Menstruation: 3 Ways on How Fitness Affects Your Periods

 

It’s every woman’s dream to stay fit amid all changes in their body. Hitting the road in an early morning jog or going to the gym can help you achieve your dreams.

But wait.

What if you’re on your period? Menstruation interferes with your hormones, affecting your mood. In fact, many women skip training at the onset of their period. For example, if you have severe cramps, you’ll find it difficult to work out.

Besides, physical exercises may disrupt your menses in various ways.
Here is how exercising can affect your menstruation.

1. Spotting

Spotting can occur any time of the month because of a change in your body. If you love exercising, you may experience light bleeding after intense activity. And it doesn’t mean you’ve started menstruating. When you see lighter blood that’s either dark or bright red, you know you’re spotting.

Moreover, your hormones react to different triggers and may cause the uterus to shed. For example, if you put more pressure on your stomach, you’ll notice blood when urinating.

However, visit your doctor to check whether you’re suffering from hematuria.

2. Reduces Menstrual Pain

Menstrual cramps differ from woman to woman.

Some women suffer from severe period pains, while others experience mild pain to none. During menses, your uterine muscles contract to shed off the uterine wall and blood. But by sticking to a regular exercise schedule, you’ll find some relief from menstrual pain. So, focus on exercises like:

• Cycling
• Running
• Walking
• Yoga
• Swimming

These physical activities help the body release analgesia. A chemical which burns prostaglandin that causes muscles to contract. But don’t limit yourself to these exercises. You can also engage in any activity that makes your heart race.

3. Lighten Your Period

Disruption of hormones because of regular exercise may lead to lighter periods.

But how?

During a workout, a woman tends to lose weight. Shedding fat reduces the production of estrogen, thus reducing uterine buildup. This makes the uterine walls thinner, having a lighter period.

On the contrary, an obese woman experiences heavy bleeding because they’ve got a thick uterus. Thicker uterine walls mean heavier menses. So don’t panic when you notice a change in your period after exercising regularly.

4. Missed Period

Every woman wants to stay fit no matter their age. However, being physically fit comes with its share of challenges.

Too intensive exercises may lead to a missed period. But there’s no cause for alarm. Because your body responds to the hormonal signal sent by the brain. And if they’re interrupted, you may miss your menses.

Remember, hormones play a primary role in your menstrual cycle. Therefore, if disrupted by your working out, it can cause stress to your body. And hinder ovulation. If you can’t ovulate, you’ll not see your menses.

Conclusion

Engaging in physical exercises is worth your time. It helps you stay fit and healthy. However, it may interfere with your periods.