Why is my period lighter than usual all of the sudden?

[Gymnastxo96]

I am going to be 30 this year and not close to perimenopause and I noticed my period is much lighter than usual. This month I have spotting for 5 days before my actual period and my actual period starts 5 days later sometimes with a light flow and it’s not as heavy as it used to be. I used to have spotting for a day before my period started and it was always heavy after that. What is causing a change in my period whew I get spotting for 5 days before my period starts then it’s a light flow. Is this normal or abnormal and what can this mean?

Have you lost weight recently?

Gently, it may be peri. If things are still different next month, see your GP.

It would be rare for a woman to be in peri-menopause at the age of 29. I honestly get really tired of this being trotted out to try and explain every single period related issue that a woman has. It seems to be a trend to shoehorn peri menopause into every problem a woman has

of course there’s always a chance it’s peri but this really shouldn’t be your first port of call as an explanation

it’s more likely to be ‘ one of those things! So I’d see how it goes for a couple of months and then see your GP

You should always see your go for any unusual bleeding. Most likely nothing and just the general mystery of the human body but worth checking

No I haven’t. I am still the same weight. What’s going on and why is my period much lighter? This isn’t sign of a disease or cancer right? It’s more hormonal?

How could it be perimenopause if I am going to be 30 this week? It can’t be!! How is this possible? What else can it be?

I'm assuming you haven't started/changed birth control method. The combined pill made mine lighter, and the mini pill stopped them altogether after a few months of light spotting.
How light is light, and is it just this month? Any possibility you could be pregnant? Light bleeding in early pregnancy should be checked out, but isn't as uncommon as people think.

Yeah because I had my hormones checked and everything was fine. But I do have the Copper IUD and I had it for 7 years. Usually it would cause heavier bleeding. What else do you think is causing this?

It’s so light where the blood isn’t on the pad but I’m still bleeding. I am definitely not pregnant I have the copper IUD. I had it for 7 years. It only happened this month. Last month was fine. What could this be? Could it be cancer or infection or a hormonal issue? I got my hormones checked a few months ago and it was normal. There is no way I’m in perimenopause. I’m going to be 30 this week. What else can it be?

I expect it's just one of those things, I had a few periods that were 40 days apart in my late twenties for no particular reason. It definitely wasn't peri, that started around 47.

So what can it be for me?

Don't panic. I used to get the occasional month like this sometimes.

Really? How come? What is it caused by?

Have you taken a pregnancy test? I know you have the copper coil and whilst it’s >99% effective, no method is 100%.

Also, can you feel your coil threads?

Hormones can just be weird sometimes. If it’s persistent and happens next month then start getting it checked out, but it could be stress, tiredness, exercise, eating differently, a cold, or just a random blip. It’s not always a linear cause and effect. You do seem excessively worried about it - has something happened to you recently?

No I haven’t taken a pregnancy test and I know I am not pregnant because my period is starting to get heavier but isn’t showing up on the pad which is weird. And most guys don’t feel the IUD strings during sex but the doctor saw the strings last week during my last exam and it said on the notes
downward, normal appearing, no lesions IUD string seen does it mean the IUD shifted? I don’t feel anything. What does this mean?

So you had a cervical examination last week? That’s probably why then - your cervix got irritated and you’ve started spotting early

Sorry if this is offensive (it isn’t meant to be; I’m a sexual health/contraception nurse and these are really normal questions for me), when you say ‘most guys’, do you mean multiple partners? I would suggest a sexual health screening as there are many STIs than can cause unusual bleeding.

I would also strongly recommend a pregnancy test if you presented for an appointment with me for this issue.

Downward = position of your cervix (normal)
IUD string seen is a good thing as you are meant to be able to see about 2.5cm of threads on examination if they’ve been cut to the correct length.

I would make an appointment at a sexual health clinic for screening and a coil check.

Is your copper coil reaching the end of its life? As I had the same spotting for days when mine was due to come out. Since I have had it out, periods have returned to either straight into normal period or just a brief bit of spotting before

Yeah I had a Pap smear last week. That’s why I spotted days before my period this month?

Yeah I had a Pap smear last week. That could cause 5 days of spotting before my period? And a lighter period? What is the lighter period caused by?

I had it first put in back in 2019. It lasts 10 years and it still works and I have 3 more years left so it’s not the end of it’s life yet what do you think?

Yeah I mean multiple partners but I am safe about it I mostly use condoms and get tested frequently and my last STD test came back negative last week. So what is going on?

Oh dear,you sound so anxious OP. Although youve had some good advice in the posts, my suggestion is to make another appointment with your GP & everything you have stated here tell the GP & see what they say,even if its just to give you peace of mind

Yeah my gyno isn’t really that helpful but my period is starting to get heavier a little so this could be normal or spotting for 5 days before your flow isn’t normal?