Scanty menstruation is brown. Scanty discharge instead of menstruation. Hypomenstrual syndrome after abortions, curettages, miscarriages

Menstruation is an indicator reproductive health women, various deviations from the norm in its course always cause concern. It is quite natural that representatives of the fair sex begin to worry when they have spotting brown discharge instead of menstruation.

In this article we will answer the question why menstrual flow with a brown tint, is this a sign of pathology, and does this condition require medical intervention?

Periods are normal

Lasts from 3 to 7 days, while it is dark red or very close to burgundy. This color is caused by coagulated blood from vessels that were damaged during the separation of the inner mucous layer of the uterus. In addition to blood, the discharge includes mucus produced by the glands of the cervix and dead epithelial cells.

Normal menstrual flow, even when it is dark in color, has the following characteristics:

• uniform structure (small clots are allowed);
• red or brown tint;
• the amount of discharge is minimal;
• no itching or burning in the vagina;
• there is no strange or unpleasant odor;
• may begin a couple of days before regulation;
• does not appear in every cycle.

Among the most probable factors the appearance or so-called hypomenorrhea is a hormonal imbalance, which can be provoked both by the woman herself and by external conditions.

Brown secret

Period Brown normally should not have an unpleasant odor and. If such discharge is observed monthly, this is a serious reason to think about your health and consult a doctor.

If there is spotting of a brownish tint or discharge in the form of clots, this means that there are some problems in the woman’s reproductive system.

Smears

On the first day when menstruation begins, a woman should have about 50 ml of menstrual flow. Due to any violations, spotting appears, and the required amount of discharge does not come out. Additionally, you should pay attention to the symptoms accompanying the regulations:

• pain in the head and genital area;
• heaviness in the chest;
• painful sensations in back;
• nausea.

If, in addition to spotting leaks that have a brown tint, the listed symptoms appear, this may be a sign of serious abnormalities:

• normal or ectopic pregnancy;
• dysfunction of the ovaries and pituitary gland;
• endometrial dysfunction caused by surgery, inflammation or tuberculosis of the genital organs;
• incorrect contraception;
• genital injuries;
• stressful state;
• sudden weight fluctuations;
• physical stress;
• hormonal disorders caused by endocrine pathologies.

Scanty discharge

Hypomenorrhea can be primary or secondary. In the first case, brown periods begin to occur from the very first day. They are caused by underdevelopment of the genital organs and congenital anomalies genital area. Secondary brown ones do not bother a woman until a certain point, but can only begin when disturbances occur in the functioning of the female body.

In this case, the following causes of hypomenorrhea are distinguished:

• heredity;
• infections in the genitals;
• hormonal imbalance due to vitamin deficiency, moving, climate change and other reasons.

On the first day of the cycle

Some women have no idea why their period starts with brown discharge on the first day. Experts say that this is a completely normal phenomenon, but only if the color and consistency of the discharge returns to normal in the following days. If there is brown discharge at the beginning of menstruation, all 3-7 days end with brown discharge, this is a signal that the female body needs the help of a doctor who can determine the cause of such deviations.

Smell

Normally, menstruation has a metallic, sour smell and a reddish tint. Towards the end of menstruation, less and less fluid is released, and its color gradually becomes darker, so it is natural for a wave when, after the end of the period, a daub appears, but it should not last more than 1-2 days. If this daub develops a strong putrid odor, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Natural causes

In some periods of a woman’s life, it is normal to discharge brown secretions instead of menstruation; let’s look at each of these cases in more detail.

Unsteady cycle

After starting at the age of 12-13 years, it stabilizes for another 1.5-2 years hormonal cycle. This process is accompanied by fluctuations in the consistency and color of monthly discharge. Since the ovaries have not yet fully matured at this age, the level of sex hormones will vary, which means that it is quite natural that for several years after menarche, brown spotting will appear instead of regulation. After 2 years, the cycle should normalize; if this does not happen, consultation with a specialist is required.

Pregnancy

At the very beginning of pregnancy, brown spotting may appear during the process of implantation of the fertilized egg into the inner layer of the uterus. The attachment of the zygote is accompanied by injury to the small vessels of the endometrium, which are the source of slight bleeding against the background of secretions released from the vagina. A special test can confirm the presence of pregnancy. If the test is positive, but the brown spot does not stop coming, it means that the woman’s body has insufficient levels of progesterone, which is necessary for full gestation. In this situation, spotting may signal the threat of spontaneous abortion. To avoid this, you need to donate blood for hormones and undergo treatment.

After childbirth, breastfeeding

After the birth of the baby and after termination breastfeeding The woman’s body gets used to the new hormonal levels gradually, and the menstrual cycle also normalizes only after a few months. It is quite natural that during adaptation period Instead of menstruation, a spotting brown secretion may appear. If such discharge occurs in each cycle and is accompanied by pain and unpleasant smell, you should definitely contact a gynecologist.

Climax

When a woman enters into pregnancy, she may develop symptoms for 2-3 years. The level of sex hormones decreases, ovulation no longer occurs in every cycle, so the intensity of menstrual flow fluctuates from cycle to cycle. The closer you get to menopause, the more scanty your periods become. Over time, they begin to look like brown daub, and then disappear completely.

Pathological causes

If menstrual flow becomes scanty and spotting, most often women of reproductive age think that they are pregnant. But if your periods do not go as usual, but are spotty, and the test is negative, this means that there are other reasons for the abnormal discharge. Most often it's to blame gynecological pathologies, infections and hormonal disorders, especially if brown daub is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, fever and other unpleasant symptoms.

Hormonal disorders

Hormonal imbalances in a woman’s body directly affect the nature of her periods. If there is not enough progesterone, then the endometrium cannot fully form, which is why its normal rejection does not occur, so instead of regula there is a brown daub. With a lack of estrogen, the endometrial rejection mechanism is not fully activated, which also leads to the release of a dark spotting secretion. Hormonal imbalance may be a result of stress poor nutrition, improper daily routine and endocrine diseases.

