Menstruation became more scanty. Reasons for scanty periods: why is menstruation very bad and weak, what does discharge without blood mean? When is low discharge normal?

Most women jealously monitor their women's health and notice any changes of an intimate nature. However, to preserve your femininity and attractiveness for many years, you need to use not only observation, but also some medical knowledge.

Often, representatives of the fair sex can observe such a phenomenon as menstruation without blood. What does this mean? All the characteristic signs of menstruation (abdominal pain, tension in the mammary glands) are present, but either very little blood flows or only a few drops. This condition is called “hypomenorrhea” and can be a symptom of a chronic menstrual disorder. However, there are other cases when little blood during menstruation is not a deviation. Let's try to figure out how to distinguish one from the other.

There is even a special classification of scanty periods: primary and secondary. The concept of primary hypomenorrhea means that all menstruation, starting from the very first, was exactly like this. That is, the girl did not have any full periods; instead, a few drops of blood came out (periods up to 50 ml in volume are considered scanty). Secondary hypomenorrhea implies that menstruation has always been normal, but at some point there was a failure.

Primary hypomenorrhea

The very first menstruation of a teenage girl (“menarche”) can be anything from heavy to very scanty, when very little blood comes out. The reason for this failure is the formation of a cycle for which a whole year is allocated. During this period, the girl may observe long breaks between critical days, brown “smudge” instead of blood - all this is physiological. But menstruation must return to normal within the allotted time of one year.

If after a year no improvements occur and hypomenorrhea is still observed, all indicators indicate pathological disorders, the treatment of which should be started with great seriousness and responsibility.

Secondary hypomenorrhea

For every woman at different ages, the time comes for the complete cessation of menstruation. This phenomenon is called menopause, and its reasons lie in the gradual change in hormonal levels. This is why a woman after menopause can no longer have children.

For some time before menopause, menstrual irregularities may occur. Women especially often complain about hypomenorrhea, in which very little blood comes out during menstruation.

Also, hypomenorrhea can occur during childbearing age due to illness or severely reduced immunity, exhaustion during diets.

Symptoms of scanty periods

Hypomenorrhea can manifest itself so inexpressively that a woman will not even think that she has had her period. The decrease in the amount of blood can be very strong and instead of menstruation, only a few bright red drops will come out. In some cases, instead of blood, only a dark brown “smudge” comes out, which also indicates pathology. Doctors have approved a limit of 50 ml - this is the total amount of blood released during menstruation. If the indicator is lower, this immediately suggests hypomenorrhea.

It is important to very carefully observe all manifestations of menstruation and compare them with your own cycle calendar. If it is time for menstruation and only scanty discharge appears, then we can talk about pathological hypomenorrhea.

For more accurate self-diagnosis, you should know that scanty periods also affect the general condition of the female body, the reasons for this again lie in the hormonal background. Often women experience severe aching pain in the abdomen, which is in the nature of cramps, and pain in the lower back. Less commonly observed are nausea, vomiting, spontaneous nosebleeds, irritability and lethargy. Due to a decrease in the amount of estrogen in the blood, the level of sexual desire most often decreases.

Why does hypomenorrhea occur?

To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to find out from the very beginning which category the disorder belongs to: primary or secondary. Primary hypomenorrhea is most often associated with pathologies of the development of the pelvic organs in girls and congenital anomalies.

Another important reason is the reduced amount of estrogen, which accumulates in the fatty tissues of the body. It happens that the menstrual cycle is disrupted due to strict diets or extreme weight loss. Scientists note a strong relationship between the mental development of a teenage girl and the development of her hormonal levels. If children are mentally retarded, then most likely they will have problems with their cycles.

Secondary hypomenorrhea involves more diverse causes: a pathologically narrowed cervix (it cannot let blood through), various postoperative complications, trauma after childbirth.

The usefulness and health of the endometrium plays a very important role: after removal of part of the uterus or severe curettage, it can become much less sensitive to hormones.

It has a very bad effect on the menstrual cycle and endocrine ill health. If a disorder of one of the glands develops and, accordingly, the level of hormones in the blood changes, the consequences can be serious. Therefore, during the course of such diseases, it is necessary to regulate hormonal levels with medications.

