Menstruation is a natural and essential part of a woman’s reproductive cycle. While periods can vary from person to person, they can provide valuable insights into a woman’s overall health. Changes in the regularity, flow, and accompanying symptoms of your menstrual cycle can indicate underlying health conditions that may require attention. In this article, we will explore what your period may be telling you about your health and when you should consider seeking medical advice.
1. Color and Flow
Dr. Alisa Vitti, functional nutritionist and a holistic health counselor explains that period colors can be described in 3 ways: strawberry jam, cranberry juice and frozen blueberries. She also claims that the color of the period blood can reveal a lot about a woman’s hormonal health.
Women with strawberry jam periods might have low estrogen levels. Their period can get patchy and it’s often late.
Women that have a flow with the color of frozen blueberries might have high estrogen levels. They will also experience heavier cycles because their uterus lining is thicker than normal.
The perfect period color is the cranberry juice. It’s not too heavy and will start and end just in time.
2. Spotting
Spotting is actually bleeding a little between periods. Spotting can indicate that sometimes is wrong, so we advise you to check it with your doctor.
Some causes of spotting include:
- Infection
- Cancer- it’s very rare, but cancer of the vagina, cervix and uterus can cause spotting
- Hormonal imbalance – birth control methods, thyroid problems and dysfunctional ovaries
- Stress
3. Period Pain
Most women experience pain during their period, but if you’re experiencing severe pain that doesn’t go away, you should consult with your doctor. If you have disabling and severe cramps that last more than 2 days, you might have endometriosis. More than 10% of women suffer from it and can be quite painful.