Ectopic pregnancy

If a woman has taken a pregnancy test and it shows a positive result, but while she had her period before pregnancy, she now has brown spotting, she should immediately consult a doctor. The cause of brown spotting may be an ectopic pregnancy, namely due to the fact that the embryo is not attached to the uterus, but in the tubes. This is a dangerous condition for a woman’s health; it can only be eliminated with the help of surgical intervention and this should be done as early as possible to prevent rupture of the fallopian tube.

Infections

If a spotting brown secretion is secreted instead of regula due to disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries, then this can be caused by infections and inflammatory processes in the reproductive system. Among hidden infections Such symptoms are caused by Trichomonas, gonococci, gardnerella, genital herpes virus, etc. Inflammation can begin due to the pathological proliferation of microflora, fungi, streptococci, and staphylococci.

Surgical operations

If instead menstruation is coming brown spotting, this may be a consequence of abortion, caesarean section, partial removal of genital organs and others surgical interventions, which cause hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body. If the operations were completed without complications, then only the first regulations may be altered; the next cycle should proceed normally.

Oncology

At the initial stages, tumors in the reproductive system develop asymptomatically. It is quite difficult to determine their presence by the patient’s well-being; only with the growth of education does a woman begin to experience delays in menstruation, which are replaced by brown blood that may contain impurities of pus. On late stages Cancer can cause stomach pain, pull in the lower back and hip.

Sudden changes in weight

If you combine fasting with intense physical activity, then instead of normal menstruation, a brown spotting secretion will appear. This disorder causes vitamin deficiency and iron deficiency in the body. A sudden weight gain has a similar effect, which can also be the cause of brown spotting.

Effect of drugs

The brown color of menstruation can be caused not only by hormonal-based drugs, but also by some other groups of medications. Dark spotting instead of regula may appear after the following types of drugs:

• antibiotics. After long-term use antibacterial agents The microflora of the vagina changes, which negatively affects the functioning of the uterus and its appendages, and slight brown discharge appears in the form of a spot. They can be caused by a slowdown in the maturation of the egg;
• antiulcer medications. These drugs almost always cause menstrual irregularities; they change the length of the cycle and cause the appearance of dark spots even between periods;
• . These medications are prescribed to stop uterine bleeding and heavy menstruation. If you violate the dosage or do not adhere to the instructions, you can provoke spotting instead critical days or amenorrhea;
• antidepressants. Taking drugs from this group is indicated for very heavy menstruation, but prolonged treatment can lead to a delay of 3-4 days, and brown spotting begins instead of the critical days.

There is a high probability of abnormal periods in women who take diuretics, psychotropic and steroid medications.

Hormonal medications and contraceptives

The basis of modern oral contraception are hormones, so the female body takes some time to get used to each drug. Brown discharge during menstruation during the period of adaptation to a new type of contraception for several months is a variant of the norm. If the spotting continues for more than three or four cycles, you should definitely consult a gynecologist.

Can be following reasons brown spotting when using oral contraception:

• insufficient dosage of hormones;
• deviation from instructions;
• failure to take pills on time;
• individual intolerance to the drug and its components;
• bad habits and diseases.

Very often, hormonal imbalances occur in women who resort to emergency contraception(Agest, Postinor, Escapelle). Usually, by the next cycle the balance of hormones is restored, the main thing is not to use such pills too often.

After installation intrauterine device brown daub can be released during the adaptation period, as well as in case of improper installation or rejection of the contraceptive by the body. For these reasons, the use of this method of contraception should be under the strict supervision of a physician.

Wrong lifestyle

The following factors can change the nature of menstrual flow:

• smoking;
• alcohol abuse;
• poisoning of the body with harmful substances;
• work in hazardous production;
• excessive physical activity.

With prolonged exposure to these factors, a slight decrease may initially be observed, but due to deterioration of well-being and decreased immunity, spotting may begin instead of menstruation. In this case, the only way to cope with the problem is to completely abandon bad habits and lifestyle changes.

Climate change

Spotting can replace regular menstrual bleeding even after a routine move. More noticeable changes in a woman’s body occur when changing climatic zones. If such spotting continues for more than a week and your health deteriorates significantly, you should definitely contact a medical facility.

Nutrition

An unbalanced, poor diet does not saturate the body with the vitamins and microelements it needs, as a result of which menstrual flow can be delayed for quite a long time. If a woman suddenly gains or loses weight, her period may disappear altogether. If critical days are delayed by 2-3 days, and a scant brown smear is released, this indicates a lack of iron in the body. A deficiency of this microelement leads to darkening of the color of menstrual blood.

Stress and overexertion

Excessive stress and nervous shock cause problems in the functioning of the central nervous system. nervous system, which is responsible for regularity menstrual cycle. These factors can provoke completely different reactions in women. If, due to stress, some people experience brown smudges instead of menstruation days, then others may experience uterine bleeding. If there are no other symptoms, such as pain and general weakness, then you should not worry about this; after getting rid of stress and overexertion, the cycle will normalize.

Symptoms of pathology

Sometimes spotting, dirty discharge occurs due to delay - this may be a sign of hormonal imbalances and serious pathologies. Brown spotting instead of menstruation is typical for the following women's health problems:

• inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive and urinary system;
• infection in the genital area;
• benign and malignant tumors;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• miscarriage;
• other pathological processes.

If instead of critical days a dark spot is released, you should pay attention to the accompanying symptoms:

• pain in the lower abdomen;
• increased body temperature;
• redness of the external genitalia;
• discomfort during sex;
• etc.

To determine the exact cause of spotting, you should seek help from a doctor.