A woman must ensure that she gets enough sleep and eats enough vitamins. Such seemingly simple factors can greatly affect the general condition of the body, including menstruation.

The causes of hypomenorrhea can be determined after donating blood, urine, endometrial scraping, smears for examination and diagnosis using medical equipment (ultrasound, colposcope).

Why do periods become less heavy?

Ignoring the search for the cause of scanty discharge can lead to complications such as infertility, removal of reproductive organs, and amenorrhea. If your periods become less heavy, you need to undergo an examination. The treatment will be comprehensive: using diet, medicinal herbs, and physiotherapy.

Hypomenorrhea is caused by many reasons, including various pathologies. That is why scanty periods are accompanied by signs of other diseases from the field of gynecology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.

Symptoms indicating the development of hypomenorrhea:

little menstrual fluid, spotting;
the discharge is brown or light (should be red);
constipation;
migraine;
pain in the sacrum, lower back, abdomen;
dyspepsia (disturbance of the gastrointestinal tract, digestion);
decreased sexual desire (libido);
frequent occurrence of negative emotions (depression, irritation, etc.);
nausea;
a feeling of tightness in the heart area;
nosebleeds;
spasms of the smooth muscles of the uterus;
Possible pain during menstruation.

Scanty menstruation is normal for 12 months after menarche, when a girl’s cycle is restored, and during premenopause, when a woman’s body is preparing to complete reproductive function. It is not considered a pathology during the implantation period of the embryo (the first weeks of conception). In other cases, scanty discharge is considered a sign of illness.

The duration of menstruation with hypomenorrhea is usually 3 days, then it may appear for another couple of days. last longer than a week, the cause is dysfunction of the endocrine glands, vitamin deficiency, erosion, tumors inside the uterus and on the cervix, endometriosis. It is recommended to go for an examination to a gynecologist. In pregnant women after implantation bleeding, the appearance of scanty periods may be due to the threat of miscarriage and consultation, correction of hormonal levels is mandatory.

Root causes of scanty periods

The brown tint of the discharge indicates the presence of a bend in the uterus, internal microtrauma (post-abortion, postpartum endometritis), chronic forms of endometrial and ovarian diseases. The non-pathological reason for the appearance of dark-colored daub is considered to be the use of hormonal drugs for the purpose of contraception or treatment, but if scanty discharge occurs even 3 months after the start of use, a replacement drug is selected. The light color of scanty periods indicates inflammation in the reproductive organs.

Main reasons:

oophoritis (ovarian dysfunction);
exhaustion due to diets;
obesity;
anemia;
genital tuberculosis;
inflammation of the lining of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries (adnexitis);
endocrine pathologies, including diabetes mellitus;
psycho-emotional stress;
heredity;
hormonal therapy, incorrectly selected contraception.

The infection that causes oophoritis and scanty periods is introduced from the outside through unprotected sex, the use of unsterile materials and instruments, and poor personal intimate hygiene. The second route of infection is pathogens, carried by blood and lymph from other chronic inflammatory foci (tonsils, lymph nodes, bronchial trunk, etc.).

Adnexitis causes scanty periods due to dysfunction of the ovaries, gonads, and the inability of a mature egg to exit through the follicle membrane affected by inflammation. The absence of ovulation distorts hormonal levels, which negatively affects the menstrual cycle. If treatment is not done in a timely manner, irreversible complications arise: tissue on the appendages may become scarred, and the endometrium stops compacting for better implantation of the embryo.

Genetic heredity, when all (or most) women of the family without other pathological reasons have a short cycle, scanty periods, there is no need to treat. This is a physiological factor that should be confirmed by diagnosing and excluding diseases.

A stable position in society, family, and the absence of stress have a positive effect on a woman’s health. The reproductive function of the body works smoothly, proceeds without pain, scanty periods. If there is any shock, a hormonal imbalance immediately occurs, which negatively affects the volume of menstruation.

Genital tuberculosis develops if the family (or woman) has been infected with the pulmonary form of the pathology. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and in rare cases enters the genitals. Treatment of scanty periods is ineffective because the real cause of the disease is rarely identified (associated with pathology in the respiratory tract).

