Periods are the troubling few days of a woman’s life. Every month, she goes through the pain and agony that comes free with mood swings. You can’t decide if you’re craving a whole tub of ice cream or five large pizzas and that sucks.

Since there’s no such thing as a “normal” period, there are some things we must keep in mind. A cycle usually lasts between 21-35 days and each period lasts from 3 days to a week.

It is noticed that thirty percent of menstruating women have irregular periods, and there are all sorts of reasons why this occurs. It could be a hormonal imbalance, uterine abnormalities, or chronic stress. You won’t know the reason until you see your doctor.

Alyssa Dweck, M.D., a gynecologist in New York, assistant clinical professor OBGYN at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, and author of V is for Vagina, says “Women are accustomed to what their periods are like, so if something different comes up, that should spark concern.”

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

1. The Length Of Your Cycle Suddenly Changes

If you’ve been cruising right along as someone with a 28-day cycle, and out of the blue you fall into a noticeably longer or shorter cycle, call up your doctor. There might be some hormonal changes going on in your body that need attention, or you could be unknowingly harbouring include uterine fibroids or polyps. It could also just be that your body is adjusting to a new environment due to travel or moving somewhere new. If that’s the case, there’s no problem, but it’s better to double check and make sure the alternative isn’t the case.

2. Your Flow Suddenly Gets Much Heavier

Dr. Dweck says it’s cause for concern if you unexpectedly find yourself using more super absorbency pads and tampons. Because the heaviness of your flow is unique to you, you’ll know right off the bat when things get bloodier than usual. No matter what your normal period is like, though, anyone who can’t get through an hour without changing out a tampon, for fear of leaking all over their clothes, should speak to their doctor. At least, that’s how the Center for Disease Prevention and Control defines an abnormally heavy period. Some things that may cause a super heavy flow include kidney problems, hormonal imbalances, or growths or tumours on the uterus.

3. You Start Spotting Between Your Periods

There are a lot of possible causes of spotting in between periods, and Dr. Dweck says you’ve got to see your provider to establish which one applies to you. It could be a side effect of the birth control or prescription medications you’re currently taking. Other potential complications include endometriosis, STIs, or a thyroid disorder. Dr. Dweck also notes that pregnancy could cause strange spotting when you’re not on your period. Go and get tested as soon as you can, because in some cases, spotting hints at an ectopic pregnancy.

 4. You Have Your Period For A Really, Really Long Time

Periods that last for an extended period of time are technically called menorrhagia, and it’s a condition that could be caused by a hormonal imbalance, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or blood clotting disorders. To be clear, we’re not talking about a flow that goes for an extra day or two — menorrhagia causes women to have their period for weeks on end — sometimes, even longer. In many cases, women are too shy to tell anyone that their period has been around for that long. Don’t make that mistake, though, because you could be putting your health at risk.

5. Your Cramps Are Unbearably Painful

I know cramps are never fun, but there comes a point when the excruciating pain simply isn’t normal. If your menstrual cramps prevent you from going to work or school, or they’re not allowing you to get out of bed, you’ve got a problem on your hands. Intense cramps could mean you’ve been living with undiagnosed endometriosis or uterine fibroids, so don’t wait any longer to speak to your provider. There’s no need to live in constant agony.