Your period is your monthly body report card and according to the latest science, your body's fifth vital sign of health. If your period is "off", your health is definitely "off" as well. Read on to understand what the color of your period is telling you and what is going on behind the scenes of your health.
Brown
This indicates oxidized blood leaving your uterus which means the blood has been exposed to air and is moving slower than ideal. This can be present at the beginning of your cycle or at the end of your cycle. Either way, your period should start with a fresh vibrant red color (bright red, crimson, scarlet, rose - any variance of this) and end with the same. Not only is your body not expelling your menstrual blood efficiently, oxidized blood is associated with menstrual irregularity and hormonal imbalance.
Purple blood or dark heavy clotting
Dark and purple looking blood is indicative of menorrhagia, otherwise known as too heavy and painful bleeding during your cycle. This type of blood is sluggish, not freely moving and usually associated with dark thick clotting in your blood. Clinically speaking, this type of blood flow suggests a patient has an estrogen dominance and not enough progesterone in her system or fibroids in the uterus. Unfortunately, not only does one experience pain with a cycle like this, it can lead to serious anemia if left untreated.
Pink blood
If your period blood usually appears more watermelon pink rather than raspberry red, your cycle may also be “too light”. You are not producing a robust red color and hence the blood circulating throughout your uterus is deficient. Although many women rejoice that they have a short and light cycle, this is usually due to not having enough estrogen which impairs fertility. A scanty and light period correlates with the lining of your uterus not being healthy and thick enough for successful implantation.
Red (with no clotting, smooth consistency)
Although no true perfect period exists out there as everyone is biochemically different, the closest ideal color for your cycle is a strong red color as mentioned above. This indicates your blood is not stagnant and moving at an appropriate pace, your body is producing enough red blood cells using healthy marrow from your bones, and your hormones are doing their job.
Which color are you? How is your cycle? Do you have pain? Are you regular in your cycle or is it a guessing game each month?
Dr.Sarah addresses the root cause of period dysfunction utilizing a three tier system of diet, supplementation, and lifestyle modifications (although hormone replacement therapy is used as needed and when appropriate).
Contact for a free 15 minute consultation - it’s a conversation about you.
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