If you’ve had your period for years, you might think you’ve seen everything. And yet, sometimes things can happen that you did not expect. Some of us, for example, eventually find that their period ends in the middle and then starts again. What happens in the body and is this normal?
Let’s start with the basics again. You get your period because your uterine lining peels off. This is rebuilt each cycle to give a potential egg the opportunity to nest in the uterus. If you are not pregnant, the uterus repels the mucous membrane. This is then transported outside through your cervix and vagina. All of this is controlled by a complex interplay of hormones.
Normally, a period lasts between three and seven days, making it easier every day. But there are also people who report that on one day in the middle of their period no blood (or hardly any) comes and then back to the end a little more before the period completely abates.
There can be several reasons for this. Pediatrician Dr. Molly O’Shea explains that this may have something to do with the fact that your period blood is not completely fluid. “Sometimes a piece of tissue blocks the outflow of period blood. When the womb canal is free again, the backlogged blood will follow. “Another explanation is provided by clinical care expert Sandy Knauf ready: It could also be due to a changed hormone level, she writes. At the beginning of your period, your estrogen and progesterone levels remain relatively stable, ensuring a steady flow of blood. However, this decreases as your estrogen level rises again and your period comes to an end. This change in hormone balance may well lead to a short-term stop-and-go situation.
If this happens to you from time to time and the interruptions are relatively short (one day or less), you do not have to worry about it. But if your period lasts for a few days and then comes back full strength, that may be a sign something is wrong. For example, irregular periods are a symptom of diseases such as endometriosis and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). So do not go crazy, but make an appointment with your gynecologist. After all, a gynecologist can tell you if there is a problem after an exam – and if appropriate, prescribe the right treatment.
