Facebook Pixel
Q: 

My menstrual Cycle has been cut short from 7-8 days to 4, WHY?

By September 3, 2009 - 5:04pm
 
Rate This

What would make my cycle lighter and last shorter days? I am not on birth control, but my menstrual cycles seem to be getting lighter and lasting shorter periods. My cycles use to last 7-8 days, but this month and last they have been cut short. Looks like I stopped 3 days into the cycle last month and then started back the next day. And this month. I started a little earlier, instead of going 28 days with no period, I went 26 days. I was heavy the first two days and after that my cycle was sooo light that I began using the very thin padding. By the fourth or fifth day I had no cycle. What would be causing my menstrual cycle to be cut short? I know this time, when I stopped flowing early I felt as if I was going to start on my cycle which was weird because in actuality I should have still been on my cycle. I'm worried. Does anyone have any suggestions about what may be going on with me and why? Has anyone experience what I'm going through? Could I be pregnant? I took a EPT pregnancy test right after my cycle stopped and it tested negative. I don't feel pregnant, but I surely stay sleepy alot. I could sleep all day if I had the time to. I have heard that you can be pregnant when you are on your cycle. I have never had wrong pregnancy test results. I have also been a little nauseous, but usually at night and not so much morning.

Add a Comment49 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My period has always been regular until last month. I just turned 35 last month and my period started later in the day then usual. This month it was a day late and so light that all I had to use was a panty liner.
I don't know if this is normal or should I call my doctor and ask questions?

June 9, 2014 - 7:33am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My situation is kinda similar whereas I used to have a 4-6 day period now for the past two months its been like heavy for the first 2 days and light on the 3rd day and then the fourth/fifth day it would be just spotting. Thought I could be pregnant but then I took like 4 different brands of pregnancy test and they all came out as NEGATIVE. I had a regular 4-6 days period on April 2nd- 6th and then in May it came on the 30th and lasted 3 days. The last time I was sexually active was about 2 weeks after my period ended in April. I stopped thinking I was pregnant after I saw my period in May, then it came again on June 1st but just like May it lasted 3 days. Then ive been reading so much online and now I'm really confused because I cant sleep thinking about this. I have no pregnancy symptoms. I just sleep alot which is usual for me because I work 10 hours a day(8am-6pm) and when I get home i'm usually tired so I just go to bed and wake up 6am the next morning. I dont usually feel sleepy during the day. A few days leading to my period I had what I believe is PMS which was back pain /my breast were a little swollen and my body temperature was rather high. I dont feel nauseous, i dont have frequent headaches and all the other early signs of pregnancy. I've read that if your daily routine changes a little then that causes your menstrual cycle to waiver a little. I have started jogging a few weeks before my period came. I dont know if that made a difference. I dont know what to do anymore because all the tests ive taken are negative. Your help would be appreciated!

June 3, 2014 - 2:29pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I am 12 and this is day 7 and it has no sign of stopping and I am going away tomorrow and I want it to stop but it won't. Plz plz can someone help me

April 24, 2014 - 3:45am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I started my period four years ago. Ever since I started it has been consistent of five days once a month. The past two periods I've had have only lasted about three days at most. What could be causing this?

January 13, 2014 - 4:14pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

My first period came when i was 12. At then my period lasted about 7~8 days and its was moderately heavy with a few times being very heavy. And then after about a year when i was 13, the length of my period shortened till it was about 5~7 days being moderately heavy as well. