8 Reasons Why You May Get Two Periods in One Month

Welcome! You’re probably here because you got your period…and then you got it yet again soon after. Having your period once a month is bad enough, but twice? That's something *none* of us are here for. Before you panic, know that there are plenty of logical explanations as to why your cycle is out of whack. It could be something as simple as you went on a trip and hung out in a different time zone for a while, which is something that's pretty easy to reset. It could also be that you have an underlying medical issue, which isn’t great news, but getting the right diagnosis might help put an end to your sh*tty periods faster.

The most important thing you can do is stay on top of your symptoms, and advocate for yourself when you see your ob-gyn, especially if this two-periods-a-month thing has been happening for a while. “Because many menstrual conditions have related signs and symptoms, it’s critical that people with periods are honest about what they're experiencing. This is why I encourage all of my patients to be open and honest with their doctor about their concerns,” says Charis Chambers, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn known as @ThePeriodDoctor.

Here are the top reasons why you might have two periods a month, or even some rogue spotting in between (and when you should just, er, go with the flow, or actually call your doc).

QQ: Is it normal to get two periods in one month?

Most people have a menstrual cycle that lasts anywhere from 21 to 35 days, so there’s a chance that someone with a cycle closer to the 21 or 22-day side of the spectrum might have worse luck with getting a period more often in one month. “A person with a cycle length shorter than 31 days (the majority of menstruators) will, at some point, experience two normal periods in the same month,” Dr. Chambers explains. Think about a month like January or August—you could get your period on January 1st and then again on January 29th or 30th, and it would be an absolutely normal (though obv not ideal) occurrence to get your period twice in that calendar month.

However, if you’re getting a period twice and bleeding for longer than seven days (that could mean you’re bleeding for 14 days out of the month, points out Sabrina Pastor-Carvajal, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the University of Miami), this is a reason to check in with your ob-gyn to see what’s up. The same goes for having extremely heavy bleeding, like going through a tampon in less than an hour or passing clots, along with having fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness during your period, Dr. Chambers adds.

What are some other reasons you might get two periods in a month?

Cause #1: Hormonal birth control pills

You might notice that starting any form of hormonal birth control will affect your period, for better or worse. “Birth control that is taken daily, weekly, or monthly, will often include a placebo week or withdrawal period that triggers bleeding,” says Dr. Chambers. With most birth control pills, this will happen just about every 28 days, so it may actually make your period more regular if your cycles are normally on the irregular side. Any month that’s slightly longer than 28 days may mean that you get two completely normal periods—so there’s no need to contact your gyno, unless you’re not happy with your birth control’s side effects. If you know you’re going on a big vacay or have something like, idk, your wedding day on the horizon (!), you can totally skip your period that month, Dr. Chambers says. Just don't take that last week of placebo pills and start popping your next pack right away.

Cause #2: Your new IUD is to blame

Just like birth control pills, using an IUD as a form of birth control might change your periods. If you choose a hormonal IUD containing the hormone progestin, you probably will have v light periods and likely won’t ever have to deal with two periods a month (so it might be a good birth control option for you if you’re struggling with heavy periods and wanna make that stop). Going with the non-hormonal copper IUD could be a different story, as this type of IUD can make periods heavier, Dr. Pastor-Carvajal says. For people who already have heavy periods or short cycles with two periods a month, a copper IUD could cause more bleeding and cramps, she explains.

Cause #3: Emergency contraception

A v quick rundown of how EC works: It can prevent pregnancy by delaying ovulation, which can throw off your periods, according to Dr. Chambers. Some of the Plan B side effects include irregular bleeding and late periods, so it could mean you get yours twice that month. But that shouldn’t stop you from taking the pill, and know that eventually your cycle will get back to normal. “This can’t really be helped because it’s related to how the medication works to help prevent pregnancy,” says Dr. Chambers.

Cause #4: Polycystic Ovary Syndrom (PCOS)

Really irregular and heavy bleeding could be a sign of PCOS. Basically, there’s an imbalance of hormones that may not allow the ovaries to regularly release an egg during ovulation, and that can throw your whole menstrual cycle off. People with PCOS could have months in between periods or they could be more frequent, and they genuinely may have no clue when they’re going to get their period (high-key stressful), explains Dr. Pastor-Carvajal. Typically PCOS makes you bleed heavily, and involves lots of cramps and painful periods. So if you’re experiencing these symptoms, and have no idea how frequently your periods will show up, schedule a visit with your ob-gyn immediately to run some blood tests and physical exams.

Cause #5: A bleeding disorder

It’s possible that you could have a bleeding disorder, which simply means it’s difficult for your body to stop bleeding in general. This might be the case especially if you have your period more than once a month or for many days (as in, more than seven) and experience clots with it. You’re not alone if this is happening to you: It happens to about one in ten people, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Your doctor can help by prescribing something—some your options include hormonal birth control, other hormonal meds, and even iron supplements.

