Dr. Cranquis' Mumbled Gripes

UNUSUAL SPOTTING

Hi, I’m a 19 year old female student. I’ve recently began a rigorous strength training and cardio workout (started 3 months ago) and about a week after my period, I would get some spotting that lasts 3-4 days. I’ve read online that this is common for women who begin new workout routines such as running, however I played soccer in high school, so I’m used to the rigorous workout. I was wondering if this is something common you see, and if not then what problem is this a sign or symptom of that I would need to see a OB/GYN for? 

This could all just be “lifestyle-induced metrorrhagia” (Don’t you just LURVE doctor language? That just means “spotting/bleeding between regular periods, due to lifestyle factors such as exercise, stress, diet, etc.”). After all, even though you “played soccer in high school”, you may be working out more vigorously now, and/or your body’s hormonal shifts (and resultant effects on the uterine lining) may be more pronounced now, leading to the spotting. This is a common occurrence among high-school/college-aged women undertaking vigorous workout regimens.

As long as you’re not having pelvic pain, and your periods themselves are staying regular, and you’re only spotting and not “bleeding like a stuck pig” between periods — you could probably just observe this for a few more months without putting yourself at risk of anything serious. But if those symptoms showed up, or the spotting pattern doesn’t quit, then you should probably discuss it with an OB-GYN. (Oh, and see the OB-GYN sooner if you have a family history of bleeding problems, cancer, or uterine fibroids!)

And here’s my stupid-yet-important question of the day regarding your symptom: Are you sure the blood is coming from the vagina? Don’t forget there’s 2 other orifices that can mimic spotting in the underwear, and bleeding from the urethra or the rectum should be evaluated ASAP. (I doubt this is the situation for you — just being thorough!)

Laterz!

***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 3; InBox: Closed***

Wowza — I’m gonna end up looking pret-ty dumb on this one, Jean Grey the Menstrual Empath, but I’ll give it my best shot (just because you said all those nice things about me, of course.)

So yes, a woman’s mental state can definitely affect the menstrual cycle. But I have to admit, I’ve usually heard of it showing up in the OPPOSITE manner: “My periods used to be regular, but then I got stressed about (school/work/relationships/9-11/Rihanna’s dysfunctional relationship with Chris Brown) and my period skipped for 2 months!” So, I suppose if your hormones are particularly sensitive to your emotional state, you may be stabilizing your own menstrual cycle purely from the happiness and bliss that you experience in a relationship!? (But that sure makes you sound emotionally-screwy, by implying that you are so dependent on others for your emotional stability that being out of a relationship makes your menstrual cycle blow a flat! *shudder*)

Or, on a more devious/conspiracy-theory track: Maybe your relationship partner(s) have been slipping The Pill into your breakfast…? Has your morning coffee tasted rather estrogen-y? :)

And really, that’s all I’ve got. You should discuss it further with your personal physician, in case there are other factors/symptoms that you and I might be overlooking. Good luck!

***Pending Cranquis-Mails: None; Inbox: My TumblrMSG inbox will reopen TODAY (Sept 16) at 9AM Pacific Standard Time, since work is kinda slow right now.***

Tough to say, Cramp Counselor — but the recent change of pain, including mood swings and headaches, sure doesn’t sound right to me either!

It could be that you’ve just become over-sensitive to the hormones in the birth control — but what about endometriosis? If your body is growing additional areas of hormone-sensitive tissue, this could make your menstrual pain worse. A doctor could evaluate you for this with blood tests, a pelvic exam, and an ultrasound or CT scan of your pelvis/abdomen.

Or what about ovarian cysts? A pelvic exam and ultrasound would show this.

These diagnoses might not fit all of your symptoms, but I think you should ask your doctor about them and discuss what else to try for your problem. At the very least, you may need to try changing or discontinuing your hormonal birth control for a while. Perhaps using a hormonal birth control to completely skip 3-6 periods could help? Good luck!

***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 7; Ask Box: Still closed — that lazy Cranquis is still on vacation until the last week of July.***

Well thanks for patiently waiting for the Ask Box to open, Need for Bleed. :)

Ok, I’ve written about stress/environmental-induced secondary amenorrhea before, but no one has written in asking how to get her period BACK before. If you are not having any negative symptoms during the past couple months (nausea and vomiting, sudden weight gain or loss, severe fatigue, abdominal or back pain, probably others that I’m too lazy to look up right now), then as I’ve mentioned, most doctors won’t even start looking into the REASON for your missing period (much less a SOLUTION) until 6 months have gone by. Why? Because statistically, the chances that something “serious” or “dangerous” is blocking your previously-normal periods doesn’t go up until after 6 months.

So I appreciate that you think it’s “abnormal” to be bleed-free for a 2-3 months, but would you say it’s “abnormal” for a pregnant woman to not bleed for 9 months? If you’re not pregnant, 3 months of amenorrhea does not mean that you are “less of a woman”. And while most of your stress (school exams) is over, there IS something stressing you out: your lack of a period. So stop stressing about it! Instead, make a mark on your calendar reminder in your smartphone calendar for 3 months from now: “HAVE I HAD A PERIOD YET? IF NOT, TIME TO SEE MY DOCTOR.” Meanwhile, go on about your drip-less life, as happy and carefree as those women in the tampon commercials — chances are good that your period will return on its own soon, and those chances will be even BETTER if you don’t worry about it for now.

Meanwhile, you’re doing all the right things to encourage your period to come back: eating well, exercising, minimizing your life stressors, and avoiding nicotine and alcohol and llamas (Haha — I apologize if you have no idea why I just mentioned llamas. Inside joke. Sorry.) That’s about all you CAN do for now. (And if you really want to “force” your body to have a period, there’s really no reliable option beside starting hormones — which your doctor certainly wouldn’t do yet, until after a workup… which he/she wouldn’t do until when? Exactly.) :)

***Pending Cranquis-Mails: 6; Ask Box: Closed***