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If you’ve been wondering, ‘Why did I get my period twice in one month?’ or ‘Why am I bleeding 2 weeks after my last period?’ — you’re not alone.
It’s understandable to feel confused or even concerned by an unexpected change in your cycle. A typical menstrual cycle follows a predictable pattern, so getting your period twice in one month can leave you wondering what’s going on with your body. In many cases, it’s completely normal. But sometimes, frequent periods could be a sign of hormonal imbalances or underlying conditions like PCOS, thyroid disorders, polyps, or fibroids.
In this article, we’ll break down what’s normal, what’s not, what causes a woman to menstruate twice in a month, how to know when you’re ovulating, and when it might be time to speak with your doctor.
Takeaways
- A normal period shows up every 21 to 35 days, lasts anywhere from 2 to 8 days, and involves around 30 mL of blood loss.
- It’s normal to have two periods in a month if you have shorter menstrual cycles.
- It’s also possible to mistake ovulation bleeding or implantation bleeding for your period.
- Other physiological causes for more frequent cycles include puberty, perimenopause, birth control, and lifestyle changes.
- Conditions that can cause two periods in a month include PCOS, thyroid problems, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids, or polyps
- Ovulation still occurs if you have naturally shorter cycles.
- However, if an underlying condition exists, you may not be ovulating.
- Consult your doctor if your cycles are constantly less than 21 or more than 35 days, you’re bleeding for less than 2 or more than 8 days, you’re changing your pad or tampon every hour, or your period symptoms are interfering with your day-to-day activities.
What’s a “normal” period?
A normal period usually shows up every 21 to 35 days as part of a normal menstrual cycle and lasts anywhere from 2 to 8 days. Most people lose around 30 milliliters (mL) of blood—roughly 2 to 3 tablespoons.
Menstrual cramps, headache, acne breakouts, fatigue, and sore breasts? They are all normal too. These period symptoms can feel different each month, but they shouldn’t be severe enough to cause extreme pain or disrupt your daily routine.
Is it normal to have two periods in one month?
Can you have two periods in one month? Yes, it’s possible. But is it normal?
Remember we mentioned that a normal cycle spans 21 to 35 days? Well, if you have a shorter menstrual cycle—meaning your cycle regularly falls on the shorter end of the normal range—getting 2 periods in one month can be completely normal.
Let’s say you have a 21-day cycle. If your period starts on the 1st of January, your next one may begin on January 22nd, which is twice in one month. Even with the average menstrual cycle length of 28 days, if your period starts on January 1st, your next one might come on January 29th, still within the same month. It’s nothing to worry about—just a quirk of how the calendar works!
To put it simply, having two menstrual periods in the same calendar month is normal for women with shorter cycles, especially since most months have 30 or 31 days.
Other causes for having two periods in one month
Now, let’s explore all the possible answers to your question: “Why am I getting my period twice a month?”
Physiological causes
Not having a “true period”
You may be mistaking other physiological causes of vaginal bleeding for your true period. These include:
Ovulation bleeding
Ovulation bleeding happens around the time you ovulate, typically 12–14 days before your next period. It’s usually just a few drops of pinkish blood on your underwear or toilet paper and lasts for a day or two.
Since only about 4.8% of women experience it, ovulation bleeding isn’t very common. But if you notice spotting 2 weeks before periods or light bleeding mid-cycle, this could be why.
Know more: Ovulation bleeding: How long does it last?
Implantation bleeding
If you’re sexually active, light bleeding 6–12 days past ovulation (DPO) could be an early pregnancy sign called implantation bleeding. This type of vaginal bleeding happens when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, and around 15–25% of women experience it.
Since it occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, it’s easy to mistake implantation bleeding for an early period or assume you’re having two periods in one month. But unlike a true period, it’s much lighter, pink or brown in color, and doesn’t come with menstrual cramps.
