When to talk to a clinician about your cycle or symptoms

If you have severe or sudden abdominal or pelvic pain, fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or very heavy bleeding that soaks through protection rapidly for several hours, seek urgent medical care in your area.

The following are common reasons to speak with a doctor or other qualified professional. Having one does not mean something serious is wrong, only that it deserves a proper look.

• Periods that have stopped for three months or more, when you are not pregnant, on hormonal contraception, or in menopause.
• Bleeding between periods, after sex, or after menopause.
• Heavy bleeding that regularly interferes with daily life, or symptoms of low iron such as ongoing exhaustion and breathlessness.
• Pain that is severe, worsening, or that stops you doing normal activities.
• Cycles that are consistently much shorter or much longer than usual, or that change suddenly.
• Mood symptoms before your period that feel severe or unmanageable.
• Repeated injuries, persistent fatigue, or missed periods alongside heavy training or low food intake.

In the years before periods stop, cycles often become longer, shorter, or less predictable, and symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disruption, and mood changes can begin. These changes are common and there are many ways to manage them, so it is worth discussing them with a professional rather than assuming you have to cope alone.

Bleeding after menopause, meaning bleeding that occurs after twelve months without a period, should always be checked promptly.

A missed period can have many causes, and pregnancy is one of them. If pregnancy is possible, a home test is a reasonable first step. After giving birth, cycles can take time to return and can differ from before. Starting, stopping, or changing hormonal contraception often changes bleeding patterns too, and it is normal to have some irregularity in the first few months.

If you are unsure whether a change is expected, ask the person who prescribed or fitted your contraception, or a pharmacist or nurse.

When energy intake does not match the demands of training, hormones can be disrupted, which may show up as irregular or absent periods, frequent illness, stress injuries, and low mood. This pattern is sometimes called relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). It is not something to self-diagnose or push through, and it is worth discussing with a professional.

Being specific helps you get more from a short appointment.

• Bring the dates of your last few periods and how long they lasted.
• Note the symptoms, when they occur in your cycle, and how much they affect your days.
• List any medications, supplements, or contraception you use.
• Write down your questions beforehand.

Foviq provides wellness guidance for training, nutrition, and recovery. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace medical care. If something in your log looks concerning, trust that instinct and speak to a professional.