Going deeper into the shade

Not only the color and consistency of the fluid that was released instead of menstruation can tell about the pathology present in the body. To make a more accurate diagnosis, you should even pay attention to the shade of the discharge.

Light brown

Light brown discharge instead of regular discharge may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. To more correctly determine the cause and prescribe treatment, you should pay attention to the presence of additional symptoms:

• itching and burning;
• nagging pain in the lower back and lower abdomen;
• pain during urination;
• temperature increase;
• painful sensations during intimacy;
• impurities of pus and copious clots in secretions;
• delay of menstruation by more than a month.

The same symptoms, accompanied by spotting, may indicate the presence of an infection in the body. Light brown secretion can be caused by diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, they can also be provoked by trichomonas, ureaplasma and mycoplasma.

Dark brown

A long absence of critical days is almost always a sign of disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive system. If, after a delay, your periods are dark brown in color, and their consistency and shade did not change for about 4 days, this may indicate the presence of the following pathologies:

• inflammatory processes in the uterine mucosa;
• erosion;
• focal proliferation of the endometrium;
• endometriosis.

If bloody ones are also mixed with curdled discharge, then candidiasis can be diagnosed.

Diagnosis and treatment

If brown discharge appears instead of normal menstruation, you should immediately go to the gynecologist. To find out the cause of such an anomaly, the doctor, in addition to a gynecological examination and smears for microflora, can conduct a number of additional studies:

• Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
• Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland;
• general blood test and hormone test;
• If the doctor suspects the presence of cancer, he may prescribe CT and MRI.

Based on the results of the examination, an accurate diagnosis is established; in some cases, if menstruation is brown, you may need to consult an endocrinologist. If the cause of the disorders is stress and psycho-emotional disorders, you will need to visit a psychotherapist. Only after accurately establishing the cause of the brown spot will the doctor be able to prescribe adequate treatment. If hormonal imbalances occur, a course of medications is prescribed, the use of which must be combined with diet and lifestyle changes.

Prevention

The only means of prevention against brown spotting is systematic gynecological examinations. Often enough initial stage Inflammatory and infectious diseases are asymptomatic, so they can only be detected during regular visits to the gynecologist.

Sometimes a woman is upset that her periods are too scanty. In this case, the desired pregnancy does not occur. What to do: treat or wait it out? You should not put off visiting a doctor, because this may be a sign of a serious illness. An examination will show exactly what the reason is. In some cases, this problem disappears by itself as soon as the woman goes on vacation, changes her environment, and calms her nerves. But long-term treatment may be necessary for everything to improve.

Content:

What is hypomenorrhea

The volume of blood that is released during the entire period of menstruation is normally 50-150 ml. Menstruation is considered scanty when less than 50 ml is released. This condition is called hypomenorrhea. It is usually accompanied by oligomenorrhea (decreased duration of menstruation). If menstruation normally lasts 3-7 days, then with oligomenorrhea this period is reduced to 2 days, sometimes less.

Hypomenorrhea in some cases (for example, during menopause) may precede complete absence menstruation (amenorrhea). Scanty periods are considered a natural physiological state in girls during puberty, when the cycle has not yet established (in the first 2 years after appearance), as well as in women during premenopause, when the functioning of the ovaries is impaired due to aging. A decrease in estrogen levels leads to the fact that the uterine mucosa does not have time to develop sufficiently, so the volume of menstruation decreases.

In women of childbearing age, such periods most often indicate diseases of the genital organs. An examination is necessary to determine the cause.

Symptoms that accompany scanty periods

With a decrease in the volume of menstruation and its short duration, the discharge may be lighter than usual or have a brown tint, resembling only traces of blood. Moreover, they occur on time or with a delay, and the duration ranges from several hours to several days.

If a woman has not previously had painful sensations or other unpleasant symptoms During menstruation, when their volume decreases, headaches, nausea, aching pain in the lower back, chest, and indigestion appear.

Scarce dark discharge for infectious or inflammatory diseases the internal genital organs have an unpleasant odor. There is nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Every time you have your period, you may experience nosebleeds.

Video: In what cases do scanty periods require attention?

Causes of hypomenorrhea

Among the main reasons for scanty periods is a change in the ratio of hormones in the body, which occurs as a consequence natural processes(formation and decline of sexual function), gynecological or endocrine pathologies, applications hormonal drugs for treatment or contraception.

In addition, there are other reasons for scanty periods:

1. Diseases thyroid gland. The hormones produced in this gland directly affect the formation of estrogen and the functioning of reproductive organs. Disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland cause the egg to not mature and be unable to leave the follicle (protective capsule). When estrogen levels are low, the uterine lining does not have time to develop. She is too thin for full periods.
2. Excessive body weight or excessive thinness. Estrogen production occurs in adipose tissue, just like in the ovaries. U overweight women this accumulation leads to excess hormones. The lack of adipose tissue in women who are too thin leads to their lack. In both cases, hormonal disorders appear, which affect the condition of the reproductive organs.
3. Scanty periods (up to complete disappearance) occur with anorexia. In addition, the cause of the pathology is sudden weight loss after special diet or forced fasting.
4. Anemia, vitamin deficiency. Without micro- and macroelements, as well as vitamins, the production of hormones in the body and normal metabolism are impossible. Hematopoiesis is disrupted. Exhaustion of the body inevitably affects reproductive abilities, leads to infertility, and the occurrence of cancerous tumors.
5. Damage to the genital organs during childbirth, abortion, curettage, leading to changes in tissue structure that interfere with the normal course of processes menstrual cycle. If, after cleaning the uterus, your periods become scanty and the discharge has an unpleasant odor, then sometimes you have to do a second curettage, since, most likely, particles of the lining remain in the uterine cavity or an infection has occurred.
6. Congenital abnormal development of the genital organs, partial removal of the uterus.
7. Physiological processes associated with hormonal changes in the body (pregnancy, lactation, menopause).
8. Increased physical and neuropsychic stress, working with harmful chemicals, unfavorable environment.