If you’re now wondering, “I got my period twice this month, am I pregnant?” or “I had my period 2 weeks ago and now I’m bleeding again, could I be pregnant?” an at-home pregnancy test can help clear things up.
Know more: Implantation bleeding Vs Periods | What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like?
Age
Puberty
Your first period (menarche) is a big milestone, marking the start of your reproductive years. But your cycle won’t be regular right away because your hormones are still figuring things out. That’s because your hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis—the connection between your brain and ovaries that controls ovulation and menstruation—is still maturing.
While this is happening, it’s normal to have irregular periods. Your period might show up on different dates each month or even twice in one month. Some months, you might even skip ovulation altogether.
But don’t worry! 60-80% of irregular menstrual cycles in adolescents settle into the 21-35 day pattern within three years of the first period.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the phase before menopause, lasting anywhere from 2 to 8 years. Most people with female reproductive organs go through it in their late 40s, but it can happen earlier or later.
During this time, your hormones go on a bit of a rollercoaster, making your menstrual cycle unpredictable. One month, you might get two periods in one month; the next two, you could have missed periods. Your flow might also be heavier, lighter, longer, or shorter than usual.
All this happens because your ovarian reserve (the number of eggs you’re born with) declines with age. As estrogen and progesterone levels drop, irregular ovulation becomes more common. To keep up, your body produces more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which can speed up egg maturation and trigger early ovulation. That’s why your cycles might get shorter, increasing the chances of having your period twice a month.
Know more: Can You Get Pregnant With Perimenopause? Why It’s Possible
Birth control
If you’re on hormonal birth control, it’s likely breakthrough bleeding—light vaginal bleeding that happens between menstrual periods. It’s usually pink or brown in color and lasts just a few days.
The good news? It doesn’t mean your birth control isn’t working. Your body is just adjusting to hormonal changes, especially if you’ve:
- Started hormonal birth control in the last 3–6 months
- Missed or taken a pill late
- Recently switched to a new birth control method (e.g., birth control pills to a hormonal IUD)
- Used emergency contraception
Also, if you are smoking or under a lot of stress while using birth control, you may be more likely to experience this type of irregular bleeding.
Know more: Birth Control and Ovulation: Do You Ovulate on Birth Control?
Lifestyle factors
Your daily habits can affect your menstrual cycle. Stress, poor sleep, intense exercise, weight changes, and an eating disorder can throw off hormone balance, leading to irregular periods, missed periods, or even two periods in one month. The good news is that small lifestyle changes can help get your cycle back on track.
Underlying conditions
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that can mess with your menstrual cycle. It happens when the body makes too much of androgens (also called male hormones), which can stop or delay ovulation.
When ovulation isn’t happening as it should, your periods can get unpredictable—coming too often, not coming at all, or even making it seem like you’re getting two periods in one month.
PCOS can also cause acne, excessive hair growth on the face or chest, and weight gain. And it can make it harder to get pregnant. So if you’re dealing with irregular periods and you’re noticing these symptoms, it’s a good idea to check with a healthcare provider to see if PCOS could be the cause.
Know more: Get Pregnant with PCOS: Your Complete Guide
Thyroid issues
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland present at the base of your neck. It helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, and even your menstrual cycle. When thyroid disease disrupts hormone levels, it can alter ovulation and result in irregular periods.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is one that doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, which can cause heavier, more frequent periods. Meanwhile, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) occurs when too much thyroid hormone is being produced, leading to lighter, shorter, or even missed periods.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis happens when tissue that should grow inside the uterus starts to grow in the wrong places, like on the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This endometrial tissue thickens and sheds just like the uterine lining does during a period, but since it’s outside the uterus, it has no way to leave the body. Over time, this can cause inflammation, scar tissue, and pelvic pain.
Endometriosis can also lead to irregular ovulation, spotting between periods, and extremely painful menstrual cramps.
Know more: Your Guide to Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus. No one knows exactly what causes them, but they grow when hormones like estrogen and progesterone are high.
