Light periods, spotting or no period at all. How do we recognize these patterns? What our bodies are telling us?
- France-Emmanuelle Adil
- Nov 14, 2024
- 3 min read
A regular monthly period, except during pregnancy and menopause, is a sign of good health and fertility. Our bodies are designed for reproduction—it’s a fundamental function that supports the survival of our species. Healthy periods signal that our bodies are in a good state to conceive.
In other words, they indicate that we're in a safe environment, free from health issues that could hinder reproduction, and have access to nutritious, clean food.
This week, I wanted to help you figure out if you have light periods, missed periods, or spotting.
A healthy period follows certain standards in terms of flow and cycle length. In a healthy cycle, you typically bleed between 30 and 80 ml over 3 to 5 days, with the entire cycle lasting 25 to 35 days and menstruation lasting 5 to 7 days.
Last week, we discussed how excessive bleeding isn't healthy, and similarly, no bleeding, too little bleeding, or bleeding outside of your menstrual phase can be a concern.
If your period consists of less than 25 ml of blood over just 1 or 2 days, that is considered a light period.
The saying "No period, no problem" is something we often hear, but if we think of our period as a vital sign, a very light or absent period should worry us as other vital signs would. This is important if you wish to conceive, as monitoring your period is crucial for reproductive health. But not only, as a healthy period is a good health overall.
Hormonal Causes
A light period or a shortened cycle may indicate that you don’t have enough estrogen to build up the endometrial lining. An absent period typically means that ovulation is not occurring.
Spotting between periods can be normal around ovulation, but if it continues until your “official period,” it may be a sign of low progesterone. Progesterone helps maintain the endometrial lining until the menstruation phase, so spotting may indicate the lining has begun to shed prematurely.
What Causes These Imbalances?
Various factors can influence these types of irregular flow, and they may also be accompanied by Pre Menstrual Syndrom and period pain (dysmenorrhea).
Stress is one of the main lifestyle factors to assess.
Both external and internal stress can significantly impact hormone balance. Elevated cortisol, the stress hormone, can disrupt other hormones in the body. Along with insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, cortisol is a master hormone that influences our overall system.
Stresses like poor diet, excessive exercise, work demands, parenting, and lack of sleep can all shorten your cycle, lead to spotting, or even cause your period to disappear entirely.
Other influences include coming off birth control, which can disrupt ovulation, and certain medications like antidepressants, antibiotics, and chemotherapy, which can make periods irregular or cause them to stop altogether.
The positive news is that lifestyle adjustments can help you regulate your cycle and regain a healthy period. Life often throws challenges our way, and sometimes we stray from our optimal health path. The key is to pause, evaluate what’s happening, and take action. Recognize that your period offers valuable insight into your health; our job is to interpret these messages and make changes that support well-being, using our period as a guide rather than a burden.
Pathologies to check for:
PCOS: “Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects women of reproductive age. It usually starts during adolescence, but symptoms may fluctuate over time.”(1)
Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (2): “Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is one of the most common menstruation disorders among women of childbearing age.”
Until next time! ❤️
Cheers ✨
References:
(3): Fix Your Period, Nicole Jardim, Vermillion, 2020
(4): You Can Have a Better Period, Le’Nise Brothers, Watkins, 2022
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