Postpartum period

The female menstrual cycle will slowly become normal, gradually returning to the hormonal levels as before pregnancy. This is the first reason for scanty periods after childbirth.

The second is lactation, during which fluid is lost. A preventive measure is to adhere to the drinking regime, remain calm, and eat well. Pathological causes of scanty periods: stress due to childbirth, the development of infections inside the uterus, dysfunction of the pituitary gland, metabolic disorders.

Scanty periods after abortion

Curettage becomes a common cause of complications. Symptoms of the pathology: poor health, temperature above 37 C. Abortion is a gross intervention in the functioning of the reproductive organs and endocrine system.

Partial removal of the fetal membrane is possible, and, therefore, the development of pathogenic organisms inside the uterus. Curettage entails hormonal imbalance, cycle failure, disruption of the central nervous system, and infertility. Treatment can be costly, lengthy, and have a poor prognosis.

Therapy for scanty menstruation

Consultation with doctors is required - gynecologist, endocrinologist. Mandatory tests and examination for diagnosis: smears from the vaginal mucosa (bacterial culture, cytology), PCR, sex hormone levels, general blood, urine, ultrasound (reproductive organs, thyroid gland). If necessary, a biopsy is performed and determined using other methods. A full inspection using .

Suitable for treatment:

phytotherapy;
bee products;
homeopathic medicines;
restoratives;
medications intended to treat a specific disease.

Having identified pathological causes, therapy is carried out according to the diagnosis. If the culprit of scanty periods is diet, mental, emotional state, improper daily routine, the doctor selects adequate nutrition, a sleep-wake schedule, physical activity and other preventive measures. The most difficult thing to eliminate is hereditary factors or the presence of congenital abnormalities in the location of the uterine body. Surgery may be required.

Herbal medicine for scanty periods

Herbal raw materials for treatment should be taken after medical consultation to prevent side effects of the drug. It must be consumed according to a strict dosage, in courses, with a mandatory break, for example - drink an infusion for 30 days and give the body a rest for a month.

Collection No. 1 (for scanty periods):

shepherd's purse (3 lobes);
4 shares each of the ground part of knotweed and mistletoe branches.

Mix the ingredients. For a hot infusion, you need 1 tbsp in the morning. Pour boiling water over a spoonful of raw materials for 20 minutes, strain, and store in the refrigerator. A single dose per day is one-third of a glass (250 ml is enough for 3 days).

Collection No. 2 (restores hormonal balance):

3 parts each: chamomile, parsley and peony root;
2 parts each: yarrow leaf, rowan (fruit), St. John's wort, ;
1 part each: thyme, wormwood leaf, licorice root and valerian.

All ingredients are mixed and stored in a dry place. For brewing, take 1 tbsp. spoon of mixture per 250 ml of boiling water. Leave for 15-20 minutes, strain, drink at night.

Parsley seeds, European dodder, blackthorn flowers, shepherd's purse, wheatgrass root, knotweed, oregano, verbena help with scanty periods. Elecampane root, stoneweed leaves, calendula, have a strong healing effect. All ingredients work well in formulations, which are recommended to be selected individually with the help of a doctor.

Conclusion

Treatment is not required: during lactation, after childbirth, the period of premenopause has approached, scanty periods were always present and unaccompanied by pathological signs due to the individual characteristics of the body. It is recommended to monitor your general health and not skip gynecological examinations.

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In medical practice, scanty, painful periods are called hypomenorrhea. Hypomenorrhea is a disruption of the menstrual cycle, which is manifested by scanty menstrual flow with blood loss below the established physiological norm (less than 50 ml). This pathological condition is characterized by a significant decrease in the duration of menstrual days (oligomenorrhea). In addition, this condition is often observed before amenorrhea (complete absence of menstruation). This pathology may be a consequence of various physiological conditions of the body (premenopausal syndrome or the establishment of menstrual function in girls during adolescence). Hypomenorrhea can also be a consequence of various diseases that are characterized by the development of pathological processes in the female reproductive system.

Causes

Basically, the development of scanty menstrual flow in women of childbearing age is a consequence of a significant disruption in the functioning of the ovaries or pituitary gland, which through direct connections control the cyclicity of menstrual function. Also, the cause of hypomenorrhea may be endometrial deficiency, which occurs as a result of various intrauterine manipulations (frequent abortions and curettage) or systemic inflammatory diseases (tuberculosis). Due to a violation of a certain periodicity in the production of hormonal substances, there is insufficient functioning of the circulatory system in the uterus, and defective changes occur in the inner layer of the uterus during menstrual flow. Thus, scanty menstruation may occur.

The main reasons that result in hypomenorrhea:

significant weight loss due to a special diet, exhaustion or anorexia;
anemic syndrome, insufficient intake of essential vitamins and minerals, metabolic disorders;
psycho-emotional overload, nervous system lability;
surgical interventions in the genitourinary tract, mechanical trauma to this area;
, developmental anomalies of the female genital organs;
incorrectly selected hormone-based contraceptives;
lactation period;
diseases of endocrine organs;
infectious pathology, including genital tuberculosis;
influence of negative occupational factors (ionizing radiation, chemicals);
general intoxication.

Clinical manifestations

With hypomenorrhea, blood may be released during menstruation in the form of drops or slight dark or light brown discharge. The duration of critical days during such menstrual irregularities can be maintained or significantly shortened in the presence of a normal menstrual cycle, which consists of two phases. Scanty menstruation, as well as delayed menstruation, may be accompanied by migraines, nausea, lower back pain, a feeling of tightness in the chest, constipation or other various dyspeptic disorders (disorders of the gastrointestinal tract). During menstrual days, women may not feel pain, as there are no spasmodic contractions of the uterus. They may also experience nosebleeds, which can accompany menstruation every month. Scanty menstrual flow is accompanied by a significant decrease in estrogen production, which negatively affects reproductive function and significantly reduces libido.

Sometimes, hypomenorrhea is invisible to a woman, since she does not notice pain. Scanty periods during puberty (establishment of the menstrual cycle) or in the premenopausal period (cessation of menstrual function) are evidence of functional changes natural to the body. However, this condition is not pathological. While during the period of reproductive activity of a woman, hypomenorrhea and other signs of hypomenstrual syndrome indicate serious disorders in the reproductive or other body systems. To find out the reasons that led to the development of scanty periods, you need to conduct a correct and thorough comprehensive study.

Early scanty periods

Scanty periods can occur in the following situations:

during the period of establishing the cyclicity of menstruation. In this situation, hypomenorrhea is a normal physiological state, as a result of which the development of complications is not observed. Moreover, this condition is accompanied by various clinical symptoms of varying severity, such as pain in the abdomen, chest and sacral region. In such situations, yellow or brown bleeding is observed, which is not typical for normal menstrual flow. After some time, this condition passes and menstruation is restored;
during pregnancy. During pregnancy, this pathological condition occurs due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland or ovaries. In this case, it is necessary to use hormonal treatment to correct this condition. During this period, pronounced clinical symptoms are observed (pain, dyspepsia and intoxication syndrome).

The first scanty periods are typical for the following periods of a woman’s life:

in adolescence, when menstrual function is established;
during the childbearing period;
in the premenopausal period.

The main role in the development of hypomenorrhea is played by the following factors:

hormonal disbalance;
changes that arose as a result of inflammatory processes;
various traumatic injuries;
stressful conditions;
anemic syndrome, etc.

Long, scanty periods

When women experience menstrual dysfunction in the form of prolonged, scanty menstrual flow, they speak of the formation of serious pathological processes in the genital organs (usually in the uterine cavity) or disturbances in the hormonal control of the menstrual cycle. This is most often observed in the following pathological processes in the body:

endometriosis;
insufficient amount of vitamins in the body;
disruption of the functioning of endocrine organs;
violation of metabolic processes.

In such situations, you should urgently seek help from an appropriate specialist, as these disorders can lead to amenorrhea and infertility.

