Periods can feel like a bit of a mystery. Most of us weren’t taught in school how to tell whether our periods are ordinary or whether any symptoms we experience may be cause for a greater concern—so, “we ended up putting up with whatever our cycle threw at us,” says Dr. Jessica Nazareth, a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor with a focus on reproductive and hormonal health. Add to that that people who menstruate are frequently dismissed by medical professionals when they report issues with their periods, and it can feel daunting to evaluate whether what we experience during our cycles requires further medical investigation.   
 

Here, Dr. Nazareth breaks down how to evaluate factors such as pain, flow, cycle length and emotional changes—and when to seek medical care.