Patient's question:
I am a college student, female, and only 25 years old. I'm always worried about irregular menstruation affecting future fertility, and I feel too embarrassed to go to the hospital. Could you please answer the following: Is it serious if my menstrual flow is light and the duration is short?Doctor's answer:
Reasons for light menstrual flow: Endocrine dysfunction. Due to hypofunction of the pituitary gland, insufficient estrogen secretion by the ovaries leads to inadequate endometrial hyperplasia, resulting in a thinner endometrium. When shedding, the bleeding volume is reduced. Long-term oral contraceptive use can also cause menstrual hypomenorrhea in some patients due to the suppression of pituitary function. Inflammatory conditions of the uterus, such as endometrial dysplasia, can also lead to light menstrual flow. Tuberculous inflammation destroys part of the endometrium, and some cases of rough cervical scraping damage the endometrium. In very few women, menstrual flow remains light after menarche, but their normal fertility during menopause is not affected, which may be due to individual differences. Some patients may occasionally experience light menstrual flow, either during a normal menstrual cycle or during the intermenstrual period. It is also necessary to rule out conditions such as threatened abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and irregular spotting caused by decidual shedding, as well as menopausal functional uterine bleeding.