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Not every woman is created equal when it comes to periods. While some breeze through the time of the month with no issues whatsoever, others have to deal with crippling cramps, extreme mood swings or an extremely heavy flow (and embarrassing stains, yikes!).
But what is a ‘normal’ period? It’s when your bleeding lasts between three to seven days. If Aunt Flo only visits you for two days a month or you’re bleeding over five days but only need to change your pad/tampon, say, twice a day, this could mean you have a light period.
Of course, just because your period is light doesn’t mean you have a problem. Some women are just made that way so take that as a part of being uniquely you. However, it might be a cause for worry if your period suddenly changes. Here are seven reasons why this could happen and how to handle the issues that you have control over.
A change in your weight
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Whether you’ve lost or gained weight, if this has happened to you all of a sudden – and in a substantial amount – it could affect the flow of your period too. This is due to the link between your body fat percentage and your period. And, in the case of being underweight, your hormones are usually affected too, which then leads to your period issues. Your body needs a particular level of body fat for your cycle to happen as usual and being underweight could stop your period altogether too. Of course, things like having an eating disorder could also affect your menstrual cycle.
Over-exercising
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Doing too much exercise could also cause havoc with your flow. Once again, this is related to your body fat, as your body needs a certain amount of it for your menstrual cycle to function properly. Putting a lot of physical stress on your body is also an issue your body could do without so go easy on your exercise regime.
Age
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It’s normal for the length of your period and the amount of flow to change as you get older. Generally, your flow gets lighter in the few years leading to menopause – known as the pre-menopausal phase – after which your period stops totally when you hit menopause. But having lighter periods isn’t something that just happens to older women. Both the length of your period and your flow will also change after the first few years of having your period, as your body (and cycle) eventually settles after your teenage years. So while your period could last seven days initially, this could go down to five with a lighter flow after a few years and this is nothing to be alarmed about.
Using birth control
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Birth control affects your hormones and this, in turn, could mess with your cycle too. Many women on hormonal birth control get lighter periods or even stop having periods altogether. Generally, birth control treatments stop your body from releasing an egg so that you can’t get pregnant. And, because your uterus isn’t preparing itself for a possible pregnancy, it doesn’t create a thick lining. Your period is essentially the shedding of this lining each month, so if you have a thin uterine lining, there won’t be much of it to be expelled from your body, therefore leading to light periods. Switch to non-hormonal birth control methods if this bothers you, such as condoms or non-hormonal IUDs.
Hormonal imbalances
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Oestrogen and progesterone are the two hormones responsible for your menstrual cycle and if your body doesn’t have the right amount of either of them, it will definitely affect your period. For example, oestrogen is the hormone responsible for determining the lining of your uterus so if your levels of this hormone are low, it means you won’t have a thick enough lining to have a heavy (or even a proper) period. If your flow is light after a few months and no other factors in your life have changed, visit your doctor and he might get you to do a hormone test.
Stress
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Ah, that word that seems to define 21st century living…stress causes a lot of issues with our health and, for us women, it could also affect our period. Cortisol is a hormone that’s released when you’re stressed and if you have too much of it, it affects your body’s production of oestrogen and progesterone, which will then affect your period. If it’s just a stressful time in your life for whatever reason, see if your period goes back to normal once it’s over. But if you’re suffering from chronic stress, this problem might not go away so easily so try to relax more often or speak to your doctor about your issues.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
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Known as PCOS, this condition leads to cysts on your ovaries, which will then affect your hormone levels and could lead to lighter periods. The symptoms you need to look out for include acne, obesity and excess facial hair. It sounds scary but see your doctor as soon as you notice any of this because, if left untreated, it could affect your fertility.
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Also click on to find out why your period is late in this gallery below.
https://www.herworld.com/wellness/7-reasons-why-your-period-lighter-usual/
7 reasons why your period is late (being pregnant is not one of them)
O period, where art thou?
