If you exclusively use tampons, you may observe your blood after removing a tampon (before you place it in the bin).
As tampons are designed to be super absorbent, it is more difficult to observe clots and the texture of your period this way.
You will be able to observe the colour fairly well this way however.
Pads make observing your period blood easier as the blood is more spread out.
Pads are also designed to be highly absorbent, so texture can be difficult to see here as well.
When checking the colour of your period, remember that blood that has been exposed to air will turn more brown so it’s best to observe the colour soon after wearing a pad, or on wiping.
Menstrual (or moon) cups are the easiest way to observe your blood in its full form.
A menstrual cup sits inside the vaginal canal and collects blood. When it is ready to be removed, tip the contents into the toilet or down the sink.
This is a great time to observe the colour as well as consistency - are there many clots?
Does the blood pour well (a healthy period blood is slightly thicker than water). Is it sticky or free flowing?
Each day of your period, be sure to record your observations.
This can be done in your favourite journal, a menstrual chart, or cycle tracking app.
If you have recently stopped taking hormonal birth control (such as the pill), it can take your body several months to resume its own natural hormone production cycle.
Every woman reacts differently - most see a natural return of their menstrual cycle within 3 months of stopping the pill, while others may take over a year to restore natural cycles.
If you recently stopped taking birth control, and are yet to see a period, focus on replenishing nutrients that were likely depleted by the pill: specifically zinc, B-vitamins, vitamin C and magnesium.
A good quality prenatal vitamin is an easy way to get the full spectrum of nutrients your body needs post-pill, along with a healthy diet full of leafy greens and healthy fats like olive oil, coconut, deep sea fish and avocado.
If your cycle hasn’t returned after 3 months of stopping hormonal birth control, visit your primary health care provider for a check up.
Stress is a major cause of delayed or missing ovulation (and therefore missing periods).
Our body is clever: it will always prioritise our survival over the creation of a baby.
If our body deems our current lifestyle is too dangerous, it will temporarily shut down ovulation to remove the possibility of us falling pregnant.
Hypothalamic Amenorrhea is a condition of chronic lack of ovulation that is not caused by PCOS.
As frustrating as this diagnosis can be, it’s helpful to remember your body is trying to protect you.
If you relate to this period type, it’s time to explore why your body doesn’t feel safe: Are you over-burdened?
Are you truly eating enough to support your body?
Are you over-exercising?
Have you recently made any significant changes to your diet or exercise routines?
Get really honest with yourself and consider areas of your life that need more nourishment.
By focusing on these areas for a few months, it’s likely your period will return on its own.
If not, see your primary health care provider for the next steps.
Of course, if you previously had a regular period and it has gone missing it is possible that you are pregnant.
Take a home pregnancy test and visit your doctor for more advice.
Not pregnant but still not period? Check out my ultimate guide to balancing your hormones for next steps.
What Does The Color Of Your Period Tell You?
Your period blood color gives you an insight into the balance of your hormones and overall health.
A healthy period appears bright red with minimal clots, whilst other colors and textures can indicate a hormonal imbalance.
What Does Brown Period Blood Mean?
Blood that has been exposed to oxygen appears brown.
This type of period blood is normal at the end of your period when you have been bleeding for several days, or when blood is flowing very slowly.
If your whole period appears brown, this may be a sign of low progesterone.
What Does It Mean When Your Period Blood Is Purple?
This often thick, syrupy and clotted dark purple or deep red coloured period is often accompanied by painful cramps.
Dark purple periods are commonly heavy, may last for several days and have an unpleasant premenstrual phase (sore breasts, mood swings, bloating).
This type of period is commonly caused by an excess of estrogen.
What Does Bright Red Colored Period Blood Mean?
Why Is My Period Blood Pink?
Why Is My Period Blood Pink?
Light pink periods are often observed in women with low estrogen - the hormone responsible for building a thick and healthy endometrial lining.
When your body is depleted physically, emotionally or spiritually, it often dials down your estrogen production in order to prioritise your survival.
13 comments
Hey lovely, thanks so asking this question. So sorry to hear you are suffering from hair growth on your face, legs and stomach. It can take some time to balance your hormones naturally especially to reduce high androgen amounts. Be patient with the process and keep following all the androgen lowering tips. If you are getting seriously concerned, have a chat to your doctor about it :)
I have been growing more dark hair on my face, legs and stomach. I will be doing what you recommend for high androgens, but how do I get rid of all this ugly hair?!!! Will it go away after my hormones are leveled out, or do I have this hair permanently? Help!
Hi, always had heavy periods but irregular (anywhere upto 36days) never comes early. Last month I had a “normal” period, then exactly a week after finishing I had light pink spotting for 2-3 days. Fast forward this months period was early by about 5 days. Its not no where near normal for me!
It has had spells of red blood but a light flow, changing to brown then light pink back to red then brown. It’s is such a light period that you could use one pad all day long if you wanted too. I’m on day 4. Please help. Thank you. X
Hi Hadley,
Thanks for getting in touch. The brown blood is common when the blood is old, so this makes sense if your period has stalled for a while, allowing the blood to become exposed to oxygen.
This can be very normal, and is sometimes referred to as a ‘stop-start-stop’ period. I actually wrote a great blog on this that you will find really helpful! You can read it here: https://nourishednaturalhealth.com/nutrition-guides/period-stops-then-starts-again
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Tam.
Hi I was due on my period over a week ago , I usually have a normal period sometimes few clots nothing too major. Last Friday I started which I thought was my period very light bit of a pink colour blood when wiping, that stopped by Sunday morning.
Back to normal discharge then Wednesday evening wiped more brown blood again. I still have it today . Should I be concerned? Thank you