What your period is saying about your health

From heavy flow to no period at all, painful cramps to bloating, dark brown to light pink period blood, your menstrual cycle can tell you a lot about what is going on in your body. In this article you will learn to interpret the signs your body is telling you.

If you are like the majority of women, your period is affecting you to some extent. In fact, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 80% of women during the 7-14 days before their period begins (1). There are over 100 signs and symptoms associated with PMS and although it is normal to observe little changes which in most cases are relatively mild, it is not normal to experience severe bloating, fatigue, depression, breast tenderness, headaches or painful cramps before your period. 

Knowing about your menstrual cycle is not just important for fertility. In fact, our period is an amazing tool to evaluate how healthy you are and gives a great insight into numerous health conditions. Experts are calling it our fifth vital sign. It is considered an important health indicator like our pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure and body temperature (2). 

Every woman is different but there are common characteristics of a healthy period. 

Here are 4 things you should monitor to know which hormones are in and out of balance:

1. The amount 

A healthy period has an average of 35-50 ml of total blood loss. It shouldn’t have any clots or clumps. A few days of spotting right before or after your flow is normal. 

A heavy flow is when you need to change your pad or tampon every hour or if you see big blood clots. According to the NHS it is defined as losing 80 ml or more in each period and/or having periods that last longer than 7 days (3)

Losing too much blood is abnormal and could be a sign of fibroids or polyps. It could also lead to anemia therefore it is important to see your doctor to get checked.  

On the other hand, losing too little blood could be a sign of low oestrogen and progesterone. These could be explained by a deficiency in some essential nutrients (4). 

2. The color 

Healthy period blood should have a bright red color. It can be described as a cherry colour. 

If you see dark red or black clots (large or small) it could be due to low progesterone, elevated oestrogen and congestion in the uterus. 

If you see brown stains at the beginning of your period, it is an indication of some blood stagnation due to lower progesterone levels).

On the other hand, if the blood is too light - pink rather than red, it could indicate an oestrogen deficiency or iron deficiency (4). 

3. The length 

A healthy period should last around three to seven days but the average is usually between four to six days (5). 

A short bleed (less than 3 days) can be a sign of low oestrogen and progesterone. This could be because of key nutrient deficiencies or adrenal dysfunction (4).

4. The frequency

A healthy period should arrive every 25-35 days.

Very frequent bleeds (having your period twice a month or all month without a break) could be due to a sluggish thyroid so it is important to check your thyroid levels. 

If you have irregular periods or no period at all, this is not normal and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome or hypothalamic amenorrhea should be ruled out by your doctor. 

So, where do you stand - is your period looking healthy?

There can be many reasons that explain variations in your menstrual flow such as hormonal imbalance, unstable blood sugar, poor nutrition and poor liver function. Whatever the reason, it is recommended to pay attention to your fifth vital sign. Interpreting your period is important for your health. You can track your period with wonderful apps such as Clue, Life or Moody Month. 

References:

1.Gillings, M. (2014) Were there evolutionary advantages to premenstrual syndrome?. Evolutionary Applications, [online] 7(8), pp.897-904. Available at: <http://10.1111/eva.12190> [Accessed 19 July 2021].

2. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Committee Opinion (2020) Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign. [online] Acog.org. Available at: <https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2015/12/menstruation-in-girls-and-adolescents-using-the-menstrual-cycle-as-a-vital-sign?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=int>  [Accessed 19 July 2021].

3. Nhs.uk. 2018. Heavy periods. [online] Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/>  [Accessed 19 July 2021].

4. Vitti, A. (2013) Woman Code, Hay House

5. Reed BG and Carr BR. (2018) The Normal Menstrual Cycle and the Control of Ovulation. [Updated 2018 Aug 5]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/  [Accessed 19 July 2021].