The Color of Menstrual Blood and 6 Things It Says About Your Health
According to the Health News, citing Simorgh Website. There are a number of external changes you should be aware of, especially when it comes to the color of your period blood.
Below you will find 6 things the color of your period blood says about your health:
1- If it’s pinkish…
You may have low estrogen levels, says Margaret Romero, a New York City-based nurse practitioner. Especially if the pinkness is accompanied by a lighter flow than usual, or if you’re a runner. Studies have shown that excessive exercise can lower estrogen levels, which can make your period irregular, and sometimes even cause it to stop and cause symptoms. (It’s not uncommon for professional female athletes to stop ovulating.)
While this may not seem like a serious problem (what woman hasn’t had a period or two?), low estrogen levels can increase your risk of osteoporosis if left untreated. So if you’ve recently started training for a marathon, are exercising for the first time, or have increased your intensity, and your period suddenly becomes lighter or less frequent, talk to your doctor.
Romero says that potential causes of pink menstrual blood include poor nutrition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or menopause, which occurs when the ovaries produce less estrogen, preparing the body for menopause (which generally occurs about four or five years before menopause).
2- If it looks watery…
You may have a nutritional deficiency. Thin, white periods can be a sign of severe anemia, especially if you notice that your periods are getting lighter and lighter than usual, when you used to have heavier and heavier bleeding. If you’re concerned after two or three cycles, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to get tested for nutritional deficiencies.
Of course, sometimes more complicated problems can occur, and iron deficiency can lead to heavier periods instead of lighter periods. (A 2014 study of 236 Finnish women with heavy periods found that 27 percent were iron deficient and 60 percent were severely anemic.) If your pad or strip soaks through in less than an hour, you have to wake up multiple times at night to change your pad or tampon, or you regularly feel tired and dizzy, your health may be at risk from iron deficiency.
3- If it’s dark brown…
You may have old pieces of uterine lining left in your body that are just now being shed. But don’t panic: This is normal, says Dweck. We’re not sure why this happens, but sometimes the blood stays in place for a while and then slowly passes out of your body. These pieces take a long time to oxidize, which is why they turn brown or black. (See your doctor only if you notice these symptoms during your period.)
Everyone’s uterine lining sheds at different rates during different periods (every period is like a snowflake.) But most of the time, seeing a little dark brown blood at the beginning or near the end of your period is nothing to worry about.
4- If it looks like thick red jam with large clots…
You may have low progesterone and high estrogen. While some blood clots are normal, Dweck says, if the clots are larger than a quarter, it could indicate a serious hormonal imbalance. Romero suggests cutting back on dairy, soy, and sugar and seeing if your period changes.
Another possibility could be uterine fibroids, which are often benign but can be painful, causing a heaviness in the back of your head and large clots during your period, so it’s best to see your doctor for an ultrasound.
****Progesterone: One of the female sex hormones.
Progesterone is secreted from the corpus luteum during the normal ovulation cycle,
and its cessation causes menstruation.
This hormone is also secreted during pregnancy.
A small amount is also released from the adrenal gland.
Progesterone is used in medicine to prevent pregnancy, abortion,
treat amenorrhea, hormone therapy in menopausal women, etc.****
5- If it’s a mix of gray and red…
You may have an STD/STI.
You may also experience a foul odor, says Dweck.
See your doctor for a checkup and treatment.
****STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease and STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection.
STI stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection.
These are diseases that can be spread through different types of sexual contact.
Most are treatable and testable when caught early.
Not getting tested can have serious consequences.****
Women who have had a miscarriage
sometimes notice grayish-colored lumps that look like black liver spots,
so it’s a good idea to see your doctor
if you think you might be pregnant or miscarrying.
6- If it’s light and cranberry-colored…
You may be having a healthy, regular period.
Again, it’s important to note that “normal” can look different for everyone,
but generally speaking, a bright red flow
flow that’s slightly cherry-colored can indicate a healthy sign in your body.
