Spotting in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

You are on your Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery journey and experience spotting? You have recovered from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and are confused by spotting? Then this blog post is for you.

What is spotting?

Spotting refers to the light bleeding that some individuals experience outside of their regular menstrual cycle. It is often characterized by a few drops of blood that may appear on underwear or toilet paper.

How can you differentiate spotting from a period?

• Spotting is generally much lighter than a regular period.

• Spotting is usually shorter in duration compared to a full menstrual period. It might last only a few hours or up to a couple of days. Menstrual periods typically last for several days.

• Menstrual blood is often thicker and darker in color, while spotting may involve lighter-colored blood and can even appear pink or brown.

• Spotting can occur at any point in the menstrual cycle and is not restricted to the typical menstrual period time-frame.

Spotting in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery

It is quite common with spotting at the two extremes of the menstrual cycle. During adolescence as well as pre-menopause the hormonal cascade that controls menstruation is maturing; hormonal imbalances can occur that result in irregular bleeding patterns or spotting. So if you experience spotting in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea recovery it is a good sign you are on the right path! It means you have gone from zero hormones to some. LH and FSH are not quite there yet to go through with ovulation, but your body produces enough estrogen and progesterone to start the buildup of the uterus lining. You might experience one or two “spotting periods” before your real period returns. If however the spotting continues to reappear, or nothing more is happening, you need to step up your recovery game a bit further.

Spotting post Hypothalamic Amenorrhea Recovery

Spotting might happen also after you have recovered from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea. The cause of the spotting depends on when the spotting is happening.

Spotting around ovulation

Spotting during or immediately before or after ovulation is spotting which occurs roughly in the middle of a menstrual cycle. Changes in estrogen levels are often the cause of this type of spotting, and light spotting around ovulation does not usually signal a problem. If you need help with knowing how to detect ovulation I have a detailed post on that here.

Spotting mid luteal phase

Estrogen causes the endometrium to thicken, and peaks at ovulation. Progesterone rises at that time to maintain the endometrium. If insufficient progesterone is present at the time the estrogen begins to drop, spotting may result. This spotting usually lasts from 1-3 days. This might be a sign of hormonal imbalances as estrogen dominance or insufficient amounts of progesterone.

Spotting before / after onset of period

Normal and healthy luteal phase lasts around 12-14 days, long enough to allow an embryo to implant successfully. Sometimes, progesterone levels drop sooner than they should, your uterine lining starts shedding and you start spotting few days before period. This might be a sign of insufficient amounts of progesterone and potentially luteal phase defect.

Implantation bleeding

Implantation bleeding is as a small amount of light spotting or bleeding that might occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. It is thought to happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Most people don't experience implantation bleeding and others have it but don't notice it.

*All content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.