Situps are a great way to get your abdominal muscles in good shape. Depending on where you are in your monthly menstrual cycle, the movement of exercising the abdominal muscles could cause spotting while you are working out. If you have episodes of heavy spotting, situps could cause your menstrual flow to increase. Visit your doctor to rule out any underlying medical cause.
Situp Routines
When you are on your period, one of the last things you likely want to do is work out --- particularly the abdominal area. You may be experiencing abdominal cramping, pain in the abdominal area and muscle weakness due to your menstrual cycle. Situps begin with you lying flat on your back with your knees raised and slightly bent and spread apart. With elbows behind your head, you use your abdominal muscles to raise your upper body off the floor until your elbows meet your knees. Positions and exercises vary depending on skill and fitness level. As you are using your abdominal muscles, the movement could stimulate an increase in blood flow in your uterus --- which can cause heavy spotting.
Spotting Causes
Spotting is normal throughout your period. Spotting blood heavily is referred to as menorrhagia, according to the MedlinePlus online encyclopedia. Menorrhagia is generally caused by a fluctuation in hormone levels. Other causes include uterine fibroids, diabetes, lupus, surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and, in rare cases, cancer. Your muscles contracting and releasing could also increase heavy spotting during situps.
Prevention
Preventing heavy spotting when you are doing situps should begin by treating any type of medical condition such as fibroids or endometriosis. If there is nothing that can be done medically, you should prepare yourself for heavy spotting. Make sure to wear a sanitary pad that has a high absorbency rate and has extra protection with an inner absorbent core, wings and is longer than a regular sanitary pad. Wear a tampon in conjunction with a pad for additional protection. Try to avoid situps and strenuous exercise during the heaviest days of your period. Be sure to have a back-up pair of underwear and pants in case you bleed through.
Alternatives
Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise helps strengthen your cardiovascular system while reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, obesity and certain types of cancers. A slim abdominal area decreases your risks for heart disease and disease-related weight gain. Try getting your daily amount of exercise by switching to low-impact workouts on heavy flow days. Low-impact exercises include walking, yoga or basic household chores, the Spine-Health website notes.
References
- FitSugar; Spotting During Exercise; April 16, 2009
- American Council on Exercise: Bent-Knee Sit-up / Crunches
- MedlinePlus; Menstrual periods --- Heavy, Prolonged, or Irregular; Sept. 2, 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Vaginal Bleeding; Sept. 11, 2010
- Feminine Hygiene Resource Center; Sanitary Napkins / Sanitary Pads; 2008
- Spine-Health; Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise; Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., M.D.; June 15, 2009
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