Because menstruation = blood, it's extremely rare to have a period without blood. One way you might not see period blood is if your hymen is still intact, Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, family physician at One Medical, says. This is called an imperforate hymen, and can be remedied with a simple procedure.
Spotting or bleeding may occur shortly after conception, this is known as an implantation bleed. It is caused by the fertilised egg embedding itself in the lining of the womb. This bleeding is often mistaken for a period, and it may occur around the time your period is due.
Experiencing cramps without a period is actually fairly common, and there are several explanations including digestive issues, pelvic floor muscle spasms, ovulation, and more.
Why does my period feel like it's stuck? If your period feels stuck or doesn't seem to be coming out, it could be due to hormonal changes or from some type of obstruction. If your period feels unusual or different than normal, it's best to contact a gynecologist for an evaluation.
Lots of women get pelvic pain and cramping, but your period isn't always to blame. Cysts, constipation, pregnancy -- even cancer -- can make it feel like your monthly visitor is about to stop by. It can be tough to tell whether having cramps without a period is caused by something simple or more serious.
Periods without actual flow, also known as phantom periods or phantom flow, have symptoms that are very similar to those of a normal periods except that there is no actual blood release. Phantom periods can occur due to a variety of reasons including stress and endometriosis.
The first sign of a "stuck" period is terrible menstrual cramps akin to those on your first day of period. The entire lower abdomen starts pulsating with pain, and in some cases, it's difficult even to stand upright. The second sign is a distended, swollen lower abdomen, which is sometimes warm to touch.
You contracted pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Normally, it starts out as another sexually transmitted infection, like chlamydia or gonorrhea, that presents external symptoms. As the infection spreads to the cells of the uterus, it can lead to problems with menstruation.
If the stress is short-lived, you may miss a period or be a few days late. However, if the stress is chronic, more erratic or absent menstruation can occur. Extreme weight changes and physical activity are also common culprits of a delayed cycle.
Pregnancy-specific symptoms
While your breasts may feel tender during PMS, they can be tender during the early stages of pregnancy as well. “You may also be pretty fatigued,” Giles added. “The key difference between the two, however, is that with pregnancy, your period doesn't occur.”
Implantation bleeding is a common phenomenon that occurs in up to 25% of pregnant people. Since the spotting occurs early in pregnancy, it can be difficult to know if it is implantation bleeding vs period bleeding—the best way to know what type of bleeding you're experiencing is to talk to your doctor.
High stress levels are associated with: Painful periods. Presence of premenstrual symptoms like nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, and weight changes. Irregular menstrual cycles, with longer or shorter cycles than normal.
Some backward flow actually happens in just about all women, but there are a few things that can make this worse. It occurs more in women who have heavier periods. It also occurs when there is some sort of blockage or narrowing so that the blood can't easily come out of the cervix or through the vagina.
For example, menstrual bleeding may not occur because the uterus is scarred (Asherman syndrome), because the cervix is narrowed (cervical stenosis), or because a birth defect blocks the flow of menstrual blood out of the vagina. Which causes are most common depends on whether amenorrhea is primary or secondary.
If your period is very late, or you've skipped your period, and you get a negative result, you are unlikely to be pregnant. If you are testing before the date of your expected period, you may be pregnant but your hCG levels are too low for the test to detect.
Some medical problems (such as hormone imbalances) and lifestyle changes (such as stress, too much exercise, or large amounts of weight loss or gain) can cause girls to miss their periods. Your doctor will be able to look into the cause of any possible problems. *Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Unfortunately, no matter how much we feel that we may know our bodies, pregnancy cannot be self-diagnosed. The only way to know whether or not you're pregnant is through a pregnancy test.