Is your period flow really scanty? These 5 culprits could be to blame

Periods can come with many woes, from cramps and mood swings to irregular flow. During menstruation, many women have a heavy flow while others might barely be spotting. And though enough has been said about heavy periods, today we’re here to talk to a lighter flow. 

In a normal period, women shed about two to tablespoons of blood on an average. Anything less than this makes for a lighter flow which could also cut short and if it’s lesser than that, then it’s scantier. With lesser flow, the number of menstruating days are cut short. But what causes scanty periods? 

Also, read: 4 common period problems and what to do about them, according to a gynae

Well, we’ve got the top five reasons why your periods might be scantier than normal:

1. You’ve lost too much weight
Weight plays an important role in regulating the hormones in your body. If you’ve lost too much of it recently, then your body may fail to ovulate regularly which can result in an irregular menstrual flow.

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2. You are on birth control pills
If you’re on any hormonal birth control pills then it might prevent your body from releasing an egg. Without an egg, the uterus doesn’t create the thick lining, As a result your periods might be light and scanty.

3. You have an underlying medical condition
Hormonal conditions such as PCOS or hyperthyroidism could also be the culprits here. An overactive thyroid can cause abnormally light periods. If you happen to see any other symptoms of hyperthyroidism, you must visit your doctor.

Also, read: 8 lifestyle mistakes that are probably messing up your menstrual cycle

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PCOS is also a hormonal condition where your body has an increased level of male hormones which prevents the egg from maturing and ovulating normally, and thus the lighter flow.

Also, read: You need to try these 5 effective yoga poses at home if you have PCOS

4. You’re stressed!
Stress can be a real bummer. If you are perpetually stressed, then it can alter your hormones because of which you can experience lighter or irregular flow. Sometimes too much stress can also make you miss your period.

5. Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your period stops completely. Expect, you might occasionally experience spotting. If this happens in the initial days when you’re not aware of your pregnancy, it can be mistaken for a scanty period.

If despite a healthy lifestyle your scanty periods seem to persist, you must visit your gynaecologist to seek medical counsel.