So I use the Patch (Ortho Evra) as a method for both birth control and hormone regulation. For those who are unfamiliar, the mechanism is the same as birth control pills as far as hormones go-- it's just absorbed differently. My period started last Monday, as per usual. I usually have three day periods because it stops about a day after I put on a new patch. I placed a new patch on Wednesday, which is my usual change day. As of this morning, I haven't stopped bleeding. Heavily. Could this have something to do with the fact that I have been very stressed over the weekend? I found out early Wednesday morning that my cousin had been killed an a car accident overnight, and it's been very hectic since then, but I've never had a bodily reaction like that. I'm just curious about it because this hasn't ever happened before and I don't want to become anemic from blood loss or anything. I have a long-term monogamous boyfriend and the intimacy between the two of us is all that either of us has had, so I wouldn't think it'd be germ-related.

I know I should probably see a doctor, which leads to another question. How do I find a gynecologist? I had my first pelvic exam done last fall but it was by a female doctor at my university's student health center because they were looking for any possible reasons why I was so sick at the time (It was mono). She was very nice, but that's not her specialty, and I think I need to find one that I can go to regularly. How often should I have things checked out? Doctors in general make me extremely nervous. >.<

Thanks in advance for reading my random rambling.

I'd personally say that it was from the stress. My body does that too. The week before the anny of my mom's passing, I'm a wreck. All zit faced and my hormones go NUTS.

Hugs to your family!

Have you tried googling around? On the doc-finder front, do you have a friend that could rec hers? That's how I got mine. GL!!

I'm a patch user and a strangely similar thing happened to me. My 17 year old cousin died over an overdose last fall and it was an incredibly painful and stressful time for my family and I and I bled for an extra 5 days, pretty heavily. I had the same thoughts as you that I had to get to a doctor asap and when I did she told me that it was completely normal and the only reason to worry was if this happened for at least 4 months in a row.

So while I'd say you don't need to rush to a doctor or gyno for that I'd still highly recommend finding a good stable gynecologist. I'd say google and also just ask other women. Your local Planned Parenthood can also provide exams and referrals. Hope that helps!!

Hi bama,

Often in womens cycles they will have 3 normal periods and then a heavier one. Have you noticed any pattern over the last year at all. Stress is a huge factor and can cause you to miss a period I have never heard of it continuing a period. I am sorry to hear about your cousins passing and will say a prayer for you and your family. Is there a possibility that your university dr can refer you to a gyno? or do you have clinics in which you can get referrals such as emergency rooms? You really should be looked at. Often our periods look like alot of blood but the average period is only a few table spoons of blood. Maybe because your periods have been so short your body is just doing a good shedding of the uterine lining. hope you feel better soon

To find a gyno, start with your insurance provider. Do you have insurance? If so, go to their website and login to do a search of doctors in the area on your plan. Usually, they will tell you the gender of the doctor and where they went to school up front, so you can be a bit choosy if you have preferences. Pick three - five and then call them up and see if they are taking new patients and if they have any openings.

If you are insured through your school, call them up -- usually universities have a "women's health" center -- that is what you need. If they are closed for whatever reason or can't help you they'll refer you to a local doctor on the plan.

Hope you feel better!

Are you passing large clots or is it a normal flow (like your usual loss but just extended a bit)?

I'm getting treatment for iron-def anemia due to long and heavy periods, you shouldn't have a problem with that unless you are soaking overnight pads within a few hours. I'm going to stop short of TMI for everyone's sake, . And it might take a while to get to anemia due to that. My doc diagnosed plain old iron-def at first.

I got a recommendation from my doctor (the one who checked out my iron levels) for the guy I am seeing now for my GYN, and I've used the guy my Primary Care doc had recommend a few years back.

You might end up switching doctors if you don't quite like the one you go to at first, which is fine. But if you don't go the recommendation route, check your insurance and see who is "in" and pick from there.

TMI- my normal flow usually is very clotted but this time around it's straight up blood. I use a DivaCup and it's usually half-full after a few hours. I'm just hoping my body will chill out soon.

How do you feel about going to a male gyno? I've always been kind of weird about the gender of my doctors unless it's just a standard thing like sinuses or something.

You should be fine, ( this coming from a nondoctor). But keep an eye on the quantity lost. One of the signs of an Abnormal period I keep reading about is if "you need to change tampons or sanitary pads after only one or two hours." TMI... I can soak through/leak an overnight pad with one clot some times. Which I really need to fix (work in progress). But the only ill effect I've noticed aside from fatigue was when I gave blood during the heavy part of my period, I had a lightheaded moment and had to lay flat on the floor for a few minutes. Definitely a wake up call.

But half-full within "a few" hours doesn't sound like it fits the above. But you're the one with the visual.

But they also say "your period lasts longer than 7 days." But I think that varies on what exactly is the woman's regular cycle, and "they" say regular is 5.

I've read that it's an annual thing (to visit a GYN) but some go longer between visits, it really depends on your health and whatever your doctor says.

Yeah, it's weird to me a bit too to go to a male gyn at first. But I boil it down to the fact that gyn is his specialty and imagine how many lady parts he sees on a regular day, what's one more? It'll be awkward for us at first, but after so many visits, you learn the routine and it's like any other annual. And heck, you're paying for this service, you could always find a lady-doc if it's what you want.

Hmm. I've always heard that stress cannot affect your period. What it affects is your ovulation, which in turn affects your period. A heavy period can't come from nowhere, so ovulation would have to be affected in some way for a heavier period, a late period, etc. if that makes sense?

To find a doctor, I would go through your insurance company and/or Google. Find some doctor rating sites and make sure you're picking someone you feel comfortable with. My first gyno was a man in his 70s and it was very uncomfortable. I definitely prefer a female gyno.

I've had a female gyno who was in her 70's (hated it) and my current one is a young Jewish guy who is also openly gay. I just adore him and his sense of humor really helps with any awkwardness. I never thought I'd be comfy with a male dr., but he is wonderful. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Going through you insurance provider is definitely the best way to go. I found providers in my area, then looked up the top contenders up on Yelp to see about personality and bedside manner, and am very happy with my choice.

My primary care doc is an internist who specializes in woman's health. It's really convenient for me because I can get my yearly physical and have the lady-parts checked out all at once, so that is another option you might want to look into, especially if you're not one for doctors.

I've had male and female doctors, and have found that the female doctors are a little easier to talk to (first gyno visit was with the male doctor who delivered me/ is friends with the parents so that was 12 different kinds of awkward...) while the male doctors have been a little more delicate when it came to the examination. But, whether you choose a man or a woman, be assured that for them it's just business as usual.