Please help me. I'm a freshman in college, (18) and during my last and current period I've been having severe, debilitating, cramps as well as much heavier bleeding than usual. The only difference between college and home has been my diet, but I know that can't be it because I started my last period the day before I moved in and it was also abnormal for me. Generally, I bleed through about one regular pad per day while on my period, however, the last two I've been going through anywhere from two to four pads a day. I'm concerned that there's something wrong. Why would my flow suddenly change?
The only other thing I can think of that might be affecting it would be the addition of sexual intercourse to my life in the last couple months. There has not been any pain before, during, or afterwards, so I can't see how that would be affecting my period.
The reason I am asking on here is because 1) I'm a broke college student 2) I don't have any health insurance and 3) The University Health Clinic costs much more than I can afford.