Video: Reasons why scanty brown periods appear

Scanty periods during pregnancy

Pregnancy occurs if, after the egg has matured in the 2nd half of the menstrual cycle, it is fertilized. During the period of maturation, the ovaries produce maximum amount female sex hormones, estrogens. They are also responsible for preparing the uterus to receive the fertilized egg, the growth of the mucous membrane where it should take hold and develop.

After fertilization, the level of estrogen decreases, and another hormone, progesterone, begins to be produced, which preserves the structure of the mucous membrane and prevents its rejection. Therefore, menstruation does not normally occur during pregnancy.

In some cases, scanty periods still appear, which misleads the woman: she may not be aware of her pregnancy. There are several explanations for this.

Insufficient progesterone production because of physiological characteristics body. In this case, the mucous membrane is partially rejected. There is a danger that the fetus will be rejected at the same time, and the pregnancy will be terminated at the very beginning. If a woman has small periods for several months in a row, but pregnancy does not occur, she should consult a doctor and have a progesterone test done. Timely adjustment of its level will help preserve the next pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy. As a result of underdevelopment of the endometrium or pathologies, the implantation of the fetus occurs not in the uterus itself, but in the tubes. In this case, the woman experiences scanty periods due to the rejection of the underdeveloped mucous membrane.

Deviations in fetal development, making its normal attachment impossible, can cause partial rejection of the endometrium along with the fertilized egg, and the appearance of scanty menstruation. If a woman immediately takes a test and consults a doctor, then at this stage it is sometimes possible to maintain the pregnancy.

Excessive androgen production(male sex hormones) in a woman’s body also leads to termination of pregnancy and the appearance of scanty periods.

Fertilization of 2 eggs at once. If this happens, but one of the embryos is rejected due to unsuccessful fixation in the uterus or developmental pathology, then scanty bleeding also appears.

Addition: Any occurrence of menstruation during pregnancy is not normal. Most often this indicates a threat of interruption. Therefore, you should not ignore such a sign. You should immediately inform your doctor about the presence of such discharge. If they intensify and pain in the lower back appears, then you need to call an ambulance, since this is already a miscarriage, and dangerous uterine bleeding can occur.

Scanty periods after childbirth, during lactation

During the first 2 weeks after birth, scanty bleeding may occur. The uterus is cleansed of remnants of the placenta and blood clots formed due to damaged blood vessels. On the other hand, scanty, prolonged bleeding that appears 2 weeks after birth may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process, damage to the uterus, or infection.

If a woman is breastfeeding, then menstruation normally occurs at the end of lactation. The appearance of scanty periods during lactation may be a consequence of ongoing hormonal changes and the gradual restoration of the menstrual cycle.

Another reason for the appearance of scanty periods may be the strong anxiety experienced by a woman during childbirth, or experiences during breastfeeding.

Diseases of the reproductive organs causing hypomenorrhea

The reason for the appearance of faint brown discharge is usually pathological processes occurring in the uterus and ovaries. These include:

Endometritis- inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the uterus.

Endometriosis- violation of the structure of the mucous membrane. In this case, its pathological growth occurs, spreading to the area of ​​the cervix, vagina and peritoneum.

Endometrial hyperplasia. This is a type of endometriosis in which the mucous membrane grows deep into the muscle tissue uterus

With these pathologies, damage to the small vessels of the endometrium occurs, resulting in scanty brown discharge that resembles menstruation. They can occur between heavy periods.

Ovarian dysfunction- disruption of hormone production. With this disease, the regularity of menstruation, its duration and intensity are disrupted. Scanty bleeding alternates with heavy bleeding.

Polycystic ovary syndrome. Many small cysts form on the surface. Hormonal disorders and menstrual disorders appear.

Uterine polyps. Growths appear on the endometrium in the form of a tubercle with a stalk. The disease occurs as a result of hormonal pathologies in the body. One of the symptoms is scanty spotting, alternating with heavy bleeding.

Infectious diseases of the reproductive organs sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, chlamydia, candidiasis and others) can also cause scanty periods and cycle disorders.

Tuberculosis of the uterus and ovaries. The disease manifests itself in the form of endometritis. Scanty menstruation is observed, accompanied by long delays and pain in the lower abdomen.

Examination and treatment for scanty periods

If a woman’s menstruation is abnormal, there are deviations, including in the volume of discharge, then a mandatory examination is necessary to determine the cause. Scanty periods may indicate serious pathologies in the body, leading to infertility or the inability to bear a child during pregnancy. In some cases, scanty periods are a symptom cancer diseases uterus and ovaries.

Warning: Often on early stages signs of cancer are similar to those characteristic of ovarian dysfunction. Therefore, early examination and detection of malignant processes is of great importance.

Taking into account the woman’s age, the nature of the menstrual cycle, the presence side symptoms, the doctor, if necessary, prescribes an examination. A blood and smear test is done to detect inflammatory processes and determine the type of infection affecting the genitals. A colposcopic examination is performed to see polyps and endometrial growths. A blood test is taken for hormones. Ultrasound and methods computed tomography allow you to examine the condition of the tissues of the uterus, ovaries, and pelvic organs, detect areas of hyperplasia, and the formation of tumors.

In some cases, treatment is not required (for example, if scanty periods occur during puberty or lactation). If a woman does not have serious pathologies, it is enough to adjust her diet, change her lifestyle, take vitamins, and sedatives in order for her periods to return to normal. A special massage and aromatherapy are prescribed to relieve nervous stress and improve blood supply to the uterus. Hot foot baths a week before your period help to enhance menstruation.