Cause #6: An adenomyosis diagnosis

Okay so the name sounds a little scary, but adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that usually lines the uterus starts growing in the uterine wall, making it thicker and spongier. “Because the wall is thicker, it makes the bleeding heavier and sometimes more frequent,” explains Dr. Pastor-Carvajal. That's because there’s more “wall” to shed when it’s time for your period to come. The best way to diagnose adenomyosis is via ultrasound, and once your doc confirms this diagnosis, they may suggest either anti-inflammatory drugs or birth control to curb both the painful cramps and bleeding.

Cause #7: Uterine fibroids

Fibroids are no joke—they're little masses of tissue that grow on the wall or lining of the uterus and cause super heavy periods with increased frequency, according to Dr. Pastor-Carvajal. You could potentially get uterine fibroids as early as your thirties, and they affect Black women 2-3 times more frequently, per the Black Women’s Health Imperative. If you think you have symptoms of fibroids (read: a never-ending period or a period that just keeps coming back), *do not hesitate* to get your ob-gyn on the phone, stat. There are some serious interventions for fibroids, like surgeries, but if you find out you have them, your doctor may try something like a hormonal IUD first to help reduce your bleeding.

Cause #8: Everyday stressors

Last but not least, stress and other things going on in your life could affect your periods. “It's best to rule out more concerning causes of abnormal periods before attributing it to something like stress,” Dr. Chambers says. If your doctor has crossed every other potential cause of multiple periods a month or irregular periods off the list, a stressful life change, lots of travel, or a stint in another time zone that can throw off your circadian rhythms (aka the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle you're on) and therefore your period, could be the culprit. “The best way to reset is by reestablishing a healthy and reliable routine,” adds Dr. Chambers. Once you get yourself back on a regular sleeping/eating/exercise schedule, you might find that your flow goes back to flowing normally too.

What about spotting—does that count as two periods?

There's a chance you might not technically get two full-blown periods a month, but you might experience some spotting (a much lighter version) or breakthrough bleeding in between. Here are the most common reasons why that happens:

Early pregnancy: Not to scare you if pregnancy is not at all the goal rn, but irregular bleeding can be common in early pregnancy, (which is why most physicians will rule out pregnancy first) Dr. Chambers says. If there's no chance you're pregnant and you're not on birth control, spotting is not typical, so you should check that out with your ob-gyn.
Some birth control methods: If you're on a bc pill containing low or no estrogen (like some progestin-only pills, including the "minipill"), you could have spotting in between periods, since the low dose of estrogen wears down the uterine lining, causing it to crack and then bleed a bit, Dr. Pastor-Carvajal explains. Other progestin-only birth control methods, like a hormonal IUD, Depo-Provera shot, or Nexplanon implant, could also cause some light unscheduled bleeding, she says.
Yeast infection or STI: Some vaginal infections can cause so much irritation (hi, ouch) that you might have spotting, according to Dr. Pastor-Carvajal. The worst offenders include yeast infections and some STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia. Never had any of these infections before? Get screened at your gyno's office or local health clinic, so that a doctor can prescribe you either an anti-fungal (for the yeast infection) or an antibiotic for certain STIs.

So how can you deal with two periods a month?

Well first and foremost, you should see your ob-gyn ASAP if you've been consistently having multiple periods a month or bleeding super heavily. Other than that, these are some options to keep your cycle in check:

Track your cycles: The hard truth is that your uterus doesn't go by a calendar or give an F what day of the week it is. That's why you should track your own bleeding according to cycle length, from the first day of bleeding from one period, to the first day of bleeding to the next period, to better understand something's consistently off, she adds. If you're feeling weird about using period tracking apps post-Roe v. Wade, use an old-fashioned paper calendar or stick some clever emojis (might we suggest the salsa dancer emoji?!) in your phone's calendar app to help you keep track.
Treat your cramps: Getting your period twice a month and having super heavy bleeding probably means your periods suck. "If your periods are challenging due to PMS, pain, bloating, or heavy flow, speak up and seek help," Dr. Chambers says. Minor cramps and backaches can be treated with ibuprofen or heating patches, but there's no shame in approaching your doc if you can't deal with your cramps on a monthly basis.
Consider birth control methods: It'll depend on the cause for your heavy bleeding or two periods a month, but going on or switching your birth control may be an option for you to regulate your periods and lessen the bleeding. And you have options, between hormonal and non-hormonal birth control, Dr. Pastor-Carvajal says: There are possible contraceptive methods that can work for everyone, even if you can't take hormonal birth control.

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Mara is a freelance writer and editor specializing in culture, politics, wellness, and the intersection between them, whose print and digital work has appeared in Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Airbnb Mag, Prevention, and more. She’s a Fordham University graduate who also has a degree in Italian Studies, so naturally she’s always daydreaming about focaccia.

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