Plenty of things can be responsible for spotting or a 1-day period, including pregnancy (surprise!), birth control, medications, or certain medical conditions. Excessive exercise, your age, and weight loss can also be behind your abbreviated bleed.
A typical menstrual flow lasts 3–5 days, but cycles as short as 1 day and as long as 8 days are considered normal. Sometimes, an individual may have brief spotting, or light bleeding, at a time of the month when they do not normally bleed.
Irregular periods are not always a cause for concern. Periods that stop and the restart are often the result of normal hormone fluctuations during menstruation. A person should see a doctor or gynecologist if these irregularities occur with every period, or if they experience other symptoms.
Implantation bleeding is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. The main symptom is light bleeding or spotting that lasts a day or two. Sometimes it's accompanied by other early pregnancy symptoms such as: Headache.
Generally bleeding during pregnancy is uncommon, so what you had was probably just a light, short period. But if you've had unprotected sex since your last period, and the bleeding was very light and different than your normal period, taking a pregnancy test is definitely a good idea.
Bleeding and spotting from the vagina during pregnancy are common. Up to 1 out of 4 (up to 25%) of all pregnant women have some bleeding or spotting during their pregnancy. Bleeding and spotting in pregnancy don't always mean there's a problem, but they can be a sign of miscarriage or other serious complications.
Implantation bleeding is never enough to fill a pad or tampon like a menstrual period. Color: Menstrual bleeding is typically a bright to dark red, and will look like what you typically experience during your monthly period. Implantation bleeding is a much lighter hue, typically a very light pink or light rust color.
Reasons for a Short Menstrual Period
Estrogen is the all-important hormone required to create the endometrium each month. If you do not produce a certain amount of estrogen, that lining won't be very thick and, when it is shed, "bleeding tends to be scant and for fewer days,” Dr. Arias says.
Typically, implantation bleeding is a little pink or brown discharge only when a woman wipes or just enough to get on a pantyliner. It may be either intermittent or a more constant light flow.
Some participants charted their menstrual cycles daily via an online program, Fertility Friend. The study found that women who had cycles of 26 days or fewer had reduced chances of becoming pregnant, or fecundability. The average cycle length among participants was 29 days.
The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. The cycle isn't the same for everyone. Menstrual bleeding might happen every 21 to 35 days and last 2 to 7 days.
If you're experiencing chronic stress, you might notice changes in your menstrual cycle. In particular, stress can affect how heavy your flow is and the length of your menstrual cycle — your periods can sometimes stop completely. Stress might also affect your fertility.
Comprehensive explanation of the menstrual cycle:
Day 1 is the first day of bright red bleeding, and the end of this phase is marked by ovulation. While menstrual bleeding does happen in the early part of this phase, the ovaries are simultaneously preparing to ovulate again.
Just as your cycle can get longer, up to 40 days, it can also get shorter to just 25 days. Doctors suggest that this is one of the first indications of perimenopause. Mostly occurring in your late 30s, this suggests that your hormone levels have started to decrease which in turn is affecting your cycle.
“Some common causes of light menses include changes in weight, thyroid issues, perimenopause, stress, contraception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), to name a few,” says Somi Javaid, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., board-certified OB/GYN and founder and Chief Medical Officer at HerMD.
Short, irregular periods may indicate hormone imbalances, like low progesterone.
Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle. There may be sudden surges in estrogen.
Period 1 is known as the very short period as there are only two elements, i.e., Hydrogen and Helium.
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
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.”
Although a positive pregnancy test is possible during implantation bleeding, it's still very early and your hCG levels are usually very low at this point. You're more likely to get an accurate test result if you wait until your implantation bleeding stops and after your first missed period.
71% of pregnancies can be detected 6 days before the missed period (5 days before the expected period). Over 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day of an expected period.
Heavier bleeding is not typical with implantation and may indicate a problem. Anyone who experiences heavy bleeding in the first 12 weeks, or first trimester, of pregnancy should speak with their midwife, a doctor, or another healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Some medical bodies suggest taking the test on the first day a period should have occurred. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that the results on this day may not be accurate for 10–20% of people. Instead, they suggest taking a test 1–2 weeks after missing a period.