How Long Is A Normal Period? 9 Causes Of Menorrhagia, unknow as Frustratingly Long Menstruation

Everyone knows that the of the idea of there being a single kind of "normal period" is about as absurd as that blue fluid they insist on using to represent blood in maxi pad commercials. That said, we do all know what's normal for us, so when our period lasts longer than usual, it's easy to get alarmed. What is going on in there? Were seven days of bleeding not enough for you, my cruel uterine mistress? Generally, longer-than-usual periods are nothing to be worried about, even though they go by the undeniably terrifying-looking medical name of "menorrhagia" (that would be a good name for a metal band, right?). Menorrhagia is a catch-all term for any especially long or heavy periods; but the causes behind menorrhagia are varied.
But before we go any further, let's get this out of the way: your very long period almost definitely does not mean that you have cancer. While abnormal period bleeding can sometimes be an indication of a cancer of the reproductive organs, Dr. Linda Bradley, director of Cleveland's Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids and Hysteroscopic Services, told the New York Times that long periods are a symptom of cancer only 10 percent of the time, mostly among older women. I know you're reading this and going "Sorry, but 10 percent of the time is still a LOT of the time!" And I mean, true. But seriously: I know I am not a doctor, but your long period likely does not have anything to do with cancer.
Instead, your long period may be totally random; a mere product of the hormone fluctuations that go on inside our bodies all the time. But sometimes, your long period does have a medical issue behind it, and often, it is one of the nine listed below. You may want to consult with a doctor if your period has suddenly begun deviating from your usual length; you might also want to bring it up during your next gyno exam if your period has always run longer than seven days.

But remember: your long period might very well be nothing, and even if your long period is being caused by one of the conditions listed below, none of them are serious, and all of them can be easily treated by a doctor is necessary. So don't freak out. It's not the end of the world; it's just a ton of shed uterine lining.