I have a poor period: could it be a symptom of something serious?

We know that women have menstrual cycles that are usually regular, and that their periods come down once a month. However, each woman is different, and not all have the same type of rule in terms of quantity, frequency, associated pain, etc.

In this article we will answer the following question: “I have a low period: is it serious, doctor? Could it be a symptom of something serious? Through the explanations of Dr. Mitjana, Primary Care Physician, we will analyze the possible causes that explain a change in bleeding and we will explain when it would be necessary to see a specialist.

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The "normal" rule

The rule lowers us when there is no pregnancy; thus, through it, the body is responsible for separating a part of the uterine mucosa. The uterine lining is separated by uterine contractions, caused by different hormones.

Lor normal is that the period comes down once a month, when the menstrual cycle is completed

, and that it lasts between 3 and 7 days. As we anticipated, there are women, but they have poor periods (either because they bleed little or because their period lasts 2 days or less). There are women who experience this situation and who ask themselves: "I have a low period: could it be a symptom of something serious?" In this article we will try to answer this question.

I have a poor period: is it a symptom of something serious?

What happens when we have a low period? Could it be a symptom of something serious? Each woman is different, and that is why menstruation can vary greatly from one woman to another.

There are women who bleed a lot, women who bleed little, others who have irregular cycles, others who have their period every "X" months, and so on. In addition, blood clots can also vary greatly in each case, as well as the symptoms that menstruation causes, etc.

One such case is light bleeding (scanty menstruation), which occurs when the flow of blood from menstruation only lasts two days (or even less), or when the amount of flow is less than 80 ml. Medically, this symptom is called "hypomenorrhea." By contrast, it is called "oligomenorrhea" to the appearance of the rule less than once a month (from 35 days after the last rule).

Next, we are going to explain what it means to have a low period, why it happens and whether or not it is something worrisome.

Two types of cases

To answer the question of poor menstruation, we must first differentiate two types of cases: the cases of women who have always had little menstruation, and cases of women who have always had normal (or heavy) periods and suddenly start having periods scarce.

According to an interview with the Dr. Mª Carme Mitjana, a specialist in Primary Care at the CAP of Casc Antic (Barcelona), in the first case, the woman does not have to worry; her menstruation is simply scanty, probably because her endometrial lining in the uterus is rather thin and therefore does not shed much of the endometrium (factors hormonal). But in this case, having a poor period is not a sign of anything serious.

In the second case, but if we suddenly notice a change in the amount of our menstruation (and we bleed less or during fewer days), the first thing we should do is take a pregnancy test, since there is a possibility that we are pregnant

This is explained simply because, perhaps in the previous rule we had a little substance (endometrial layer) to detach, and therefore the little blood we have had this month is from the previous month (and this month we don't really have a period because we are pregnant). Thus, the first thing we must do is rule out a possible pregnancy.

If we are not directly pregnant because the tests show it, it is very likely that the following month the period will come to us normally (with the usual amount). If the scanty period persists the following months, it is probably a more hormonal issue, related to stress factors, diet, etc. Thus, a little later we will talk about the causes that could explain this last situation (having a poor period).

Changes in our menstrual cycle (and in the rule): why do they occur?

According to doctors, our menstrual cycle can be altered for various reasons (it does not always have to be a disease). As we have seen, having a poor period is not a sign of anything serious, unless there is a change in our amount of bleeding, although it is generally hormonal issues that do not have greater importance.

In the latter cases, the most common causes of alterations in our menstrual cycle and, as a consequence, in our period or menstruation, are the following.

1. Stress

Stress It is a factor closely related to hormonal changes, changes in the menstrual cycle and finally our period. This is because if we are very stressed (or slightly stressed for a long time), a change in our hypothalamus may occur, structure responsible for regulating the pituitary gland (the endocrine gland responsible for synthesizing different hormones). All this can end up altering the functions of our ovary.

Thus, if you have started to bleed less than normal during your period, stress could be the cause, although there are more reasons that could explain this situation.

2. Hormonal changes

A little related to the above cause, we found a possible hormonal change as the cause of our scanty menstruation.

In the end, hormones are the ones that direct many of our functions or physiological processes, one of them being menstruation. That is why any hormonal change can affect the characteristics of our cycle and menstruation.

3. Changes in diet

Changes in diet can also reduce our bleeding during menstruation. Specifically, it is likely to occur when we start to eat less.

Also, in extreme situations (fasting), such as conduct disorders diet (TCA), especially anorexia nervosa, the period directly disappears (the so-called amenorrhea). This is so because, after all, our body is wise, and if it "knows" that it could not feed a new living being (due to its degree of malnutrition), it acts by inhibiting the rule.

When to go to a specialist?

If, although we have a short period, this is not accompanied by other symptoms such as discomfort, changes in the smell of the discharge, discomfort during intercourse, hot flashes, pelvic pressure or fever, we should not why worry. However, Yes, it is advisable to go to a specialist whenever we have doubts and above all, when we notice something really strange.

On the other hand, and as we have seen, it is not the same to have always had little period, than the fact that it is something that appears suddenly. In this second case, we must be alert (and rule out a possible pregnancy), especially if the situation recurs for more than three periods in a row.

Experts say that suddenly having a heavy period should be more cause for concern than the opposite (having a poor period).

Although it does not have to be a symptom of anything serious, and these changes in quantity, as we said, can be explained by factors such as stress, The ideal is to go to a gynecologist or gynecologist whenever we notice any change in our cycle or menstruation (especially if this change is very evident).

Bibliographic references

• Enciso, F.B., Crespo, L.P. and Ancuña, J.C. (2007). Classification and nomenclature of menstrual disorders. Ginecol Obstet Mex, 75 (10): 641-51.

• Hernández-Valencia, M. and Zárate, A. (2006). Amenorrhea and menstruation disorders. Acta Médica Grupo Ángeles, 4 (3): 197-201.

• Mitan, L.A. (2004). Menstrual dysfunction in anorexia nervosa. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 17: 81-85.