It can be frustrating to keep track of your menstrual cycle. Sometimes your period is right on time doing exactly what you expect it to do, but other times it shows up late, and the bleeding is irregular.

It’s normal to feel worried if abnormal menstrual cycles are becoming more frequent for you. Often times there’s nothing to feel anxious about, but sometimes irregular bleeding can be the initial sign of a serious medical condition. That’s why it’s always vital to listen to your body, and educate yourself on what it could be trying to tell you.

We’re breaking down the biggest culprits of irregular periods below and when you might need to head to your doctor’s office.

General Life Events Causing Abnormal Menstrual Cycles:

There are a handful of events that happen during a woman’s life that will trigger a difference in menstrual bleeding. Keep these in mind if you’re trying to rule out a medical condition.

Pregnancy

Often the first sign of pregnancy is missing your period. Spotting is also a common symptom for women who are pregnant, and women who breastfeed also see reduced periods. Pregnancy is an amazing medical event that touches so many parts of a woman’s life, so it’s only natural that it also impacts that person’s menstrual cycle.

However, every woman experiences pregnancy differently. Speak with your gynecologist to figure out what is and isn’t normal if you’re worried about how much or how little you are bleeding during your pregnancy.

Birth Control / Medications

It’s extremely common that hormone-based birth controls can cause irregular bleeding, whether it’s spotting or causing your period to disappear altogether. If you’re concerned about your period and know you’re using birth control like an IUD or pills, then do some research, and see if it’s a common occurrence for your period to change. Also, make sure to speak with your gynecologist, and ask your questions. They are the experts in birth control methods.

Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause is the period before menopause, mimicking similar symptoms and preparing the woman’s body for what is to come. Since both perimenopause and menopause are a shifting of women’s hormones, your period is one of the first things to become affected. Other symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, and vaginal dryness.

If you know it’s about that time for you, then visit your doctor to learn what else to expect during this period. Or click here to learn more about menopause from the experts at Avant Gynecology.

Obesity or Weight Change

Being overweight impacts your hormones and insulin levels, therefore affecting the regularity of your periods. On the opposite end of the spectrum, extreme weight loss and over-exercising can also cause your period to change for the same reasons.

Speak with your doctor today to discover if your physical health is interfering with your period.

Stress

Abnormally high levels of stress are no fun, and it could also be impacting your menstrual cycle. When you’re stressed out, your brain begins to meddle with your hormones, including the ones that regulate your cycle. This can cause all sorts of issues, like weight gain and severe fatigue. But it can also increase or decrease the flow of your period.

If you’re feeling stress, help your body relax and get out of fight or flight mode by practicing relaxing techniques. Yoga, meditation, or baths can go a long way and get your body back on the right track.

If the problems continue to persist, contact your doctor to see what else you can do to assist your body.

Medical Conditions That Cause Abnormal Menstrual Cycles:

If you’ve ruled out all the above life-related options, here are some of the most common medical issues that cause changes in your menstrual cycle. All of these conditions will require an immediate visit to your gynecologist.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This is a disorder that causes ovaries to become overly large and have small cysts on the outer edges. It most commonly affects women in the reproductive age. Aside from interfering with menstrual bleeding, it also causes weight gain, acne, infertility, depression, excess male hormones, and hair loss.

Thyroid Disorders

There are two common types of thyroid disorders: hypothyroidism, when the thyroid is underactive, or hyperthyroidism, when your thyroid is overactive. While the former causes heavier periods, more cramping, fatigue, cold sensitivity, and weight gain, the latter is known to cause lighter periods, weight loss, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumor-like growths that grow in or on the walls of the uterus. They range in sizes, starting from somewhere as small as a seed to something as large as a baseball. Aside from being extremely painful, they also cause abnormal bleeding, pelvic pressure, lower back pain, and pain during sex. Click here to learn more about uterine fibroids from our experts.

Endometriosis

A condition that makes the tissue normally inside of your uterus grow on the outside, endometriosis affects an alarming one in 10 women who are in their reproductive age. It most commonly causes changed bleeding patterns, extremely painful menstrual cramps, gastrointestinal pain, painful bowel moments, pain during and after sex, and even infertility.

Reproductive Cancers

Reproductive cancers, like uterine cancer, often cause irregular bleeding as a first symptom. Understanding the causes of cancer and potential means of prevention is one of the most important steps women can take for their health, which is why you should click here to learn more about reproductive cancers.

