Ask the doctor: My cycle lasts 40 days, what can I do?
Dear Dr,<br>I am 24 and my periods are irregular. My cycle is more than 40 days and sometimes I miss periods for three months. I have never used any contraception. Will I be able to give birth?<br>Julie<br>
Dear Dr,
I am 24 and my periods are irregular. My cycle is more than 40 days and sometimes I miss periods for three months. I have never used any contraception. Will I be able to give birth?
Julie
Dear Julie,
The period cycle starts in one’s teens. At first it is irregular. As a girl grows older, it becomes stable. Most women have their regular cycle. It may have the same average length, number of bleeding days, and how she feels.
We count period days from the first day of a menstruation to the first day of the next period. Most women have cycles between 21 to 35 days.
Julie, at 24 years, your periods should have stabilised. A 40-day cycle is longer than usual. Missing periods for three months is definitely a longer cycle.
You need to see a gynaecologist. The doctor will advise if there is need to do anything. It may be just a minor thing, but it needs to be sorted out.
The period cycle reflects a woman’s fertility, so the doctor will advise on this too.
I am 29 and have never had periods
Dear Dr,
I am 29 and have never seen my periods. Will I be able to give my husband a child? I have never asked a doctor because I feel healthy. I have not discussed this with my husband as I fear he may leave me.
FK
Dear FK,
The periods that we see are the result of a cycle of hormones in a woman’s body. This cycle controls a woman’s fertility. They are produced by various organs in the body.
If you have never menstruated, there is something wrong with the cycle controlling your fertility even when you feel normal. Doctors begin investigating when a girl has not had her periods by age 16. We need to find the problem early, to resolve it.
You need to see a gynaecologist. They will listen, examine, do investigations to find out what the problem is and what to do.
Do not blame yourself for this problem. It is a medical condition, which you have no control over. Ideally, you should discuss it with your husband.
Questions answered by
Dr. Paul Semugoma
I am 24 and my periods are irregular. My cycle is more than 40 days and sometimes I miss periods for three months. I have never used any contraception. Will I be able to give birth?
Julie
Dear Julie,
The period cycle starts in one’s teens. At first it is irregular. As a girl grows older, it becomes stable. Most women have their regular cycle. It may have the same average length, number of bleeding days, and how she feels.
We count period days from the first day of a menstruation to the first day of the next period. Most women have cycles between 21 to 35 days.
Julie, at 24 years, your periods should have stabilised. A 40-day cycle is longer than usual. Missing periods for three months is definitely a longer cycle.
You need to see a gynaecologist. The doctor will advise if there is need to do anything. It may be just a minor thing, but it needs to be sorted out.
The period cycle reflects a woman’s fertility, so the doctor will advise on this too.
I am 29 and have never had periods
Dear Dr,
I am 29 and have never seen my periods. Will I be able to give my husband a child? I have never asked a doctor because I feel healthy. I have not discussed this with my husband as I fear he may leave me.
FK
Dear FK,
The periods that we see are the result of a cycle of hormones in a woman’s body. This cycle controls a woman’s fertility. They are produced by various organs in the body.
If you have never menstruated, there is something wrong with the cycle controlling your fertility even when you feel normal. Doctors begin investigating when a girl has not had her periods by age 16. We need to find the problem early, to resolve it.
You need to see a gynaecologist. They will listen, examine, do investigations to find out what the problem is and what to do.
Do not blame yourself for this problem. It is a medical condition, which you have no control over. Ideally, you should discuss it with your husband.
Questions answered by
Dr. Paul Semugoma