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Your period has changed, and it's hard to know whether to wait, worry, or get help. Start with what's usual for you: when bleeding comes, how regular it is, how long it lasts, and how heavy it feels. There isn't one pattern that fits everyone. Abnormal uterine bleeding means a change in your usual bleeding pattern. That change is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The pattern alone can't tell you why it's happening. A brief change isn't automatically dangerous. Persistent or very heavy bleeding, bleeding after menopause, or bleeding when pregnancy is possible needs medical attention. Seek urgent help if you soak a pad or tampon every hour for two hours, feel faint, or have severe symptoms. Compare with your usual period: it tells you what changed, not why. Get care for changes that persist, become very heavy, or happen after menopause.