Irregular periods are bothersome when you’re trying to plan activities, but they can also be more than a nuisance — they can signal an underlying health problem. Dr. Anna Le and the team at Annandale Ob-Gyn have extensive experience identifying the cause of irregular periods and providing individualized treatment that gets you back into a regular cycle. To get help with irregular periods, call one of their offices in Annandale or Alexandria, Virginia, or schedule an appointment online.
"Dr Anna Le was very knowledgeable and at the same time very kind and considerate."
"Thank you for Shara; she was so pleasant."
"It is wonderful place which I have ever seen since 2 years I am coming to this place for all my check up ."
"Dr. Le and her staff were all phenomenal! I really appreciated getting an ultrasound then and there and not have to wait to make a follow up appt. She understood all my concerns and provided honest feedback. I'm excited to have found this practice!"
"I've never been to an OB/GYN. I was REALLY impressed. The doctor really listened to my problems and her plan of action is really reasonable. I was totally at ease & I will absolutely be back in the future. The staff was so polite, and the building was really clean. I felt like I was in great hands."
"Shara is wonderful! She is the only provider that has ever made me feel comfortable at an OBGYN."
"Dr. Summer is the greatest doctor!"
"I love all the staff and doctors at Annandale OBGYN! They're all so amazing."
"Excellent doctor and staff. Love the location. From beginning to end the staff was courteous and the doctor very knowledgeable, I would recommend her any time ! Looking forward for my next appointment."
"The staff and doctors are awesome! i give it 5 stars and recomend it to any woman that is expecting."
"Dr. Le is warm and personable and very knowledgeable."
"Excellent!! Went there before/during/after my pregnancy! All staff are very nice and friendly!! LOVE IT!!"
"Amazing staff, I fully trusted everyone with my pregnancy."
"I have been to three separate OBGYN offices over the last three years, and have come away dissatisfied, or even horrified, at some of the experiences. I visited Annandale OBGYN this week and it was everything the other businesses were not - professional, clean, timely, informative, and attentive."
"They are the best!"
"Dr. Le was very warm, thoughtful, knowledgeable with excellent bedside manners. Her staffs was so friendly and helpful. They always made us feel welcomed and the care was so personable. Just one word: Outstanding!!!"
"I really love this office everyone is so nice , the office is really gorgeous and the doctors there are amazing they really take time to listen to you and you don’t feel like your visit is being rushed even though they are a really busy office . They listen to any concerns and you give you different options to what they think is best or what you would want, overall lovely office and staff!"
"Amazing staff and service. Everyone is very nice and attentive, I would highly recommend this place to a friend or anyone who is looking for an Ob-Gyn doctor. The office has staff that speak Spanish, Vietnamese, and English."
"After calling numerous Gyn offices & never had staff call me back, I was able to get an appointment quickly at Annandale Gyn. Staff very nice to work me into their schedule. Dr. Awad is a very pleasant, professional doctor. His manner was empathetic & concerned."
"I was more than pleased with my visit. Everyone was friendly, compassionate, knowledgeable, and prompt. I would recommend this office to everyone!"
"My research paid off. She is amazing in so many ways. Listening carefully, taking me seriously, and making sure my questions were all answered are what make her unique in a medical field of in and out patients. The office staff is fabulous too. I had an issue with my prescription and her staff quickly solved the problem in minutes over the phone. She is a 'unicorn' in the OBGYN world!"
"Everyone here is absolutely wonderful! Very welcoming from day one, I wouldn't want to go any place else! They are very helpful in so many ways! Thank you to everyone here for making my pregnancy even more special!"
"Dr. Anna Le sincerely cares about her patients."
"Great staff, everyone was very efficient and personable, had a great first impression and their time wait was very short!"
"Been coming to Dr. Le for more than 12 years. She has delivered all my children and each one was unique. She’s not only your Dr but she is also My moral support and she is like my family. Will never go anywhere else. Thank you Dr. Le"
"I was more than pleased with my visit. Everyone was friendly, compassionate, knowledgeable, and prompt. I would recommend this office to everyone!"
"Everyone here is absolutely wonderful! Very welcoming from day one, I wouldn't want to go any place else! They are very helpful in so many ways! Thank you to everyone here for making my pregnancy even more special!"
"Dr. Anna Le sincerely cares about her patients. Her knowledge and care for her patients go beyond expectations- 5 stars!"
"It is a nice centre. I am happy with their services, they are quick in providing ultrasounds etc because can actually provide the ultrasound service in the same appointment which is time saving. All the doctors are wonderful."
"Excellent doctor and staff. From beginning to end the staff was courteous and the doctor very knowledgeable."
What is abnormal menstrual bleeding?
Menstrual cycles typically last 24-38 days, with a period that lasts up to eight days. Your cycles may be different, so if you’re not sure what’s normal for you, track your cycles for a few months to see how many days you go between periods and how long your periods last.
It’s common for periods to be irregular at puberty and in the years before menopause. When menstrual irregularities occur at other times, however, they may signal a problem.
Your periods are irregular when:
- Length of your period varies by more than 7-9 days
- Menstrual cycles are longer than 38 days or shorter than 24 days
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Lighter bleeding than usual
- Heavy bleeding during your period based on these symptoms
- Bleeding for more than 7 days
- Soaking through a tampon or pad every hour
- Needing to wear more than one pad at a time
- Having to change pads or tampons during the night
- Passing large blood clots (quarter-sized or larger)
What causes irregular periods?
Irregular periods can be caused by emotional stress, sickness, or suddenly losing weight. Some medications may affect your periods, such as those used to treat epilepsy and some mental health conditions.
Intense exercise or athletic training can lengthen your cycle, cause infrequent periods, or even make your periods stop. In many cases, irregular periods develop due underlying health problems such as:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Eating disorders
- Elevated levels of cortisol
If your menstrual periods are too heavy, they may be caused by:
- Uterine fibroids and polyps
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Gynecologic cancers
How are irregular periods treated?
Dr. Le and the team at Annandale Ob-Gyn & Primary Care first determine the underlying cause of your irregular periods, then develop a treatment plan customized to meet your individual needs. Hormonal birth control methods may lighten menstrual flow and regulate your periods. Hormone therapy often helps treat irregular bleeding caused by endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and fibroids.
Diverse types of prescription medications can help stop heavy menstrual bleeding. Depending on the underlying cause of heavy bleeding, your doctor may recommend a minimally-invasive surgical procedure such as endometrial ablation or myomectomy (to remove fibroids).