The bigger fibroids get, the more they can mess with your period—making it heavier, longer, more painful, or more frequent. Some people may also have spotting between periods.
Know more: Can I get pregnant with a fibroid and if so, how?
Uterine polyps
A uterine polyp (or endometrial polyp) is a non-cancerous growth that forms in the lining of the uterus. These growths contain glands, blood vessels, and tissue, and they’re actually pretty common. In fact, they’re linked to about 50% of abnormal uterine bleeding cases. So if you’ve ever wondered, ‘My period stopped then started again 2 days later,’ polyps could be the reason.
Since estrogen helps the uterine lining grow, it can also cause polyps to develop. This can then lead to irregular periods, spotting, or even two periods in one month. Many people with polyps also experience longer or heavy periods, and some notice light bleeding after sex or menopause.
Obesity
Did you know that weight gain or obesity can make your periods more frequent? That’s because fat tissue doesn’t just store energy—it also produces estrogen.
Since both your ovaries and fat cells make estrogen, excess body fat can create a hormonal imbalance. This imbalance may lead to shorter cycles, irregular periods, or heavy bleeding. Research also suggests that people who weigh 74% more than their ideal body weight have 8.4% of their cycles without ovulation (anovulatory cycles).
Are you still ovulating if you have two periods in one month?
Yes, if you have regular cycles that are naturally shorter, you are most likely ovulating. But if you’re getting frequent periods due to an underlying issue, you may not be ovulating at all.
To know if you are ovulating, use a tool like Inito Fertility Monitor. It helps track four key hormones, including luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, PdG (urine metabolite of progesterone), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), all on a single test strip. No blood draw, just pee!
With Inito, you’ll get an easy-to-read hormone chart that gives you a complete picture of your menstrual cycle, helping you identify your fertile window and confirm exactly when you’ve ovulated.
When to see a doctor?
Not all period changes are a cause for concern. Sometimes, having irregular periods can be due to everyday things like stress, diet, exercise, weight changes, sleep, or even travel. But if your cycle suddenly changes or stays off track for a while, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor.
See a healthcare provider if:
- Your cycle is outside the 21-35 days range
- Your cycle suddenly changes for 3+ months
- Your period lasts less than 2 days or longer than 8 days
- You’re soaking through pads/tampons and need to change them every hour
- You’re having severe pain, nausea, or vomiting
Your healthcare provider may ask about your cycle, symptoms, and lifestyle. They might also order blood tests, a pregnancy test, or an ultrasound scan to check your ovaries and uterine lining for any abnormality.
FAQs
It’s normal for your cycles to vary month on month. One study found that 69% of women experience cycle length variations of up to 6 days, while another found that 46% of women have cycles varying by more than 7 days.
Know more: Why Does My Period Date Change Every Month?
Sometimes, it’s possible to mistake your period for implantation bleeding. This typically happens around 6-12 DPO, appears pinkish or brownish, and lasts for 1-2 days. It is much lighter than your period.
You are most likely experiencing ovulation bleeding. Ovulation bleeding is a type of light bleeding that occurs around the time of ovulation – it can be pinkish or brownish spotting, lasting 1-2 days.
Ovulation bleeding is not a sign of pregnancy – it merely indicates that the process of ovulation is occuring. It’s important to note that your chances of pregnancy are higher during this time.
Know more: When to Have Sex to Conceive
Yes, if you have naturally shorter cycles, it’s normal to have two periods in one month. You may also be experiencing more frequent periods due to menarche, perimenopause, or birth control.
Some conditions associated with shorter cycles include PCOS, thyroid disorders, endometriosis, and fibroids.
Was this article helpful?
- The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation – Endotext – NCBI Bookshelf
- Menstrual Bleeding Patterns Among Regularly Menstruating Women – PMC
- Bleeding During Pregnancy | ACOG
- Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign | ACOG
- Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates – PMC
- Endometrial polyps: Pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment – PMC
- Obesity and anovulatory infertility: A review – PMC
