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What Causes Irregular Menstrual Bleeding In An Obese Person?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Oct 2017
Question: hello my last 2 menstrual cycles I've had an issue after my last 2 men's cycles. for some reason , after my cycle ends , a few days pass, and I begin to bleed again for a few more days I only see the blood when I wipe after I urinated. the bleeding isn't enough for it to show on my underwear or pads if I'm wearing. what do you suppose could be causing this irregularly??

as a side note I take medications for hypotheroism and hyper tension. I haven't made any recent changes to my medication . I'm 35 years old slightly overweight and haven't made any recent changes to my physical activity.
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,


If your estrogen levels don't pick up adequately in the days after your period is over, and if they drop, then some additional bleeding will happen because the lining of the uterus (endometrium) isn't being hormonally supported. So it's possible that your estrogen picks up at the end of your period (in response to increased follicle stimulating hormone or FSH, because your pituitary perceives that your estrogen is low). This causes the period to stop, which is the normal chain of events. Then the lining starts to build up, which is also normal, but then for some reason the estrogen drops again and so you bleed again. But since there hasn't been much time for the lining to build up, and since you probably still have some degree of estrogen (and FSH) happening, there is only a small amount of blood.

Irregularities like this commonly happen when a woman isn't ovulating regularly (which can happen from stress - both physical and emotional stress), and it can happen from thyroid irregularities.

There are other reasons for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, but these are some of the most common, particularly if you have known thyroid disease.

I recommend you go in to get a TSH level done if it hasn't been done in the last 3 months. Maintaining your thyroid level in a range that is best for you clinically, if it isn't already, can help with things like menstrual irregularities.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can clarify or provide further information.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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What Causes Irregular Menstrual Bleeding In An Obese Person?

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, If your estrogen levels don't pick up adequately in the days after your period is over, and if they drop, then some additional bleeding will happen because the lining of the uterus (endometrium) isn't being hormonally supported. So it's possible that your estrogen picks up at the end of your period (in response to increased follicle stimulating hormone or FSH, because your pituitary perceives that your estrogen is low). This causes the period to stop, which is the normal chain of events. Then the lining starts to build up, which is also normal, but then for some reason the estrogen drops again and so you bleed again. But since there hasn't been much time for the lining to build up, and since you probably still have some degree of estrogen (and FSH) happening, there is only a small amount of blood. Irregularities like this commonly happen when a woman isn't ovulating regularly (which can happen from stress - both physical and emotional stress), and it can happen from thyroid irregularities. There are other reasons for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, but these are some of the most common, particularly if you have known thyroid disease. I recommend you go in to get a TSH level done if it hasn't been done in the last 3 months. Maintaining your thyroid level in a range that is best for you clinically, if it isn't already, can help with things like menstrual irregularities. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can clarify or provide further information.