Scanty Period / Menstruation

OBSTETRICS

Female Anatomy

Normal Pregnancy

Complicated Pregnancy

Care during Pregnancy

Normal Labour

Complicated Labour

Normal Post-Partum

Complicated Post-Partum

GYNAECOLOGY

Menstruation

Amenorrhoea / Lack of Menses

Menopause

Infertility

Endometriosis

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Contraception

Vaginitis

CONTACT US

SCANTY PERIOD / MENSTRUATION

Written by : Dr.M.D.Mazumdar, MD

A scanty menstrual period is one in which the duration of flow is less than two days or the amount of blood flow is less than normal.

Most women though, use the term to also mean decreased blood flow, even if the duration of the period was average. So here, the term 'scanty period' has been used to describe both a period with a decreased blood flow, as well as a period with a duration of less than two days.

The medical term for less blood flow during a period is 'hypomenorrhoea'. And when periods occur at more than a gap of 35 days, it is called 'oligomenorrhea'. A gap of less than 35 days between two menstrual periods is considered normal.

Causes of Scanty Blood Flow During the Period

Constitutional Causes: In some women it may be normal to have less bleeding during the menstrual periods. Less blood flow may be genetic and, if enquiries are made, it may be found that the woman's mother and/or sisters also have decreased blood flow during their periods. Pregnancy can normally occur with with this type of decreased flow during the periods. The incidence of infertility is the same as in women with a normal blood flow.
Hormonal Causes: Scanty menses or periods can occur normally at the extremes of reproductive life - that is, just after puberty and just before menopause. This is because ovulation is irregular at this time, and the endometrial lining fails to develop normally.
But hormonal problems at other times can also cause scanty blood flow. Anovulation due to a low thyroid hormone level, high prolactin level, high insulin level, high androgen level and problems with other hormones can also cause scanty periods.
Scanty menses can also occur after long term use of oral contraceptives as a result of progressive endometrial atrophy.

In a condition called Sheehan's Syndrome, there is pituitary insufficiency leadigng to scanty or complete loss of periods (amenorrhea).

Uterine Cause: Blood flow during a period depends on the normal growth of the endometrium (internal uterine lining). If there is a scar in the uterus, the surface area of the endometrium may be smaller than normal. Scarring can occur after operations on the uterus like a myomectomy (removal of fibroids), after radiation treatment or in conditions like Asherman's syndrome. This may cause less blood flow during the periods

Emotional Causes: Sometimes psychological factors can come into play. Emotions and stress can act on the centers in the brain that stimulate the ovaries during the ovarian cycle to secrete hormones like estrogen and progesterone which are mainly responsible for the growth of the endometrium.

If these centers in the brain are suppressed due to stress, they fail to stimulate the ovaries leading to less or no production of estrogens and hence scanty menses or periods.

Other Causes: Other causes that can cause scanty or decreased blood flow during the periods are excessive exercise, crash dieting, change in the environment (such as by changing a job), stress due to exams, excessive excitement due to an upcoming event can all cause scanty or less blood flow duering the periods.

Tests for the Diagnosis of Scanty Periods

Blood Tests: Most of the common causes of decreased flow of blood during the menses can be detected by blood tests. Tests for the level of hormones like FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, prolactin, insulin and androgen are important. In polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), there will be high levels of insulin and androgens.
Ultrasonogram: An ultrasonogram can diagnose the thickness of the endometrium, size of the ovaries, growth of follicles, ovulation and other abnormalities.
Other Tests: Tests like D&C and MRI scans are sometimes needed to find out the cause of scanty blood flow during the periods.

Treatment of Scanty Periods

Treatment is as per the cause of the scanty blood flow. A full and thorough history of previous menstrual cycles should be taken to diagnose constitutional causes. Hormonal problems can usually be treated by prescribing hormones. If all reports are normal, assurance and a description of the process is all that is necessary.

This site is a Question and Answer Site on Obstetrics and Gynecology . Here you can ask any medical health question you like from the privacy of your home. And our online gynecologist Dr.M.D.Mazumdar, MD (O&G), will reply within 24 hours.
The advantage of online consultation is that you can ask your question from the privacy of your home at any time you want - morning, day or midnight. You can plan out what you want to ask or even prepare a questionnaire about your concerns. Our expert would be glad to answer every detail.
We charge a nominal fee of USD 20 ($20) per question to help keep this site up and running. All payments are made through the third-party Paypal credit card processing system to ensure absolute credit card security and reliability.
The procedure of asking a question is quite simple. Clicking on the link below takes you to the Paypal website where the payment is made. After the payment goes through, you will be directed back to this website where you can ask your question.

And rest assured, you will get your answer within 24 hours. And usually, even sooner.

Custom Search

SCANTY PERIOD / MENSTRUATION

OTHER TOPICS IN " MENSTRUATION":