Common Period Problems

My periods have always been very regular, but the last three months they have changed. I have about three days of very light spotting, then the next 24 to 36 hours it is very heavy, with lots of cramping and clots. I have had some clots before, but not like this; they vary from the size of a dime to a quarter. Then it goes back to light spotting for another one to two days. Are clots normal or should I be concerned?

Your periods will change over the course of your premenopausal life. This may be a normal transition at whatever age you are, but any change should be reported to your doctor to rule out polyps, precancerous changes, fibroids, hormonal problems—things like that. It's probably nothing, but let your doctor prove that.

I usually have a 26-day cycle with no abnormal bleeding. But now I've been experiencing spotting on and off for the last 13 days. What causes this? Can I conceive if I'm having such an abnormal cycle? What exactly is breakthrough bleeding and how do you tell it apart from menses?

Breakthrough bleeding (BTB) occurs when there's not enough hormonal support for the lining of your uterus, so it disintegrates and sloughs away. This can happen if you're on a birth control pill that isn't strong enough or during occasional cycles where there's a variation in your regular hormone levels. Be sure to report any irregular bleeding to your doctor.