Is it normal for periods to get lighter

Your doctor will discuss possible reasons for your light periods and test you for various conditions to determine an appropriate treatment plan. Persistent and problematic light periods may be treated with changes to your lifestyle and medications.

Sometimes, the use of hormonal birth control can help your periods become more regular. If your light periods are a sign of something more serious, treatment may include other medications or other interventions. Light periods may not be a sign that you have something to worry about. Even a period as short as two to three days is considered normal. If you have missed a period or experienced light spotting and think you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

Make sure to track your light periods and talk to your doctor. Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition. Call your doctor if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. There are many reasons for wanting to skip your monthly period, including convenience and menstrual cramps.

Learn about skipping your period on birth…. The birth control pill introduces different hormones into your system. Learn how this may affect your menstrual cycle.

Learn ways to manage the birth control shot side effect of irregular bleeding and when you should see a doctor. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Risk factors. When should you see a doctor?

Read this next. You'll have been told this when undergoing your procedure, but doctor Datta warns that if you've had any work on your womb or cervix recently, it could certainly affect your monthly bleed, even if only subtly. You may expect a lighter flow for a few months. As always, do visit your doctor if you're worried at all. Similarly to under eating, if you're undertaking a significant amount of exercise - that's anything upwards of six workouts a week - you could be putting your body under too much strain and stress, doctor Datta warns.

Both emotional and physical stresses can affect your cycle, therefore vigorous exercise can impact your period. While exercise is good for you, it's the same as everything in life: enjoyed in moderation. Doctor Datta recommends keeping a diary tracking your period for at least two to three months to evaulate your symptoms, monitoring your bleeding timings and heaviness.

Do note: if you've skipped a bleed altogether, it's worth reading our guide to what that might mean, and taking a pregnancy test to confirm you're not pregnant. Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Britney's conservatorship has ended after 13 years. Paris' wedding dress is what dreams are made of.

Pregnancy is the most likely cause of something being different in your cycle, particularly if you have not been using birth control. To get the best results, it might be best to wait until you miss your next period. This can be a home pregnancy test or a pregnancy test from your healthcare provider, midwife, or health department.

In most cases, you do not have to notify anyone of the test or the results. Even if you know you're pregnant, if you had a lighter-than-normal period, you should tell your healthcare provider or midwife. This can alter your due date, making you further along or less further along than you had previously thought.

Having the wrong date can shift some tests and other parts of your prenatal care. If you have experienced a sudden shift in weight, this can sometimes affect your menstrual cycle. Over-exercising can also affect your periods, especially when you put a lot of physical stress on the body. Emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one, or major life stressors in work or your home life can take a toll on your body and affect your menstrual cycle.

Going on hormonal birth control can also cause a change in your period. It is not uncommon for women to experience lighter than usual periods and shorter periods, while on a birth control pill or if you have gotten a hormone-emitting IUD, such as Mirena.

If a change in your period bothers you, you can stop using hormone-based contraceptives. There are hormone-free options for birth control including male and female condoms, a non-hormonal intrauterine device , and foams. Be sure to ask your midwife, healthcare provider or local health department for advice on the method that is best for you.

If you are getting older, your periods may shift. You may be pre-menopausal. This does not mean you are no longer fertile, it means you are a little less likely to get pregnant. People may experience some initial spotting between periods as the hormones start to help regulate their periods. In certain cases, a doctor may recommend that someone with light periods takes birth control to help regulate their cycle.

Sometimes people with no known risk factors can have light periods. However, some factors make light periods more likely.

People may want to talk to their doctor about individual risk factors that may affect the severity of their periods. Having a light period is not usually cause for concern.

However, if someone has consistently light periods or starts skipping periods altogether, they should talk to their doctor. A person should also see a doctor if a light period coincides with other symptoms that are causing concern, such as pelvic pain.

Many different factors can cause a light period, such as diet, exercise, birth control pills, or health conditions.

What is most important is that people listen to their bodies. If someone is concerned about the duration of their menstrual blood flow, they should talk to their doctor for clarification and reassurance.

While occasional changes in the menstrual cycle are not unusual, frequently experiencing two periods in a month may indicate an underlying medical…. There are many possible causes for irregular periods. You should always talk to your doctor if your period is irregular so that they can rule out…. Anovulation is when a woman does not ovulate.