoms. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;45(4):613-628. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.004. Epub 2018 Oct 25. PMID: 30401546; PMCID: PMC6226272.

  • Liang J, Ali F, Ramaiyer M, Borahay MA. Determinants and Assessment of Menstrual Blood Flow. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2023 Dec;10(4):210-220. doi: 10.1007/s40471-023-00332-0. Epub 2023 Sep 21. PMID: 38275001; PMCID: PMC10810143.

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