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Depending on which stage of life you’re in, a late period can either be very good or very bad news. But here’s the thing, just because Aunt Flo is missing doesn’t mean you have to whip out a pregnancy test straightaway. There are many other factors that can cause your period to be late that have nothing to do with baby making.
Do a stock take of your health by ruling out these seven other things first. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your gynaecologist as well to rule out any underlying conditions.
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ALSO READ: 8 TELL TALE SIGNS YOU’RE OVER-STRESSED AND NEED A TIME OUT
You're too stressed
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On average, a woman’s cycle will last 28 days or so, but stress can cause this to fluctuate from month to month. If you’ve been under a lot of pressure at work recently or are going through an emotionally trying period like the death of a loved one, you may notice that your period is later than usual. This is likely because heightened cortisol levels can interfere with hormones like oestrogen and progesterone, causing your cycle to go out of whack.
Dealing with prolonged periods of extreme stress can even trigger a condition called secondary amenorrhea where your monthly period just stops altogether. Get your menstrual cycle back on track by minimising and managing the stressors in your life by taking some time out. Focus on nourishing your body through healthy food, regular exercise and good company.
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You're not eating enough
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You may think your new diet is working wonders for you when it comes to shedding kilos, but it’s time to think twice if your period starts getting irregular.
When you go on a restrictive diet where you don’t consume enough calories or cut out entire food groups, you put yourself at risk of nutritional deficiencies. That, combined with sudden weight loss, can cause your period to go MIA.
Instead of embarking on a crash diet, opt for a more sustainable healthy eating plan. After all, it’s not just the numbers on the scale that matter, but eating well and fuelling your body with the right foods.
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You're exercising too much
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Exercising is great for you on so many levels, and we’d never advocate putting your workouts on the backburner. But if your sweat sessions are packed back to back and you’ve noticed that your periods are becoming very light or pulling a disappearing act, you might be pushing your body too hard.
Intensive exercise regimes coupled with a low body weight can cause your body to think that it’s in starvation mode. It registers what it’s going through as a high-stress situation and may start to switch off non-vital bodily functions in order to survive. Since menstruation is part of the reproductive process, it gets side-lined since it’s considered non-essential (compared to say, your respiratory or digestive functions).
Consider switching to lower-impact activities for a start and speak to your gynaecologist to come up with a plan to get your period back.
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ALSO READ: 8 TELL TALE SIGNS YOU’RE OVER-STRESSED AND NEED A TIME OUT
You might have a hormonal disorder
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If your periods are consistently irregular and you’ve noticed unusual hair growth or acne, it’s best to speak to your doctor about the possibility of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In Singapore, PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder and affects 5- 15 per cent of women in their reproductive years. Those suffering from the condition typically exhibit menstrual irregularities due to the higher presence of androgens (“male hormones”) in their bodies. This can affect ovulation and make it more difficult to conceive.
Thankfully, there are ways to contain PCOS even though it’s not a curable condition. Consult your gynaecologist for a suitable treatment plan.
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You're going through early menopause
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You travel a lot
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Exploring new countries and cultures is awesome, but the actual flying from place to place? Not so much. And when it comes to international travel, there’s no way around the fact that crossing different time zones takes a huge toll on your body.
When you’re in another country, your circadian rhythm is affected because all regularity regarding your sleep-wake cycle gets thrown out the window. It may be 10pm local time but only 10am back home. As a result, your body becomes exposed to light changes at different times of the day and this can screw up your internal rhythms and trigger hormonal changes.
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ALSO READ: 8 TELL TALE SIGNS YOU’RE OVER-STRESSED AND NEED A TIME OUT
You're not sleeping regularly
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On that same note, sudden changes in your sleep pattern (say you started working the graveyard shift or you’re constantly pulling all-nighters at the office) can also affect your menstrual cycle.
A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that female shift workers were likelier to experience menstrual irregularities and overall longer menstrual cycles. The reason? An out-of-sync circadian rhythm again.
This article was first published on Shape.
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ALSO READ: 8 TELL TALE SIGNS YOU’RE OVER-STRESSED AND NEED A TIME OUT