What in the world is a normal period? This is a question we get ALL of the time so Dr. Oakley will tackle this topic head-on in this episode! As you're probably very familiar with, menstruation tends to last between 3-7 days, and it's accompanied by all sorts of fun stuff like cramping, mood swings, fatigue, and more! The good news is that the more familiar you get with what's going on with your body, the better you can prepare for what comes along with each phase. So let's go over some of these period topics, shall we? 1. Irregular Periods: Occasional irregular periods during various phases in a woman's life, such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, are normal and don't require intervention. However, irregularities that last longer than three months should be evaluated as they might have a more complex cause, like hormonal imbalance or thyroid disease. 2. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) When PMS symptoms become severe and include extreme psychological symptoms, like depression, irritability, anger, or apathy, they might signal a PMDD. Unlike PMS, this disorder is classified as a mental disorder that can interfere with women's daily activities and relationships. 3. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal disorder that can result in infrequent or missed periods among other symptoms, such as infertility, excessive hair growth, weight gain, or sleep disorders. Are there any other period things/questions you would like to ask Dr. Oakley? Feel free to email her at [email protected]. Thank you for listening. Please send in your comments, questions and suggestions for future topics at TheLadyBodPod.com.