Scanty menstrual flow after childbirth

Very often, hypomenorrhea occurs after childbirth. In this case, this condition is considered physiological, since the woman’s body has not adapted to the changes that have occurred in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. This happens because the level of all hormones remains oriented towards the child and the mother for a long time. Hormone levels recover on their own within a month. But in the case of longer-term disorders, we can talk about possible complications of childbirth against the background of infectious and inflammatory processes in the body. This also occurs due to hypofunction of the pituitary gland, stressful experiences during childbirth and lactation.

Scanty periods after gynecological procedures

After gynecological manipulations, such as abortion or therapeutic and diagnostic curettage, signs of hypomenorrhea may be observed. If this condition is accompanied by discharge that has an unpleasant odor and dark color, a deteriorated general condition of the woman, an increase in general body temperature, pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately contact a gynecologist.

Brown discharge during scanty periods

This clinical sign of hypomenorrhea is very common. It indicates dysfunction in the genital organs. The most common cause of this symptom is endometritis in the chronic stage. This is also observed with various intrauterine interventions, postpartum or post-abortion endometritis and other infectious diseases. This discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and aching pain in the lower abdomen. When taking medications containing hormonal substances, brown discharge is observed after menstruation.

Scanty periods during pregnancy

One of the options for the normal course of pregnancy is the presence of scanty bleeding in the first month. This is explained by the fact that after fertilization, the fertilized egg cannot reach the implantation site in such a short period of time, as a result of which an adequate hormonal response does not occur in the body. But from the second month of pregnancy, all hormones function correctly and menstruation should not occur. Bloody discharge during the first month of pregnancy is not menstruation. However, they are not as heavy as normal menstrual flow. There are only a few reasons for the appearance of this pathological condition:

detachment of the ovum;
spontaneous miscarriage that has begun;
insufficient production of the hormone progesterone or excessive production of male sex hormones;
the presence of a heart defect in the fetus;
ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnostic criteria

To determine the reasons that caused the development of scanty periods, as well as to assess the degree of potential danger to the body, a woman needs to undergo.

Mandatory clinical examination scheme for patients with hypomenorrhea:

careful collection of anamnestic data and complaints;
full gynecological examination in mirrors;
cytological analyzes of vaginal discharge;
bacteriological culture for discharge from the genital tract;
PCR diagnostics of infections that are transmitted through sexual contact;
determination of the level of sex hormones in the urine and vascular bed;
basal temperature indicators are assessed;
ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
targeted endometrial biopsy.

Treatment

Treatment of scanty, painful menstrual flow (hypomenorrhea) directly depends on the causes that led to this pathological condition, as well as on the diagnostic results. In cases where these problems arise due to eating disorders, mental lability, or physical overstrain, therapeutic measures are aimed at correcting them. According to the recommendations of doctors, vitamin complexes, specific antimicrobial drugs and products containing hormones are used.

Proper therapy for scanty periods involves the prescription of restorative medications, as well as treatment of the underlying disease. Currently, homeopathic medicines are widely used, the main mechanism of action of which is no different from the action of one’s own hormones.

If scanty periods are accompanied by depression, headaches, apathy, frigidity and other similar symptoms, it is recommended to add psychotherapeutic drugs to therapy. In addition, in this situation, it is recommended to use physical therapy, which will help eliminate functional disorders of the reproductive system. If hypomenorrhea is observed during premenopause or lactation, then this condition does not require additional treatment.

Recently, more and more girls, when visiting a gynecologist, complain of hypomenorrhea (scanty discharge during menstruation). This deviation can have many causes, and is not always a pathology. Let's try to understand the peculiarities of the female body and find out what the dangers are.

Scanty periods - reasons

Each woman's menstrual cycle is individual. The average duration of menstruation is 5-7 days. During the first year of a young girl, time intervals may vary, because... The cycle has not yet been adjusted. Puberty is a very long process, so short periods can be considered a relative norm. In the future, any failure is a reason to contact a gynecologist. The reasons for scanty periods are very diverse. The main ones include:

recent abortion;
taking Postinor or a similar drug;
early birth;
underdevelopment of the uterus;
heredity;
taking contraceptives;
stress and exhaustion of the body;
thyroid diseases;
disruption of ovarian function;
tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

There may be some spotting after brushing or scraping, but this is within normal limits. You should sound the alarm if, after such a procedure, there is prolonged spotting, dark blood and a painful stomach. Such a violation may indicate that you have a cyst that needs treatment. To detect any abnormalities, the doctor may prescribe a hysteroscopy. This is a simple procedure during which a medical device, a hysteroscope, is inserted into the uterine cavity. With its help, the gynecologist can see the affected areas on the screen and decide on the need for treatment. Find out more about how the operation is performed.