Issues Unrelated to your Reproductive Organs

Sometimes issues unrelated to your reproductive organs can also cause your menstrual cycle to be impacted. Such examples of these medical problems are liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and blood clotting disorders.

Having an irregular period can be concerning to experience. If you’re still not sure whether or not you should visit the doctor, click here to read more from us about when irregular bleeding is truly a cause of concern.

If you have more questions or would like to speak to a professional, click here to schedule an appointment with any of our talented and intelligent gynecologists.

Congratulations to Dr. Lynley Durrett on ranking amongst metro Atlanta’s Top Doctors in Atlanta magazine’s July issue! Dr. Durrett, who has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology for more than 20 years, has been annually recognized as a Top Doctor in the publication since 2010. She is currently seeing and accepting new patients at the Buckhead and Northside offices, located on the Piedmont Hospital and Northside Hospital campuses, respectively.

Atlanta magazine uses a database of top doctors compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., an established healthcare research company based in New York, to assist in its annual effort. This year, the publication honors 860 physicians. Doctors are nominated for consideration through both a nationwide survey and a peer nomination process open to licensed physicians in Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, and Rockdale counties. Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers then select the Top Doctors through a rigorous screening process that includes an evaluation of educational and professional experience.

“Honors such as these are certainly humbling and welcome,” said Dr. Durrett. “However, at Avant Gynecology we will continue focusing on our mission to provide exceptional and compassionate care to women at every stage of their lives. Our providers strive to be at the forefront of knowledge and skill in the fields of women’s health and gynecologic surgery, so our patients can get the best care possible.”

Dr. Durrett’s professional expertise includes minimally invasive and robotic surgery techniques with interests in vaginal prolapse treatment, managing urologic conditions, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), American Medical Association (AMA), Medical Association of Georgia, American Minimally Invasive Surgery Society, Atlanta OB/GYN Society, Georgia OB/GYN Society and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, a society of physicians and scientists dedicated to enhancing the quality and extending the length of the human lifespan.

Ovaries are a part of the women’s reproductive organs, so they play a huge role in having a baby and monthly menstruation. Yet, most of the time women don’t actively think about their ovaries if it’s not that time of the month or if they’re not trying to start a family.

However, for most women, ovarian cysts are extremely common. In fact, there are more than 3 million cases in the US per year. The truth is, your ovaries may be outfitted with a cyst or two, and you may have no idea that these cysts are present.

Keep reading below to learn everything you need to know about ovarian cysts.

What are Ovarian Cysts?

Simply put, ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form in the ovaries. They tend to develop around the time a female starts menstruation, and they can change in size throughout the reproductive years of a female’s life.

There are multiple reasons why cysts develop. Hormonal problems, pregnancy, severe pelvic infections, and endometriosis are all common reasons for these to appear. They’re usually discovered through ultrasounds, hormone level tests, or blood tests.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

The good news is that most ovarian cysts are small and don’t cause any symptoms. However, if a woman were to have symptoms, they would experience:

• Pressure
• Pelvic Pain
• A dull ache in the lower back and thighs
• Pain during sex
• Pain during periods
• Swelling
• Bloating
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Breast tenderness
• Needing to urinate more often or not being able to have bladder or bowel movements correctly
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Unexplained weight gain

There are two cases where a woman with an ovarian cyst would experience extreme pain, such as when the cyst ruptures or when it causes the ovary to twist. If this occurs, sudden and severe pain, nausea, and vomiting might occur.

Different Types of Cysts

Because cysts on the ovaries can develop due to different reasons, cysts are varied in type. The most common type is called functional cysts, and these appear during the menstrual cycle. However, two other common types are follicle cysts, when follicles from an egg don’t break open and continue to grow, or corpus luteum cysts, when the follicle does break open but the sac that is formed during this process doesn’t shrink.

There are several less common ovarian cysts. Endometriomas cysts are caused by endometriomas, when the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Dermoids are created by the cells present from birth, and cystadenomas are cysts that are filled with watery fluid and can grow to be very large.

Two serious types are cysts are polycystic ovary syndrome and malignant cysts. The first is when many small cysts form in your ovaries and cause issues with getting pregnant. The latter are cancerous cysts and are very rare, usually occurring in older women.

Because there is the possibility the ovarian cyst could be cancerous, your doctor should check out any cyst you may have to make sure you’re in the clear.

