For the majority of us, one period per month is enough. From dealing with stomach cramps, mood swings, bloating, hormonal acne, and the obvious one of bleeding out of the vagina - basically, all the PMS essentials - each of these symptoms is a nuisance we could live without.
So, when you go through these inconveniences twice in one month, it can really put a spanner in the works of your everyday life. Luckily (safety in numbers and all that), it's something that many of us have had to deal with at least once, so if you've recently experienced it for the first time: don't worry, you're not alone.
But, if we were to put money on it, we'd bet that you probably Googled 'Is it normal to have two periods in one month?' just to be on the safe side. Which is how you landed here. We bet you also searched questions like 'What's the cause?' 'How common is it?' and the big one: 'Should I be worried?'
While it's always best to seek medical advice from your own GP or a specialist, we asked Dr Sarah Jarvis, an advocate for leading femtech device, Livia, to explain some of the more common causes of having two bleeds in a month (in the hopes that it will be reassuring while you wait for an appointment).
We also got some advice from Dr Tiffany Pham (DO), board-certified OB-GYN and medical advisor at Flo Health, on what to do should a second period of the month arise.
Are you definitely having two periods?
Firstly, Dr Jarvis says it's important to confirm that you're definitely having two distinct periods, rather than experiencing spotting between periods. (This is much lighter than a period and shouldn't involve enough blood to warrant using a tampon or having to frequently change sanitary pads).
"Spotting, or any type of bleeding, between your periods should always be checked out as it could indicate a sexually transmitted disease, or in very rare cases, cancer of the womb or cervix," says Dr Jarvis.
However, she explains that there are a couple of instances where you might want to hold off before calling the doctor. The main one being if you've recently started a new method of hormonal contraception, like the oral contraceptive pill, implant, patch or hormone-releasing coil, and your GP or sexual health advisor has told you to expect irregular bleeding for a while.
Is it normal to have two periods in one month?
If you've firmly established what you're experiencing is not spotting – and you're sure you've definitely had two defined periods – there are several possible causes. But for the most part, it's not that unusual to bleed twice over the space of a month...
Medical conditions
Dr Pham explains: "Certain medical conditions or stressors on the body can cause changes to your menstrual cycle which may lead you to experience more frequent or less frequent periods."
She says irregularities can be caused by PCOS (the NHS says this affects 1 in 10 women in the UK), thyroid disorders (under or overactive), or high levels of a hormone called prolactin to name a few. "Conditions such as uterine fibroids, polyps or pelvic infections can also cause you to bleed excessively," she adds.
On top of this, certain medications or bleeding disorders may also contribute to a heavy bleeding pattern. While this is not an exhaustive list, Dr Pham advises you to consult your doctor if you have concerns about your bleeding pattern.
Natural cycles
Alternatively, some people naturally have cycles that are shorter than the usual monthly expectation, says Dr Jarvis. "Firstly, most women assume that the only 'normal' duration between periods is 28 days, when in fact, anything from about 21 to 40 days is considered normal." Plus, some women who previously had longer (28 days or more) cycles may experience two periods in a month if their cycle gets shorter.
Contraception
For those on the combined contraceptive pill, if you miss a couple of doses, you're likely to experience a withdrawal bleed, which can feel like an extra period. Dr Jarvis notes that a period-type bleed can also happen after taking the emergency contraceptive pill. In these instances, she explains that some forms of hormonal contraception, especially the implant, can lead to more frequent periods, as well as the earlier-mentioned spotting.
As for whether or not you need to urgently contact a doctor, if you've only recently changed the type of contraception you use, or are taking a form of contraception that can cause irregular periods (e.g. most forms of hormonal contraception, apart from the combined oral contraceptive pill), Dr Jarvis says it's generally pretty safe to just monitor your periods for a while. But, if you experience other symptoms alongside it, or you just feel anxious and would like some peace of mind, there's no harm in booking an appointment.
However, if you're experiencing painful symptoms but they're not strong enough to warrant a visit to the docs, Dr Jarvis advises painkillers. Or, for a drug-free alternative, she recommends the Livia device, as it "uses targeted micro-pulses to help block pain signals and may work quicker than medication."
Age
Another factor when looking at why you may experience two periods in a month is age. Dr Jarvis explains: "As you move towards menopause you stop ovulating as regularly and your cycle can become longer, shorter or more erratic."
Other possible causes include losing or gaining a lot of weight quickly, or going through major illness or stress. Dr Jarvis concludes: "Having fibroids or ovarian cysts may also increase the likelihood of having more frequent periods."
Can stress cause you to have two periods in one month?
Dr Jarvis warns that "extreme stress can wreak havoc with the delicate hormone balance needed for ovulation and periods to happen regularly." For example, if you've recently gone through major stress or trauma, or you've had a complete lifestyle overhaul, (e.g. suddenly increasing your exercise, or losing or gaining a lot of weight), you may find your period pattern changes.
Dr Pham elaborates: "There is a delicate balance between the communication of your brain, particularly the pituitary gland, and your ovaries which subsequently results in ovulation and your menstrual period." She explains that stress can disrupt this communication pattern by decreasing the chemical signals that are sent out by your pituitary gland to the ovaries.
"These chemical signals (LH and FSH) act on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation." So, when stress disrupts these chemical signals, it impairs ovulation which can "subsequently result in irregularities of your menstrual cycle pattern."
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How can diet lead to two periods a month?
Dr Pham says the link between diet and our menstrual cycle is nuanced. She states: "The body of research suggests that diets containing high amounts of processed foods, high glycemic index carbohydrates, trans or saturated fatty acids should be limited."
Additionally, she explains that the regulation of the menstrual cycle also requires adequate amounts of nutrients and energy for business as usual. Therefore, "if your diet results in nutritional deficiencies or excessive amounts of weight loss, this can also play a role in menstrual irregularities," she concludes.
When should we consult a GP about our periods?
Dr Pham explains that any change to your period that occurs persistently or deviates from the normal pattern should be reported to your GP.
She urges: "If you consistently skip your period, or if it comes too early or too late for more than 1-2 cycles, this is also cause for investigation. A normal menstrual cycle is approximately 21-35 days in length, therefore if your period comes more frequently than 21 days apart, or often extends past the 35-day mark, this is considered irregular."
She adds that your GP will likely want to evaluate you if you bleed for more than 7-10 days regularly. Plus, "if your bleeding pattern is quite heavy, i.e. you are consistently passing blood clots or bleeding through pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, or if you have to change your pads or tampons quite often (every 1-2 hours or so), this may be abnormal."
And finally, if your period is causing you severe pelvic pain that won't subside with medications, the pain causes nausea/vomiting or prevents you from doing daily activities and tasks, this should also be reported to your GP.
Is there anything else we should know?
As for other considerations, Dr Jarvis adds that it's important to remember that spotting can happen in pregnancy (and you should always alert your doctor if this happens, or call 111). She warns: "Miscarriage can result in bleeding which may be mistaken for an extra period too."
Other notable examples of when you should speak to a doctor following spotting or irregular bleeding between periods include:
- Pain or bleeding during sex (or immediately afterwards)
- Vaginal discharge (especially if it smells offensive)
- Persistent or severe low tummy pain
- Significant change to your menstrual pattern, including increased cramps, dark clots or flooding
The bottom line? It's probably hormone-related but if something doesn't feel right or it's causing you anxiety, it's always worth getting it checked out.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader's Digest, ITV's Woo! and Vice’s NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
