Menstrual spotting is best described as irregular uterine bleeding between periods. It's often seen as small drops of blood on toilet paper after wiping or simply along the lining of your underwear. Normally, menstrual spotting isn't associated with weightlifting. This doesn't necessarily mean it can't occur, but its occurrence is often the result of something other than the activity that's being pursued.
Exercise
Women sometimes experience menstrual spotting as a result of changes to their exercise routine, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you've recently started a weightlifting program, you might potentially see some spotting from its inclusion in your workout routine. Changes in the frequency or intensity of your lifting could also be the cause of the irregular uterine bleeding.
Hormones
Lifting weights also has an effect on your hormone levels. A study conducted by the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine saw an increase in the concentration of human growth hormone and cortisol in women after a series of heavy-resistance exercises. Too much or too little of certain hormones, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, can cause a hormonal imbalance that leads to abnormal bleeding in some women. That could be the reason you're seeing some menstrual spotting associated with weightlifting.
Diagnosis
See your doctor, especially if the irregular bleeding lasts longer than a week or is accompanied by severe pain. The menstrual spotting that's manifested with weightlifting could have nothing to do with the activity. It's best to talk to a doctor to determine the exact cause of uterine bleeding. Fibroids, polyps, infections and other medical conditions all share this symptom.
Recommendation
Before your visit to the doctor, track the bleeding. Record the dates, frequency and type of spotting you're experiencing to help with the diagnosis. It's also important to note any illnesses, medication changes, weight changes or dietary changes that might have preceded its occurrence.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Menstrual Periods -- Heavy, Prolonged or Irregular
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- "Journal of Applied Physiology"; Changes in Hormonal Concentrations After Different Heavy-Resistance Exercise Protocols in Women; W.J. Kraemer; Aug 1993
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