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Mercy gynecologist Dr. Meghan Lynch

Menstrual Woes: What's Normal, What's Not And What Can Be Done? Mercy Gynecologist Dr. Meghan Lynch Discusses On "The Woman's Doctor"

PMS, having periods, menstrual pain, these are all things not uncommon for women in their child-bearing years, but what isn’t normal?

Joy Green knows what it’s like to have problems with her menstrual cycle.

“I would bleed for about a month, since I was in high school. After awhile it just becomes your normal daily routine. The cramps were unbelievable at times. There were times I didn’t want to get out of bed, you lose so much blood, you have no energy, you’re drained,” Joy said.

According to Mercy Medical Center gynecologist Dr. Meghan Lynch, a normal period lasts 3-7 days with not too heavy a flow and minor cramping.

“Anytime your period becomes heavier than that, that you have to change protection every hour or you have to frequently take medication for cramps, miss work or school, or if it becomes irregular,” that isn’t normal, Dr. Lynch explained.

For Joy, the answer was progesterone, which she took, on and off, for three months.

“I knew when it’s coming on a little bit more because I can track it more. The bleeding lasts more like a week instead of a month,” Joy said.

“Two hormones that help balance your period are estrogen and progesterone. If you have an imbalance in one or the other, it can make your periods go haywire,” Dr. Lynch said.

Joy is happy that she finally went for treatment versus acting like a problem was normal.

“You just go with the flow, you pack your purse extra, and you keep moving on,” she said.

If a woman in her childbearing years starts missing her period, and isn’t pregnant, that is also a reason for concern and should be checked by a physician. To view Dr. Lynch’s interview on WBAL-TV11, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/29086258/detail.html