Light Menstrual Bleeding

In medical literature, the condition of experiencing scanty or light menstrual bleeding is referred to as hypomenorrhea. There can be many reasons why menstrual bleeding becomes lighter. Advancing female age can naturally lead to a decrease in the amount of menstrual flow. The use of birth control pills is another factor that can reduce menstrual bleeding.

Causes of Scanty Menstruation

The most common cause of light menstrual bleeding is related to hormonal changes. Hormonal imbalances or fluctuations in a woman’s body may lead to reduced menstrual flow. Environmental factors such as stress also play an important role. A woman’s reaction to certain events (severe stress, trauma, or shock) can affect hormone levels, which in turn may reduce the amount of menstrual bleeding.

Another major factor is age. Women over the age of 40 face the risk of menopause. During this period, estrogen levels gradually decrease, fertility declines, and as a result, the amount of menstrual bleeding is also reduced.

Intrauterine adhesions caused by infections in the uterus can also lead to lighter bleeding during menstruation. The severity of the adhesions determines the extent of reduction in bleeding, and in very advanced cases, menstruation may stop completely.

For women with an active sexual life, pregnancy should always be considered as a possible cause of reduced menstrual bleeding. A simple pregnancy test purchased from a pharmacy can easily confirm whether pregnancy is the reason.

What Should Be Done After Experiencing Scanty Periods?

Women between the ages of 20 and 35 who experience menstrual bleeding lasting less than two days or with significantly reduced flow should consult a gynecologist. The leading cause of scanty menstruation is usually hormonal imbalance. To determine this, it is necessary to check whether female hormones are being secreted adequately. Such evaluations can only be done in a clinical setting under a doctor’s supervision. The treatment will be determined by the physician according to the underlying cause.

What Is the Normal Amount of Menstrual Bleeding?

Defining a “normal” amount of menstrual bleeding can be difficult, as it varies from woman to woman depending on how frequently pads are changed. However, under normal conditions, changing around two pads per day during menstruation is considered average. Some women may change their pads more frequently due to sensitivity, even with very little blood. On average, one or two pad changes per day are accepted as a sign of normal menstrual flow. Another important point to note is that menstruation should last at least two days to be considered within normal limits.