What your period blood says about your health

Your period is kind of like a mood ring for the rest of your body. If you pay attention to the way you’re bleeding, you can pick up some major clues and insights about your health.

Here are few things your period blood reveals about your health.

IF THE BLOOD IS BRIGHT RED

That color usually means your flow is just beginning and will probably get heavier in the days to come.

IF THE BLOOD IS REDDISH-BROWN

That just means you’re at the tail end of your period. At that point, it’s usually safe to downgrade to a lighter tampon or pad.

IF YOUR FLOWS BECOMES LIGHT

One big explanation is hormonal birth control. If you’ve just had an IUD, or if you’ve just started on birth control pills, you might see your flow slow to a trickle.

See Also: 5 Period facts every lady should know

IF YOUR FLOW GETS HEAVY

Rapidly soaking through tampons or pads when that isn’t the norm could be the result of your birth control or it could signal that something is up.

Periods that suddenly become very heavy or start dragging on for more than a week could be caused by a polyp or fibroid, two types of benign growths that commonly crop in the uterine lining. Most polyps don’t require treatment — they go away on their own. Fibroids might require medication to shrink down. Either way, it’s smart to report any heavy bleeding to your doctor.

IF YOU SEE A CLOT

Those small clots are common on the heaviest days of bleeding, when your flow is too fast for the body’s built-in blood thinners to work their magic. (You might also notice a clot if you stand up after a long time sitting or lying down.)

But if your clots are larger and you also get terrible cramps, have your doctor check you out for polyps and fibroids.

 

Davina Dairies