My periods last only a day with clots. What should I do?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 20 years old and I do not get my period regularly. It comes every two months and only for a day. And there are clots in the blood during periods. I feel my stomach is growing due to a lack of menstruation.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

So, from what you are describing, your periods are quite irregular and scanty, and you are also noticing clots plus some abdominal bloating or weight gain around the stomach.

At 20, that pattern is not typical and needs to be investigated carefully. Irregular cycles with such long gaps can often indicate a hormonal imbalance rather than just “late periods.”

The probable causes are most likely hormonal imbalance, commonly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Other possibilities can be the following

Thyroid disorder.
Hyperprolactinemia.
Premature ovarian dysfunction (rare at your age, but considered).

I suggest you do the following investigations to diagnose your condition -

Ultrasound pelvis (to see ovaries and uterus lining).
Blood tests include TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), prolactin, LH (leutinizing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), fasting insulin, and androgens (testosterone, and DHEAS ( dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate)).
CBC (complete blood count) and basic metabolic panel.

For now, do not ignore this. If cycles keep coming only once every two months and with clots, the uterine lining may get too thick and increase long-term risks. A gynecologist would typically regulate cycles with medicines (like hormonal pills) after tests, but we should not start anything without confirming the cause.

Meanwhile, focus on weight management, a balanced diet, and daily exercise (30 minutes of walking) since lifestyle changes help regulate cycles in many young women.

When you are done, I suggest you upload your ultrasound and blood reports here so I can guide you more specifically. Kindly also book an in-person gynecological consult because irregular cycles with clots must be properly evaluated before starting treatment.

Meanwhile, you can follow these preventive measures -

Keep weight under control (even an 11-pound loss can help cycles).
Avoid junk food and sugary drinks.
Keep stress levels in check.
Track your cycles regularly.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Regards.