Long/Irregular menstruation of 18 days - Normal?

[LillieFlower]

I am 30 years old, 5'4'' and 130 lbs  - healthy and married

This last year and a half my periods range from 11 days to 18 days long.
The flow is NOT heavy but rather light to normal.
The cycle is irregular.
The cramps are not that bad

My pap a week ago was normal. My MD said my cycle is more of an annoyance than a physical problem. Could he be right?

This is a basic break down of my flow.

brown moderate spotting for 6 days
normal bleeding for 4 days
brown light spotting for 5 days

The space between periods not predictable....but basically I am LUCKY if I have a full 2 weeks off of bleeding/spotting. Although not always.

Needless to say, our sex life is pretty sad.

It seems as though my uterus just does not remember how to release blood the way it used to.

Here are my questions.
Can I have this kind of flow, and everything be normal?
If it's not normal, would my progesterone possibly be low?
Are there any natural remedy's (I hate the pill)

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
If you were my patient, I would be concerned that you may not be ovulating regularly, and that there may be a build up of tissue within the uterine lining. Another possibility is that you may have a polyp.  I would probably order an ultrasound to investigate further.  IF you simply have a thickening of the lining, that can be treated with a short course of progesterone.  Taking progesterone every few months can prevent it from coming back.

I would strongly recommend checking with a gynecologist who can do some further testing and prescribe something for you.  It sounds like you are bleeding more days than you are not!

Good luck!
Dr B

[LillieFlower]

Elaine Brown, MD

Thank you for your feedback.
I think I will ask my MD for a referral to a gynecologist. You are right, I am bleeding and spotting more days than not, at least for the last year and a half. Luckily, I am not anemic.

Polyps, thickened lining, or nothing at all....either way, I would like to know.

Thanks
Lillieflower.