In case of hormonal disorders, medications are prescribed to restore the balance of hormones. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antifungal agents are used if infections are detected.

To normalize your periods in the absence of pathologies, you need to be in the fresh air more often, move more, quit smoking, and be less nervous. Helps fight scanty periods folk remedies, For example, onion broth. To prepare it, take one medium onion per 2 glasses of water. Drink before breakfast. Infusions of tansy and calendula (2 teaspoons per 1 liter of water) help.

Every month in a woman’s body, an unfertilized fertilized egg is rejected and comes out along with bloody discharge. The duration of critical days ranges from three to seven days. If this period becomes shorter, scanty brown periods are observed, and the reasons are unknown, you should consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to determine what caused the change in the nature of the discharge and normalize the cycle.

Normally, the volume of menstrual flow varies from 50 to 150 ml. If very scanty brown periods are observed and blood loss does not exceed 50 ml, then this disorder is called. As a rule, the duration of critical days (oligomenorrhea) also decreases.

Sometimes hypomenorrhea precedes (amenorrhea). A change in the shade and volume of discharge is considered a variant of the norm in adolescence, when the cycle is just being established. Such menstruation does not cause concern during menopause either. In all other cases, these symptoms indicate disorders in the reproductive system.

Pathological causes

The reason for scanty brown periods may lie in pathological processes occurring in the body. Such changes cannot be ignored. Only with timely diagnosis and adequate therapy can reproductive function be fully restored.

Weight loss

An insufficient amount of adipose tissue leads to the fact that the body does not produce the proper amount of estrogen. Hormonal imbalance, in turn, affects the condition of organs genitourinary system.

Light, scanty periods, which may eventually stop altogether, are observed with anorexia. A strict diet or fasting can provoke such disorders.

Psychogenic factors

Menstruation in the form of brown discharge often appears after stress, chronic fatigue, severe shock. As a rule, when the psycho-emotional state returns to normal, menstruation returns to its previous character. In some cases, you cannot do without the help of a psychologist.

Hyperprolactinemia

This is a serious pathology in which in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding, the level of the hormone prolactin in the blood increases significantly, resulting in the release of milk from the mammary glands. As a rule, menstruation is dark brown every month. Often there is a complete cessation of critical days.

Ovarian diseases

Ovarian dysfunction can provoke menstrual dysfunction. Critical days with this disease become irregular, their intensity and duration change. There is an alternation of scanty and abundant regulations.

Menstruation is short and turns brown in polycystic ovary syndrome. During the development of pathology, a huge number of small cysts form on the organ. As a result, hormonal and menstrual disruptions occur.

Adrenal and thyroid disease

Brown discharge appears with pathologies of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands. At the same time, the process of production of sex hormones, in particular estrogens, and the activity of organs are disrupted reproductive system. The fertilized egg does not mature; it does not leave the follicle.

Low estrogen levels also interfere with the normal development of the uterine lining. Due to its insufficient thickness, menstruation is scanty.

Physiological reasons

The reasons for changes in the volume and shade of menstruation may be hidden in physiological processes, occurring in the body. During menopause and puberty, brown periods often occur. Such changes are not cause for concern and are considered normal.

Puberty

During puberty, scanty and irregular menstruation is often observed. This is explained by a restructuring of the body and an as yet unidentified cycle.

1–2 years after the appearance of the first critical days, the nature of the discharge will return to normal. By this time, the menstrual cycle will also normalize.

Pregnancy

Uncharacteristic discharge is rare, but still appears during pregnancy. The woman notes that menstruation has become scanty, and does not suspect that a new life has already arisen in her body.

The egg in the process of attaching to the uterine walls injures reproductive organ, and as a result of this, blood is released, which is mistaken for menstruation.

Breastfeeding period

During lactation, the body intensively produces prolactin. Due to this, ovulation is absent and menstrual periods do not occur. In some cases, a small amount of brown discharge is noted. Such regulations are considered temporary. As a rule, after breastfeeding is completed, the cycle returns to normal.

Climax

The character change is also different. The volume of menstruation decreases with each cycle, which is due to a decrease in the concentration of estrogen in the blood. The result of a lack of these hormones is menopause and menopause. Additional symptoms include:

• causeless mood swings;
• excessive sweating;
• sleep problems;
• feeling of dryness in the genital area.

Symptoms of the emerging disease

In cases where the volume and duration of menstruation decrease, the discharge becomes lighter in color or brownish. They appear on time or late. The duration of menstruation ranges from several hours to 2–3 days.

If a woman’s critical days were not previously accompanied by unpleasant sensations and a number of other symptoms, scanty brown periods may be accompanied by headache, nausea, indigestion.

In the event of the development of inflammatory or infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, the discharge acquires an unpleasant odor. In addition, a nagging pain appears in the abdominal area. Bleeding from the nose is often observed during menstrual periods.

Decreased menstrual volume and uncharacteristic color are considered normal phenomena during menopause and puberty. Similar changes at all other stages of life should alert a woman. Only with the help of a doctor will it be possible to identify the cause of reproductive dysfunction and eliminate it as soon as possible.

Hypomenorrhea or scanty periods- this is one of the variants of the condition of the reproductive system, in which there is an incomplete separation of the normal volume of blood during menstruation. In this case, the woman loses no more than 50 ml over the entire period.

What amount of discharge is considered normal?

The volume of discharge is a rather individual parameter. On average, it is believed that the volume of discharge should be from 100 to 200 ml. This volume depends on the size of the uterus, as well as a history of childbirth and diseases.

Symptoms

The main signs of scanty periods are discharge from the genital tract, which has a small volume. At the same time, menstruation will not always have a characteristic color; it is acceptable to change scanty menstruation to a brown tint or pink.

Many women may mistake the discharge of only a few drops of blood for a scanty period..

From common symptoms No signs may appear and only sometimes there is a deterioration in general health, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, headaches, etc.