Scanty periods - reasons after 40 years

Women aged 40-50 years old go to the doctor much less often with the problem of light discharge. Do not be afraid if you have scanty periods; after 40 years, there can also be many reasons. Spotting periods at this age often mean a decrease in a woman’s fertility. Hypomenorrhea often accompanies premenopause. As a rule, during this period the endometrium in the uterus becomes less dense and voluminous, and other symptoms are added to the small amount of blood:

decreased libido;
increased heart rate;
sudden hot flashes;
increased sweating;
frequent mood changes;
nagging pain;
insomnia, etc.

If hypomenorrhea persists for no apparent reason, be sure to visit your gynecologist and consult. Spotting instead of menstruation may mean endometriosis or another serious disease of the genitourinary system. In any case, it is important to monitor the condition during menstruation in order to notice deviations in time and consult a doctor.

Scanty periods after a delay

When the menstrual cycle is fully formed, a delay may mean pregnancy or the presence of a disease. It happens that girls complain that after a delay they have scanty periods. The first thing you need to do is take a pregnancy test at the hospital. If the results are negative, then you should visit a doctor and tell him about your problem. Often this is not just the body's reaction to stress or illness. Rarely, scanty menstruation after a failure is an indicator of serious abnormalities.

Scanty periods during early pregnancy

Menstruation is the shedding of the outer layer of the uterus. Nature has endowed a woman with this function so that the body can prepare for the maturation of the egg, therefore heavy bleeding at any time is considered a pathology. However, scanty periods and pregnancy are compatible; however, calling them that is a mistake. Light discharge may appear in the first days after conception. The fertilized egg, entering the uterus, attaches to its walls, screwing itself in. In this case, small thin vessels may be damaged, and the woman may notice faint brown marks on the pad, but after a week they disappear.

Scanty periods after Duphaston

Duphaston is a drug that affects the level of the hormone progesterone in the body. It is prescribed by the attending physician if it is necessary to regulate the cycle, while planning a pregnancy, or for pain in the lower abdomen in combination with constant interruptions in the functioning of the reproductive system. Scanty periods after Duphaston can be observed if dosage recommendations have been violated. Long-term use of the drug can also cause short periods and weak brown discharge. To improve it and get rid of the signs of scanty menstruation, you should consult a doctor.

Is it possible to get pregnant with scanty periods?

The normal menstrual cycle includes several stages: follicular, ovulatory and luteal. During the first, the body grows the egg, in the second phase (the shortest) it moves into the abdominal cavity, and in the third stage, the uterus prepares to receive a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, critical days begin. As you can see, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant with scanty periods is obvious: it is possible if you do not suffer from infertility. To avoid complications, you should visit your doctor more often; he will be able to notice deviations in time.

Video: scanty brown periods

The characteristics of the female body cannot be underestimated. Nature has worked hard to create an ideal mechanism for the reproductive system. Gynecologist Ekaterina Makarova will answer many questions about the nature of light discharge, clots and dark blood in the video. She will talk about why it is important that progesterone levels are normal and how to determine whether there is enough of this hormone in the body.

The most common mistake women of childbearing age make is an indifferent attitude towards menstruation. Ladies usually do not pay attention to the nature of their periods if they come on time and the cycle is more or less regular. Not all women know that it is worth closely monitoring not only the duration of menstrual bleeding and its frequency, it is also necessary to pay attention to the nature of the discharge.

But how can you figure out whether your periods are normal or maybe they have become scanty? To do this, first of all, you need to know a little about the norms.