Treatments for Cysts

There are a few treatments to choose from if your ovarian cysts are causing pain or concern. Supportive care and monitoring for changes or improvement are usually the first steps. However, medications are also an answer. It is rare, but some women can have problems with ovarian cysts to a point that the cyst has to be surgically removed.

In most cases, the cysts will go away on their own with time, but if you have any problems with a suspected cyst, it is best to talk to a doctor.

Even though ovarian cysts sound like a scary thing, these growths usually pose no threat. Reach out to us at Avant Gynecology for more information about this condition if you have any more questions or concerns.

Most people associate giving birth as one of the most painful things a person can experience. The good news is that modern medicine has come a long way and, now, typically, labor and delivery are straightforward and don’t involve serious complications. However, that doesn’t mean that giving birth is easy and risk-free. In fact, about 700 women die per year in the United States as a result of labor complications. Sadly, this risk is even higher for black women.

Even more alarming is the fact that the rate of maternal deaths has been on the rise in the United States, which has resulted in that fact that America’s maternal mortality statistics are the worst of all the industrialized countries.

That’s why if you are considering having a child it’s important to understand the risks associated with giving birth. While your risks depend on things like your age, race, medical conditions, and number of previous labors, keep reading below to see the biggest risks women face when having children.

Losing Too Much Blood

During a vaginal delivery of a single child, women lose about 500 ML of blood. However, cesarean births, which is when the baby is delivered through incisions in the abdomen and uterus, can double that amount. This kind of blood loss occurs after the placenta is expelled and when uterine contractions are too weak to be able to offer enough compression to the blood vessels where the placenta was at the uterus. That’s why this is one of the biggest risks women face when having children.

Unfortunately, if this happens, it can lead to postpartum hemorrhage, which can then cause low blood pressure, organ failure, shock, and death if not treated quickly. Here are the risks that can lead to losing too much blood during birth:

• Obesity
• Placenta abruption
• Uterine Overdistention
• Several prior births
• Infection
• Use of anesthesia or other medications
• Prolonged labor
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Multiple gestation pregnancy
• Blood vessel tears
• Blood clotting disorders
• Uterine rupture
• And More

Rupture of the Uterus

For those who have previously had a cesarean delivery, there is a chance that the scar from that experience could reopen during birth. Uterine rupture is threatening to the baby because there is a risk of oxygen deprivation, but it also leaves the mother at risk of excessive bleeding and of developing an infection. Ruptures of the uterus can also increase the chance of having delivery issues if you have another child.

Uterine rupture can be a risk factor for women who had to be induced into labor, have a larger baby, are over the age of 35, or who have had a previous c-section. Signs of a uterine rupture are an abnormal heart rate in both the baby and mom, slow progress through labor, abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and low blood pressure in the mom.

Placenta Previa and Placenta Accreta

Placenta previa occurs when the placenta actually positions itself over the opening of the cervix, and it happens to about 1 in 200 pregnancies. This condition will, unfortunately, mean that a c-section is necessary, and it can also increase the risks of placenta accreta, which is the name given to the medical condition when the placenta refuses to detach from the walls of the uterus.

Women over 35 are most at risk for either of these conditions, but it can also affect women who smoke and have fibroids. Both placenta previa and placenta accreta can involve risks for mother and baby, including higher levels of blood loss, early contractions, and large uterus size.

Position of the Baby

Unfortunately, sometimes babies aren’t in the best position for delivery for no rhyme or reason. While facing downward is the optimal position, sometimes babies can be facing upward, buttocks first, feet first, or lying sideways. When this happens, doctors may have to manually change the fetal position, surgically enlarge the opening, or perform a cesarean delivery. It can even lead to problems with the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby, coming out before the baby, and becoming compressed.

Prolonged or Rapid Labor 

Prolonged labor is defined as labor that lasts for more than 20 hours for first time mothers and more than 14 hours for more experienced moms. While it only happens to be about 8 percent of women, causes included slow dilations, a large baby, delivery of multiple babies, stress, a small birth canal, and fear.

As the complete opposite of prolonged labor, rapid labor lasts about three to five hours. To give you perspective, the typical labor lasts between six to 18 hours. There’s a number of things that can cause this to occur, such as a smaller baby, history of rapid labor, uterus contracting strongly, and a compliant birth canal.

