Patient's question:
Patient Gender:Female
Current General Condition: My previous menstrual cycles were all normal. However, this time, it has been 3 days, and the menstrual flow is significantly less than usual. Previously, I had to change my sanitary pads several times a day, but now I only need to change them 2-3 times a day. Moreover, it's not because the sanitary pad is overflowing that I change it, but rather I feel it's unhygienic and change it before it even gets that wet. In addition, I've been experiencing some discomfort symptoms these past few days: dry mouth, yellow tongue, sore throat, and poor sleep, waking up once a night to urinate.
Question for the Expert: Given my current condition, what should I do?
Doctor's answer:
Generally, a light menstrual flow is caused by low estrogen levels. Estrogen stimulates the proliferation and thickening of the endometrium, preparing it for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the thickened endometrium sheds, resulting in menstruation. Low estrogen levels in the body can lead to insufficient endometrial thickening, resulting in a light menstrual flow. This condition may affect fertility in the future.However, for young girls shortly after menarche, estrogen secretion in their bodies has not yet reached a balanced and stable state. Therefore, their menstrual flow is usually light, and their periods may sometimes come early or be delayed, which is normal. Even after establishing a regular menstrual cycle or stable bleeding volume, temporary endocrine disorders may still occur due to emotional stress, environmental changes, increased psychological pressure, or sudden shocks. These factors can temporarily disrupt estrogen secretion, leading to an increase or decrease in menstrual flow. Once these temporary factors are resolved, menstruation will return to normal.
Another possible cause is malnutrition. Some girls have picky eating habits or are underweight, while others intentionally reduce their food intake to lose weight, leading to insufficient nutritional supply. During puberty, the body develops rapidly, and heavy academic tasks and increased physical activity consume a lot of energy, requiring adequate nutrition and calories. If the nutrients absorbed are insufficient to meet the body's needs, the body may trigger a defensive response, which can also cause a light menstrual flow or even amenorrhea. This condition not only leads to poor development of reproductive organs like the uterus, potentially increasing the risk of infertility in the future but also weakens the body's immune function, creating conditions for diseases to take hold. Teenage girls should learn more about health care to avoid harming their bodies due to ignorance.