One woman says she has 'no idea why' she's been on her period for three years - however, there are several reasons as to why this can happen.
We all know how frustrating a period can be. Perhaps it’s taken one or two days more than usual to clear off.
But imagine if it didn't stop after three years?
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Well, this is one woman's reality and she says that her condition hasn't been 'taken seriously' by her doctor.
Taking to Reddit, the anonymous woman wrote that she started bleeding on June 1, 2021 and ‘hadn’t stopped since’.
She wrote: “I went to the doctor and wasn't taken seriously/believed, and my family has different opinions on it.
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“I'm hoping to push for more answers when I move to my college dorm this August.
“Would love some questions because every new person I tell looks so curious, but stays quiet since it's a little taboo!”
According to Medical News Today, the average period length is between 2-7 days, and it can sometimes take time to stop.
However, if it goes on much longer, then it could be the sign of an underlying health condition.
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So, people in the comments were naturally concerned for her.
One person said: “I’m glad you feel fine but this is not normal. Keep advocating for yourself please. I got my period ‘late’ like you, I was 14.
“But I never experienced what you’re describing. Please honey, it could be nothing but it could be something. If your doctors are ignoring this they’re crazy.”
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Another explained how the process may well feel anxiety-inducing but nevertheless important: “It can feel overwhelmingly awkward and scary, but these doctors don’t view you as anything other than a body, and they see bodies every day.
“Your vagina won’t be anything other than another day’s work for them.
“I have had many medical procedures and doctors have seen every single inch of my body, and the more I have these experiences, the more I understand this fact.”
While a third said her symptoms weren't 'normal, nor is it okay', and a fourth said she needs to 'push for answers'.
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According to Medical News Today, one possible cause of an extended period could be hormonal birth control.
The publication says that although many people use hormonal contraceptives to shorten or regulate their periods, they can actually result in bleeding at times when a person is not expecting to.
Abnormal and irregular periods are also common in the first six months of taking the contraceptive.
However, it could also be an issue with your thyroid - as if a person has an underactive or overactive thyroid, they may experience long periods or ones that seem as though they will not stop.
Other causes could be such as uterine fibroids, blood disorders, pregnancy or ovulation, as well as cervical cancer.
Endometriosis and PCOS can also affect a person's cycle, with a symptom of PCOS being irregular periods, while endometriosis can result in bleeding between periods.
Other symptoms of PCOS include excess hair, weight gain and thinning hair on your head, and symptoms of endometriosis include chronic pain in the back and pelvis, painful menstruation and bowel movements.
It is important to attend regular Pap tests, which can help a doctor diagnose HPV or cervical cancer, and speak to a doctor if the bleeding has lasted longer than 7 days.
Since then, the woman updated her post after an influx of ‘kind’ messages, saying that she had got an appointment and that experts were testing her for cancer, thanking people for urging her to go ‘sooner rather than later’.
Mia Williams