First scanty periods

One of the manifestations of menstruation in adolescents is scanty periods that are small in volume and do not correspond to the clinical picture. The girl may complain of severe pain in the lower abdomen, bad feeling etc., but the allocations will be quite small.

Early scanty periods

Often young girls face such a problem before the arrival of menstruation, such as the appearance of discharge large quantity, which have a characteristic brown tint and can resemble menstruation.

This type of discharge may be a signal of the body’s preparation for the onset of menstruation and a reaction of endometrial tissue to changes in hormonal levels.

Prolonged scanty discharge

This condition can occur in women of any age, and in this case the cause may not always be pathological.

However, sometimes scanty discharge for a long time can be a sign of an inflammatory process or characteristic feature woman's body.

Causes

After childbirth

Often after the birth of a child, a woman faces such a problem as scanty periods.

Let's take a closer look at this condition:

Discharge rate:

1. The duration should not exceed two weeks and normally no treatment is required.
2. Such discharge may be accompanied by slight pulsating sensations in the lower abdomen. This is due to contraction of the uterine cavity.
3. An increase in volume may indicate pathology.

After an abortion

Almost every woman may experience scanty periods that occur after a medical termination of pregnancy:

• This is especially pronounced after curettage of the uterine cavity with a surgical instrument - a curette. As a result, an extensive knapsack surface is formed, which requires some time to recover.
• The cause of scanty menstruation can also be the remainder of the fertilized egg or chorionic villi. In the latter case, an inflammatory process occurs, which can aggravate the situation.

Normally, after an abortion, the duration of such scanty periods can be up to 10 days, on average about one week. If this time increases or signs such as an unpleasant odor, the presence of purulent contents, or a deterioration in general health appear, you should not delay visiting a specialist, as this may be an unfavorable prognostic sign.

As a rule, menstruation shifts and the next cycle begins from the moment the abortion and curettage are performed.

During pregnancy

Many women are sure that pregnancy is a period when, from the moment of fertilization, menstruation ceases.

In reality, under normal hormonal conditions, this is what should happen, but in reality it turns out that sometimes a woman notices menstruation, and later finds out about pregnancy.

Causes of menstruation during pregnancy:

Scanty periods after curettage

This is enough common problem which representatives of the fair sex aged 40-50 years may encounter, who have had diagnostic curettage uterine cavity.

In this case, the entire mucous membrane of the organ is removed to the maximum, and it may take a long time to restore its functional activity at this age.

In such situations, scanty periods can last for several cycles and this should not always be true. pathological cause, this may be a completely physiological condition.

Hypothyroidism

Characteristics of the disease:

1. Insufficient functional activity of the thyroid gland leads to inadequate functioning of the ovaries. This is explained by the complex interconnected work of these endocrine structures.
2. As a result of a lack of thyroid hormones, the follicle in the ovary does not mature. In response to such a mechanism, adequate maturation of the endometrium does not occur.

Menstruation with hypothyroidism:

1. Menstruation with this type of pathology is prone to delays, which can last up to several months and can only be caused by hormonal support.
2. In addition, after the onset of menstruation, they are scanty and have the character of a spot with a brown tint.
3. Their duration usually does not exceed two three days. In addition to cycle disruption, symptoms such as unmotivated weight gain, etc. may appear.

Anorexia and underweight

Bound this process, as a rule, with rapid loss of body weight and a decrease in the reserves of all nutrients. In the body in this moment Fewer substances are supplied that are necessary not only for the normal functioning of organs, but also of the ovaries in particular.

As a result, these structures become depleted. They decrease in size, the follicular apparatus will not be mature and their full work will not occur.

This condition may manifest itself either as a complete absence of menstruation, and the duration can reach half a year. This will be considered unfavorable pathological symptom, since subsequently they may not begin at all and infertility will be irreversible, since atrophy of all structures will occur. Menstruation, even if it begins, becomes scanty, its duration is short, and the volume of blood lost is negligible; it becomes more like a daub.

This is a disease of the reproductive system, which is associated with menstrual dysfunction.

Characteristics and features of the disease:

1. It is expressed by the fact that the body, as a rule, has a hormonal imbalance; this may primarily be hyperandrogenism.
2. The follicular apparatus of the ovaries is represented by a large number of large, but defective elements.
3. In this case, ovulation does not occur, as well as endometrial maturation.
4. Menstruation is regularly delayed; the duration of such delays can reach several months.
5. Unlike typical delays, which are characterized by heavier menstruation, with polycystic menstruation, menstruation is scanty and painful. Women may experience disruption of the endocrine glands, which is manifested by hypoandrogenism, increased hair growth, and increased body weight.

Having increased body weight

1. If there are a large number of fat cells in the body, there is an increased formation of female sex hormones, as a result of which the estrogen component increases. It is this disorder that leads to a relative deficiency of the progesterone component, which is the reason for the defective maturation of endometrial tissue.
2. Menstruation becomes scanty, their color may not differ from normal, but the duration is sometimes prolonged, which causes obvious discomfort in the woman.
3. In addition, such a reason can lead not only to the appearance of scanty periods, but also to the development of infertility. This may also be the reason for an increase in the production of androgens, leading to a complete imbalance in the functioning of a woman’s endocrine organs.

Disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive system organs

When there are disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the reproductive system, their formation is defective. Sometimes, when the ovaries are not working properly, when too little estrogen is produced by the body, the female genital organs do not grow sufficiently.

The main target in this case will be the uterus; it does not reach large sizes, as a result it cannot fully perform its function, so with uterine hypoplasia, the endometrial tissue is not fully formed, and menstruation becomes scanty.

In this case, women may never fully begin to have full periods, which will only manifest themselves as brown smudges from the genitals for 1-2 days.