While this may seem like a good thing, it can lead to some serious health conditions such as increased risk of tearing the cervix and vagina, giving the mom an out of control feeling, not providing enough time to get to a hospital, hemorrhage, and postpartum shock. The baby also has a higher risk of infection and aspiration from amniotic fluid.

The above conditions and health risks are just a small portion of the things that many women face while giving birth. The best way to stay on top of labor complications is by speaking with medical physicians you trust who can help you understand your health risks. If you want to talk more about risks women face when having children, reach out to Avant Gynecology for information.

You’ve likely been asked if you’d like to receive STD, STI, or HIV testing at a past wellness exam. If you didn’t know what these kinds of tests were before walking into the doctor’s office, chances are you said no. But here’s why you might want to rethink that answer next time.

“There’s a huge misconception that people don’t need STD, STI, or HIV testing if they haven’t been sexually active or if they’ve only been intimate with one partner,” Avant Gynecology’s Dr. Jessica Killeen stated. “That’s simply not true. Although all STDs and STIs are transmissible by sexual activity, some can be acquired by other methods. You can never be too careful with these things.”

To help educate the public more on the benefits of receiving these tests during your next wellness exam, we’re outlining why they’re so vital and providing more details below.

Should I Get STD Testing Done?

Otherwise known as sexually transmitted diseases, the most common strands of STDs are HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes. It’s important to understand that STDs, in general, have no symptoms. Or, if a person does have symptoms, they’re incredibly similar to other diseases’ symptoms, such as UTIs, yeast infections, or even the flu. Testing is the only way to know for certain, which is why receiving this test is important if you’ve ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Especially if you have had unprotected sex or know a partner of yours has an STD, it’s time to get tested.

The good news is that STD testing is usually quick, easy, and painless. Here are a few of the testing options:

• Urine Testing
• Cheek Swab
• Blood Test
• Physical Exam
• Testing Sores
• Genital Swab

If you’ve ever been sexually active, no matter how many partners you have, consider getting tested at your next wellness exam. Since it’s so quick and easy, it’s worth having the peace of mind that you are healthy.

Should I Get STI Testing Done?

STIs are sexually transmitted infections, but the difference between STI and STDs is blurry. The difference is that while most STDs don’t have symptoms, STIs do. This means, technically, many STIs are still STDs. Regardless of what you call them, a few common examples are chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, and genital warts.

The good news is that with STIs is a bit more obvious if you should get tested or not, especially if you have any of the more painful symptoms. If you experience any of the following, it’s time to get tested:

• Painful sex
• Painful urination
• Unusual discharge
• Bleeding
• Eye pain or discharge
• Abdominal, pelvic, or genital pain
• Increased urge to urinate
• Sore Throat and fever
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Night Sweats
• Mouth sores
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Itching or rashes
• Blisters and genital lesions
• Pubic itching or rashes
• Genital bumps and sores

The testing for STIs is also similar to the above list for STDs. In general, visual diagnosis is often the best method since symptoms are so present. Swabs, samples of discharges or sores, physical exams, blood tests, and urine samples are all specific tests used.

Should I Get HIV Testing?

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is more severe than what we’ve discussed so far. Both an STD and STI, HIV is a virus that causes AIDs and effects the body’s ability to fight infections correctly. An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. About 162,500 of those people have no idea.

The good news is that people with HIV can receive treatment and remain healthy for many years, but it’s vital to get that treatment as early as possible. This is where testing comes in. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.

So, if your general practitioner asks if you’d like to receive HIV testing at your next wellness exam, the answer should be yes.

HIV tests are extremely accurate, though none of these tests can find the virus right after infection. If any of the below tests come back positive, it usually means more testing to follow. Here are several ways this might happen:

• NATS: Usually the least recommend HIV screening as it’s costly, this kind of testing looks for the actual virus in the blood. It stands for nucleic acid tests. People who have recently had high-risk exposure or have had early symptoms of the HIV infection are the only ones who need to have this kind of testing done.
• Antigen Tests: If you have HIV, an antigen called p24, foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate, are produced. These tests locate if any of these are in your system.
• Antibody Tests: Just like antigen tests look for antigens, antibody tests look for antibodies, which are proteins that a person with HIV makes to fight against HIV.

Another question many people have about these tests is “will they cost additional money?”. In general, most STD tests during annual physicals are fully covered by insurance. However, consider speaking with your doctor about any additional charges either you or your insurance will have before completing the tests to ensure you won’t be surprised.

If you have any more general questions about these tests, contact Avant Gynecology here.