Women only just realising 'cruel' reason they're getting two periods this month

It's almost the end of January, the days are getting longer and spring feels like it's finally on the horizon.

But wait, what's this? Not your period, for the second time this month? If you're one of the unlucky women who have endured two periods this month, you're not alone.

As if January wasn't exhausting enough, what with all the winter bugs lurking, the come down of Christmas - and let's not forget the fact we're all absolutely broke - add in a second period, and, well, it's no surprise that January gets a bad rep.

Women are reporting having two periods this month (Getty Stock Photo)

For most of us, a period is usually a once-a-month occurrence. Of course, everybody's cycles are different - in fact, only around 10-15 per cent of women have a 28-day cycle, according to MSB Manuals.

But with the average cycle length being around 29 days, most of us can bank on getting our period once a month on average, give or take a few days either side.

However, in what has been a lovely welcome into 2025, you may have endured two periods this month - and while the reason why makes a lot of sense, people have been left in disbelief after noticing their periods making an appearance for a *second* time.

One person wrote on Twitter: "As if January couldn’t have gotten any worse, I’ve just started my period. Again. For the second time this month," while another said: "Covid earlier this month, now the flu, AND a second period all in the same month."

Other people called it 'cruel' and a third added: "This is literally my second period this month, January pls go away now."

People were left surprised after experiencing two periods (Getty Stock Photo)

Some were understandly fuming, with another person explaining: "No f**king way i just started my period again??? This is the second one????????? THIS MONTH."

Some were left in shock, with one person reporting having pre-menstrual symptoms, before sharing an update a few days later revealing they had also come on their period for a second time.

"Turns out it was just my period starting for a second time this month," they wrote.

So what's happening?

Well, this year January is actually a five-week month, so for those who had a period at the start of the month, or those who have shorter cycles, may have ended up having two periods in one calendar month.

And there's some scientific backing to this as in an 2023 interview with Cosmopolitan, Dr Charis Chambers, a board certified ob-gyn, said that those who get the short end of their cycles are more likely to get two periods a month.

January is a five-week month (Getty Stock Photo)

"A person with a cycle length shorter than 31 days (the majority of menstruators) will, at some point, experience two normal periods in the same month." she said, adding that it's normal and nothing to be concerned about - just not something anyone wants.

So if you were thinking that January was feeling super long - and exhausting - you wouldn't be wrong.

"January is so long that I had two periods this month," one person complained on social media.

The good news is if you do have a period at the end of this month, depending on your cycle length, you might not have one until the very start of March.