Health & Wellness

Q&A: It's been more than a week and I'm still bleeding. Will it stop soon or should I see my doctor?

It will stop! The problem is, I can't tell you when. If this is the first time you've had a really long period, give it a few more days. But if you get past the 9-day mark you will need to head to the doctor. If your periods are more than 7 days for 3 months in a row or longer, even though you don't lose much blood each time (only several teaspoons), you should still be checked out. Sometimes, if you've gone a couple of months between periods your uterus has more to get rid of and you can have a longer period. If you have a long period only once in a while, this is no big deal. If it is happening more often than not, then you really should make an appointment with a healthcare professional.
If you are bleeding for more than 9 days, and this is the first time that's happened, you should see your healthcare provider. Make sure you have your calendar on hand so that you can answer any questions about the typical length of your periods. If you don't keep records of that, now might be a good time to start. See what our Health Expert Dr. Molly says about this in her answer.

If your period is lasting longer than 9 days, I think it's time to visit your healthcare professional to see what's going on, just to be on the safe side. And while you're at it, maybe check out this article on when to call a doctor.