Following an exercise regimen is beneficial before your menstrual cycle, as it can help relieve pain associated with your period. Any kind of breakthrough bleeding can be scary, but light spotting after exercise is common and usually no cause for concern. There are many medical reasons for spotting, and any abnormal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor, especially if you are pregnant.
About Menstruation
The average woman menstruates every 28 days. When you menstruate, you shed the lining of your uterus if you are not pregnant, and this uterine bleeding lasts from 3 to 5 days. During menstruation, you may lose 2 to 8 tbsp. of blood. There are problems that can occur with your period. A missed menstrual cycle, for instance, can have many causes, including excessive exercise. Other problems a woman can have with her period include unusually heavy bleeding and bleeding between periods.
Causes of Spotting
Light spotting that occurs after exercise is most likely no cause for concern, but spotting may occasionally be due to a medical problem, especially after menopause. It is important to let your doctor know about any spotting so that he can determine the source of the bleeding. Some medical causes of spotting include cancer or precancer of the cervix or uterus, hormone level changes, cervicitis, intrauterine device usage, uterine fibroids or polyps, pregnancy complications, stress, hypothyroidism and certain medications like birth control pills or blood thinners.
Spotting and Exercise
Exercise is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can make you feel better in general; it can also help you overcome discomfort related to your period. However, there is a limit, and doing too much exercise or exercising too vigorously can be stressful if your body is not properly trained. If your bleeding is light, it is probably not causing your body any harm, according to the FitSugar website, but you could be putting your body under too much stress.
Prevention
Listen to your body and try to cut back on the frequency and intensity of your workouts to see whether the spotting stops. In addition, make sure you warm up properly before doing any type of exercise so that your muscles are loose and ready to work and you avoid overtaxing your body. If your spotting continues despite changes to your exercise regimen, it might not be related to physical activity.
Exercise and Pregnancy
Exercising during pregnancy can help you look and feel better by releasing endorphins that make you feel better, strengthening muscles, reducing constipation, improving sleep, increasing blood flow to your skin and improving cardiovascular health, which helps prepare you for birth. You should not follow your normal exercise routine if you have pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, early contractions or vaginal bleeding. Spotting during pregnancy is usually no cause for alarm, but you should always visit your doctor to have a complete physical. If your doctor says it is fine to exercise, follow her instructions regarding any physical activity.
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