For today's Body Lit Library entry, I'm tackling a question I received on Instagram:

"Is it possible for my period to be too light?"

I've written a couple of posts before about heavy bleeding (see: this one about diagnostic criteria for menorrhagia and this one about tranexamic acid).

I tend to talk a lot more (and worry a lot more!) about heavy bleeding because that's my personal experience with periods. And to be perfectly honest, there aren't a lot of women clamoring to get an appointment with the doctor because they are not bleeding enough.

(I can only imagine the strange look on that doctor's face...)

But it IS possible for periods to be "too light" because scant bleeding patterns can be possible indicators of other issues. So, what would we look for in this case?

Depending on what source you look at, a “normal” period can typically range anywhere from 3-7 days and have a total volume of 5-80 mL.
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​That’s a big range! But being in that range doesn’t always mean that your cycles are functioning “optimally.” (remember: common ≠ normal)​
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We don’t really have as many diagnostic criteria for “light bleeding” as we do for heavy bleeding, but if you’re sitting towards the bottom end of that "normal" range, it’s a good idea to think about whether your cycles are showing any other possible signs of issues:

Ask yourself:

• Do I have scant cervical fluid signs?
• Do I experience issues with temperature regulation (feeling cold/hot all the time, or fluctuating a lot)?
• Migraines?
• Vaginal dryness?
• PMS/PMDD or other anxiety and mood issues related to hormone changes?

If so, maybe this is an indication that estrogen levels are low and could use some support!

And that can also sometimes mean that cycles would show corresponding low levels of progesterone, like: brown bleeding, short luteal phases, and slow or weak temperature shifts.

In these cases, I've often seen that bleeding patterns and hormone levels can improve with targeted dietary changes and/or women's supplement that is designed to support overall cycle health. A couple of book recommendations to learn more would be Fertility, Cycles, & Nutrition by Marilyn M. Shannon or Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm (note: the latter resource is not written by a Catholic! Dr. Romm is great but doesn't share our moral considerations about birth control).
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Beyond basic cycle support, lighter bleeding patterns can also be a marker for hyperthyroidism (to over-simplify the condition, you can think of it as an "over-active" thyroid). So it's also a good idea to look for signs of poor hair, skin or nail health, issues regulating weight, or visible issues with the thyroid gland.
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 And FINALLY: light bleeding may not actually be a period!!​
Other types of anovulatory bleeds can last a few days at a time and mimic periods in many ways. So one thing you can do is to make sure that you’re able to identify ovulation on your chart to know whether this bleed is actually a period... or not!

Experiencing bleeding that is not a true period can also be part of a diagnostic workup with your clinician. So coming equipped with that information, along with any other symptoms you may be experiencing, can be a huge help-- and is not often something that many patients are able to provide.

So: can a period be too light? Yes. But if you are just one of those women who tends to have a lighter period, is ovulating regularly, and experiences no other cycle or hormonal issues: then that's healthy and normal for YOU!

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