As a rule, a woman begins to monitor her menstrual cycle from the moment she becomes sexually active. But, no matter how sad it is, many fairly adult ladies do not even know the duration of their cycle, much less, do not monitor the nature of their menstrual flow, which is a very big mistake. There is a certain norm that determines how menstruation should proceed. In case of any deviation from the norm, the doctor diagnoses a disorder of menstrual function.

So, normal periods are:

painless or slightly painful;
last for 3-5 days;
the interval between menstruation is from 21 to 35 days;
the volume of discharge does not exceed 150 ml.

It is necessary to carefully monitor each period, recording the start date, duration of the cycle, how many days there was bleeding, and what the nature of the discharge was. Quite often, women begin to control their menstruation so carefully only when they cannot conceive a child, although ideally, every woman is simply obliged to monitor her health in order to prevent the development of any gynecological disease.

It is worth thinking about scanty periods (hypomenoria), if the menstrual flow is small and has a color from light brown to dark brown - this indicates a violation of menstrual function.

If the reason for scanty periods in age-related changes (the formation or extinction of a cycle), then this should not cause concern, since during these periods the regularity of ovulation is disrupted, which in turn can lead to scanty brown periods.

The process of establishing a regular menstrual cycle in girls usually takes about a year, during which time periods can be scanty, infrequent, not constant, and shortened.

During menopause, scanty periods are also not a deviation. As a rule, this period in the life of women begins around 45 years old, but there are cases of earlier onset of menopause.

Even if scanty periods in your case occur for one of the two reasons described above, it is simply necessary to inform the gynecologist about this in any case.

Symptoms of hypomenoria

Gynecologists divide this disease into primary and secondary hypomenoria. In the first case, the woman never had normal periods, and in the second, the periods became scanty over time.

As a rule, the disease cannot be asymptomatic and go unnoticed by a woman, however, any rule has exceptions.

In the case of scanty menstruation, the discharge takes on the character of drops or traces of brown blood. The duration of menstruation may remain the same or be shortened.

Scanty periods and their delay can provoke the appearance of nausea , headache, pain in the lower back, cause digestive system disorders, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.

Menstruation itself can be painless. Sometimes women with hypomenoria experience nosebleeds during menstruation.

As a rule, in women with scanty periods, estrogen secretion is reduced, as a result of which reproductive function suffers and significantly libido decreases .

As mentioned earlier, scanty periods during the formation and attenuation of the cycle are not pathological, but if signs of hypomenoria are observed in a woman of childbearing age, you should be very careful about your body, because such deviations indicate serious disorders of the reproductive or other body systems.

What are the causes of scanty periods?

Without conducting a thorough examination of the patient, no doctor will be able to give an exact answer why menstruation suddenly became scanty. First of all, it is necessary to establish whether hypomenoria is primary or secondary in this particular case. If menstruation is scanty from the very beginning of the formation of the cycle, then it may be worth suspecting congenital pathologies in the development of the girl’s genital organs. Currently, primary hypomenoria is increasingly found in girls with very low weight.

Secondary hypomenoria can be caused by many factors; let’s take a closer look at some of them.

1. The most common and common cause of scanty periods in women of childbearing age is dysfunction of the ovaries and pituitary gland , which are responsible for the normal course of menstruation and the regularity of the menstrual cycle.

inflammatory processes of the genital organs (inflammation of the appendages, ovaries);
stress, overwork, emotional imbalance, lack of sleep, irrational work and rest;
abortion or miscarriage, especially during the first pregnancy;
abnormalities in the development of the genital organs;
diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease.

External factors can also affect the functioning of the ovaries, for example, climate change or taking incorrectly selected contraceptives.

2. Often the reason for scanty periods lies in diseases of the uterus . In addition to inflammatory processes, scars on the uterus from gynecological operations, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, cervical cancer, endometrial deficiency, etc. can affect the nature of menstrual flow.

3. Scanty menstrual flow may be are also due to genetics . If close relatives on the female side have always had scanty periods, then most likely this is not a deviation, but a genetic feature. As a rule, in such situations, scanty menstruation cannot cause infertility and affect pregnancy.

4. Hormonal abnormalities – another reason for the development of hypomenoria. Lack of female sex hormones, taking oral contraceptives, endocrine diseases and even breastfeeding - all this can cause scanty periods.

