When you have a vaginal bleeding every month, you have a period right? Well, not necessarily. When you are on the oral contraceptive pill, you may bleed every 28 days, but that is not a period. The same goes when your doctor put you on the pill to induce a period, that is not a period.
If you feel like you can usually calculate your menstrual period precisely or generally know when you can expect it to begin and end, bleeding in between periods might cause anxiety and confusion to you especially if it is new or accompanied by pain or other symptoms. Let me explain further.
What Makes a Period a Period?
During the first half of your cycle, your body produces oestrogen that causes the lining of the uterus to thicken. When you ovulate, the corpus luteum produces progesterone that maintains the lining. If conception hasn’t happened, the corpus luteum breaks down progesterone drops and the lining sheds. This is called a period. If you want more detailed information about the hormones during your cycle, I explained it in more detail in a blog you can read here. <insert link>
No Ovulation, No Period
If ovulation didn’t happen, the body keeps on producing oestrogen, but without progesterone to maintain the lining, the body will eventually shed the lining to start a fresh one. This is called breakthrough bleeding, and this explains why you have a lighter “period” when you are on “the pill” without progesterone the lining is thinner. This explains also why you have less or no premenstrual tension (PMT) when you are on hormonal contraceptives. You don’t have the change of hormones in your cycle.
Reasons for No Ovulation
Breakthrough bleeding is any bleeding or spotting you may experience between your normal menstrual periods. It is important to pay attention to any changes in your bleeding patterns each month. Here are some reasons on how to identify breakthrough bleeding or no ovulation, what might be causing it and when to see a doctor:
- You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Stress have a major impact on your hormones
- You are underweight
- Too much exercise
- You may be perimenopausal
- Previous use of contraceptives
When you are trying to conceive, ovulation is as you know very important. If you do not ovulate for any reason, homeopathy can help to restore ovulation. You can find out more how I may be able to help you by booking a discovery call here.