Stress

Prolonged nervous overstrain, as well as the effects of stress on the body.

Such situations very often lead to the fact that a woman’s body is depleted, reserves nutrients become minimal and this leads to defective ovarian function and menstrual dysfunction.

As a rule, with prolonged stressful situation coming insufficient output estrogen, and endometrial tissue does not grow in the required volume. During these periods, a woman may notice a delay in menstruation, as well as their appearance in scanty quantities. The duration also does not exceed several days.

Menopause

Women aged 50-55 years usually face the problem of menopause, but the situation can be ambiguous, since in some cases women’s periods end for various reasons much earlier than the expected age.

More and more women are turning to a specialist at the age of 40-45 years with complaints about menstrual irregularities, the appearance of scanty periods, as well as typical disorders associated with menopause.

Menopause symptoms:

1. This state is expressed by tides, jumps blood pressure, gain of fat mass, etc.
2. A woman, 1-2 years before the complete cessation of menstruation, notices that irregularities appear, regularity is lost, and with the usual large volume, menstruation becomes more scanty.

Consequences of surgical interventions

Some women face a problem in which the only way Treatment is complete removal of the organ.

But after a certain time, especially if the ovaries were abandoned, the patient is faced with the phenomenon of the appearance of menstruation.

This can cause panic, since there is no organ from which endometrial particles should be removed.

But some may experience menstrual-like monthly bleeding due to a small piece of endometrium remaining in the cervix.

Before the onset of such discharge, there may be the same symptoms as before menstruation, such as engorgement of the mammary glands, changes in mood, etc.

In such a situation, the doctor needs to be more careful, since severe pathology may remain in the residual particles.

Diagnostics

When a woman has scanty periods, you should definitely look for the cause of the development similar condition. To do this, the first step is to contact a specialist.

After assessing the clinical picture, the doctor will decide what set of measures need to be taken to further establish the cause and select the correct treatment.

These include:

Treatment

Each individual reason for the appearance of scanty periods requires an individual approach to treatment, since in various cases lies the distinct pathogenesis of the condition:

Do I need to see a doctor?

Women who are faced with the problem of scanty periods need to consult a doctor. In this case, there is no role between the just beginning of menstruation in a teenage girl or the menopausal state.

In any case, it is necessary to carry out additional methods diagnostics aimed at eliminating pathological conditions or preventing the development of other problems.

Prevention

In order for a woman not to encounter the problem of scanty periods, as a pathological scenario, she should follow a number of rules aimed at maintaining the health of her reproductive system.

These include:

That is why, when scanty periods appear, it is recommended to consult a specialist for diagnosis and possibly to exclude pathology.

Scanty menstruation (hypomenorrhea) is understood as a disorder of the menstrual cycle, which is characterized by scanty menstrual bleeding with lower blood loss physiological norm(less than 50 ml).

This condition is often accompanied by a decrease in the duration of menstruation (oligomenorrhea) or precedes amenorrhea (the complete absence of menstruation).

Hypomenorrhea can be a manifestation of various physiological conditions (perimenopause or the formation of menstrual function) or various pathological conditions of the female genital organs.

Causes

The development of scanty menstruation during the reproductive period is based on dysfunction of the ovaries or pituitary gland, which directly regulate menstrual function. Also, hypomenorrhea can be caused by inferiority of the endometrium (inner layer of the uterus) due to various intrauterine manipulations (abortions, frequent curettages) or diseases inflammatory in nature(tuberculosis).

Violation of the cyclic secretion (production) of hormones leads to insufficiency of the circulatory system in the uterus and defective changes in the endometrium during menstruation. As a result, scanty periods are observed.

Among the reasons that directly trigger the development of hypomenorrhea are the following:

• significant loss of body weight as a result of dieting, exhaustion, anorexia;
• anemia, hypovitaminosis, metabolic disorders;
• stress, overload, neuropsychic diseases;
• genitourinary tract surgery, trauma;
• partial surgical removal of the uterus, underdevelopment of the female genital organs;
• incorrectly selected and used hormonal contraceptives;
• lactation period;
• various endocrine diseases;
• infectious diseases, including damage to the genital organs by tuberculosis;
• exposure to occupational hazards (radioactive radiation, chemicals);
• intoxication.

With hypomenorrhea, menstrual flow takes on the appearance of drops or traces of dark brown or light color.

The duration of menstruation in this condition can either be maintained or shortened against the background of a normal menstrual cycle, consisting of two phases.

Scanty periods and delayed menstruation may be accompanied by headaches, nausea, lower back pain, chest tightness, constipation or various dyspeptic symptoms (impaired digestion processes).

Menstruation itself may not be accompanied by spastic contractions of the uterus and severe pain. In some cases, nosebleeds are observed that accompany each menstruation. Scanty periods are usually characterized by a decrease in estrogen secretion, and, as a result, a decrease in reproductive function and libido.

In rare cases, hypomenorrhea occurs almost painlessly and unnoticed by the woman, without causing any symptoms of anxiety.

Scanty periods during puberty (formation of menstrual function) or premenopause (decay of menstrual function) indicate functional changes natural to the body and are not signs pathological condition. But, in the reproductive phase, hypomenorrhea and other symptoms of hypomenstrual syndrome indicate serious disorders in the reproductive or other system of the body. To find out the reasons for scanty periods, a thorough, comprehensive study is necessary.

Early scanty periods

This condition can be observed in several cases: during the formation of menstrual function, pregnancy. In the first case, hypomenorrhea is a physiological condition and therefore does not lead to the development serious consequences. However, scanty periods can be accompanied by the appearance of a variety of symptoms and their severity. Pain in the abdomen, chest, and sacral region may be observed.

Also characteristic is the presence of scanty discharge, predominantly yellow or light brown(below the physiological norm). Over time, this condition passes and menstrual function normalizes. During pregnancy, scanty periods may appear due to disruption of endocrine regulation (impaired production of pituitary or ovarian hormones).

