If you have vaginal bleeding between periods, your exercise regimen may be to blame. Changing your exercise routine can help regulate your periods and resolve the spotting. Although many women experience irregular periods and vaginal spotting, have your doctor check for any serious conditions.
Menstrual Cycles
Regular menstrual cycles occur about every 28 days in most fertile women. Hormones secreted by the adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands, hypothalamus and ovaries work together to control the menstrual cycle. Elements that alter this delicate hormonal balance can upset the normal cycle and lead to irregular periods and spotting between periods, called breakthrough bleeding or intermenstrual bleeding. Spotting is usually light and brownish, and may last for several days.
Cause
Excessive exercise is a common cause of menstrual irregularities. Strenuous exercise can cause the hypothalamus to slow its production of GnRH -- gonadotropin releasing hormone -- a hormone that plays a major role in influencing the timing of menstrual bleeding. Spotting is often a sign of irregular ovulation or lack of ovulation. Though excess exercise can temporarily affect fertility, adjusting your exercise schedule can result in the return of normal periods.
Solution
Reducing the frequency of your workouts and intensity level may help regulate your menstrual periods and resolve breakthrough bleeding. FamilyDoctor.org recommends you exercise between four and six times each week for about 30 to 60 minutes each session. Exercising at this level can help you reap the rewards of regular exercise, such as a reduction in your risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and high blood pressure. This level of exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety while improving your sense of well-being and helping you sleep better.
Considerations
Although excess exercise is a common cause of hormonal irregularities that can lead to vaginal spotting, other conditions can cause this symptom. An IUD may increase your chances of spotting. Other possible causes include stress, use of blood thinners, uterine fibroids, cancer, infection and inflammation of the cervix. A medical exam is the best way to determine the cause of your spotting and rule out serious health conditions.
