Your period, a defining phenomenon of your womanhood, comes with some other challenges aside from the cramps, discomfort and general pain.

Menstrual flow can range between two and seven days. For some women, however, the sudden alternation from their regular flow to a lighter flow can be alarming.

Here are some circumstances that can lead to your period getting lighter.

Pregnancy

During the early stages of pregnancy or the first trimester, it is very common for some women to have light spotting. The colour often varies from pink to red to brown.

Although it is easy to be concerned, don’t panic. The majority of women who experience spotting during pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Birth control

Hormonal methods of birth control prevent eggs from being released from the ovaries, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, and thin the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation.

This procedure may lead to your period getting lighter because since the body doesn’t release an egg, your uterus doesn’t create a thick lining. You may also experience irregular periods if you have started or stopped taking birth control recently.

Over-Exercising

Women who spend more hours working out experience changes in their period. Athletes can be under stress, have low body weight, and use a lot of body energy. This can result in altered periods.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions that affect hormones in the body, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid-related conditions, can affect a person’s menstrual cycle.

Stress

Periods of stress can affect the body’s hormonal balances, which can interrupt the regular menstrual cycle.