This condition requires appropriate hormonal correction. At the same time, it is characterized by a pronounced clinical picture(pain, intoxication phenomena, if the cause is inflammatory processes in the female genital organs, constipation and dyspepsia).

First scanty periods

The first scanty periods can appear not only during the period of formation of menstrual function, but also in reproductive period, as well as during perimenopause. The determining role is played by factors that contribute to the development of this condition (hormonal disorders, inflammatory changes, injuries, stressful conditions, anemia, etc.).

For example, if there is inflammatory diseases there will be scanty, light-colored periods with increased amount pathological elements (leukocytes), in case of injuries - dark brown (due to the presence of destroyed red blood cells). Determining the cause of hypomenorrhea will help indicate the characteristics of the discharge, which guarantees the correct diagnosis.

Long, scanty periods

The presence of long, scanty periods in a woman indicates the development of a serious pathological condition in the genital area (mainly the uterus) or a violation of the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual irregularities in which menstrual bleeding does not exceed more than 72 hours.

Such conditions include endometriosis (inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus), vitamin deficiencies, endocrine diseases, and metabolic disorders. In this case, a timely visit to a doctor is extremely necessary, because the earlier the pathology is detected, the greater the chances of prevention. dangerous complications in the form of amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), development of infertility.

Scanty periods after childbirth

It is quite common to experience scanty periods after childbirth. This condition can be called physiological, since at this time the woman’s body has not yet fully adapted to changes in the regulation of the menstrual cycle, and hormonal background still focuses on the child and the mother.

This condition usually goes away on its own within a couple of weeks.

However, if the opposite situation is observed and long, scanty periods are observed, this indicates the addition of complications after childbirth in the form of inflammatory, infectious diseases, as well as disorders of the secretion of pituitary hormones.

Sometimes scanty periods can be the result of stress during childbirth or breastfeeding. Treatment for this condition, as in other cases, should include remedies that eliminate the cause, and then the main symptoms.

Scanty periods after curettage

After curettage, in some cases, scanty periods may be observed. If they have an unpleasant odor and are dark in color, this is an alarming signal, especially if menstruation occurs against the background of poor general health, pain in the lower abdomen, and elevated temperature.

The cause of this condition may be a violation of the curettage technique, while several particles may remain in the uterine cavity membrane. An unpleasant odor may also indicate the presence of an infectious process. In almost all such cases, repeated curettage is required.

Brown discharge during scanty periods

This symptom of hypomenorrhea is observed quite often. Brown discharge indicates disturbances in the reproductive system. In frequent cases, the cause of this symptom is inflammation of the endometrium (chronic endometritis).

This condition, in turn, can be caused by various intrauterine interventions, postpartum or post-abortion endometritis, and infectious diseases. The discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and aching pain lower abdomen.

Brown or dark bloody discharge may also be a sign of endometriosis of the uterus or cervix. In this case, pain does not appear.

Endometrial hyperplasia may also be accompanied by the appearance of this pathological sign. This disease can cause disruption of any type of metabolism, disruption of hormonal regulation, and diseases of the genital organs.

Frequently used hormonal contraceptives may cause brown discharge after menstruation. In the first months, such changes are considered normal, but if such phenomena last more than two months, then it is necessary to replace contraceptives.

Scanty periods during pregnancy

Many people believe that you shouldn't have periods during pregnancy. This is not entirely correct. In the first month of pregnancy, menstruation may occur.

This fact is explained by the fact that after the fertilization process, the fertilized egg does not keep up with such short term reach the right place, and no serious hormonal changes occurred.

From the second month of pregnancy, all hormones begin to work normally, pregnancy develops, and menstruation should not normally occur during pregnancy.

Menstruation that occurs in the first month of pregnancy is not menstruation. Bloody discharge is not as heavy as regular periods. There are several reasons for such phenomena.

The appearance of blood from the vagina may indicate detachment of the fertilized egg. If this process is insignificant, then the body copes on its own and does not allow the fertilized egg to leave the uterus.

In some cases, spotting may indicate spontaneous abortion has begun. A miscarriage can be recognized by red bleeding with nagging pain in the lower abdomen in the first trimester of pregnancy or cramping pain with the remains of the fertilized egg in the second trimester.

The cause of scanty periods during pregnancy may also be insufficient secretion of the hormone progesterone or excess production of androgens. In rare cases, a similar symptom can be caused by the presence of a heart defect in the fetus or an ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnostics

To identify the causes of scanty periods and assess the degree of potential danger to the body, a woman should consult a gynecologist.
The examination scheme includes:

1. a thorough examination of the medical history (collection of complaints, assessment of possible factors, connections with other diseases);
2. full gynecological examination;
3. cytology tests from the genital tract;
4. culture for bacteria;
5. PCR diagnostics of sexually transmitted infections;
6. determination of sex hormones in urine and blood;
7. assessment of basal temperature;
8. Ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus;
9. pathological examination and endometrial biopsy.

Treatment

Treatment of scanty periods (hypomenorrhea) depends on the results obtained during diagnosis. In the event that this condition is caused by eating disorders, psycho-emotional balance, physical activity, therapeutic measures aimed at their correction. Used according to indications vitamin complexes, specific antimicrobial agents and hormonal drugs.

In the treatment of scanty periods, the leading measures are general strengthening measures and treatment of the underlying disease. In the treatment of hypomenorrhea, excellent results are obtained using homeopathic remedies, the action of which is practically no different from that of its own hormones.

Accompanying scanty periods with depression, apathy, general weakness, frigidity, headaches requires the use of psychotherapeutic and physiotherapeutic treatment aimed at eliminating all functional disorders. During the periods of premenopause and lactation, special therapy for scanty periods is not required.