5. We should not forget about the influence of the psychological factor on the functioning of a woman’s body as a whole. Negative emotional experiences , stressful situations, too strong positive emotions affect the functioning of the brain centers that stimulate the ovaries. When ovarian function is suppressed, progesterone production decreases, which leads to scanty periods.

In addition to the above reasons, hypomenoria can develop as a result of anemia, sudden weight loss, anorexia, climate and lifestyle changes, due to a lack of vitamins and minerals, or due to work in hazardous industries.

That is why, in order to find out what led to the impoverishment of menstruation, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination.

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can identify the exact cause of hypomenoria and assess how dangerous this disease is for a woman. As a rule, to find out the reasons, a woman needs to tell as much as possible about when her scanty periods began, and what could have caused this, whether there were other diseases, etc.

Then the doctor conducts a full gynecological examination, takes cytology tests, and culture for bacteria. It is also necessary to take hormone tests, undergo an ultrasound examination of the ovaries and uterus, and PCR diagnostics for the presence of sexually transmitted infections. After receiving the test results, the doctor will be able to accurately determine the cause of scanty menstruation and prescribe adequate treatment necessary in a particular case.

Treatment of scanty periods

Of course, treatment will depend entirely on the results of the examination. Thus, cycle disruption due to poor nutrition and an overly active lifestyle is treated by normalizing nutrition and establishing the correct regime.

It is possible that the doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, a vitamin complex, hormonal drugs - it all depends on the reasons that influenced the impoverishment of menstruation. Often women require physiotherapeutic or psychotherapeutic treatment.

Aromatherapy, color therapy and acupressure are of great importance in the treatment of hypomenoria. Let's take a closer look at each of these methods for treating scanty periods.

So, aromatherapy helps in the treatment of many diseases and hypomenoria is no exception. Inhaling the aromas of juniper and marjoram promotes the release of hormones. A good effect is achieved using foot baths with the addition of aromatic oils. It is recommended to immerse your feet in water whose temperature is 35 degrees, and then gradually increase the water temperature to 44-45 degrees. The procedures should be performed slowly, at least 20 minutes a day. It is recommended to start warming your feet a week before the onset of your period.

Color therapy – another way to combat hypomenoria. The color yellow has been found to help improve blood circulation. Thus, by eating foods from this flower and giving preference to yellow shades when choosing clothes, you can significantly improve your condition.

Acupressure – treatment of diseases by influencing certain points located on the human body. In order to regulate the menstrual cycle, it is necessary to massage the point located in the middle of the tip of the big toe. Massaging is done in a circular motion for 5 minutes several times a day.

A decoction of carrots helps a lot in the fight against the disease; use a decoction of 2 tbsp. spoons 4-5 times a day;
2-3 tbsp. spoons of freshly squeezed aloe juice are recommended to be taken orally 2-3 times a day;
Another proven remedy is pineapple juice, drink 3-4 tbsp. 2 times a day;
Jaggery with sesame seeds is very effective for this disease. This mixture is taken 1-2 tbsp. 2-3 times a day.

Verbena officinalis, St. John's wort, oregano, shepherd's purse, wormwood, fragrant rue - infusions of all these herbs are used in the treatment of scanty periods. In addition, women suffering from hypomennoria are recommended to eat fresh onions and garlic.

During the formation or decline of the menstrual cycle or during breastfeeding, treatment is usually not required.

Of course, it happens that traditional medicine works wonders and helps to cope with quite serious diseases. However, before starting self-treatment, it is recommended to undergo an examination and consult with a gynecologist about the use of certain herbs.

Preventive measures to help prevent disease

To prevent the problem of scanty menstruation from returning to your life after treatment, prevention is necessary.

Walk more outdoors, play sports, but do not overwork, avoid stress, excessive physical and psychological stress. Watch your weight, give up exhausting diets and fasting.

And, of course, you should pay special attention to menstruation so as not to miss any deviations. At the first alarming symptoms or feeling unwell during menstruation, you need to seek help from a gynecologist. Only timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help you improve your menstruation and avoid possible complications.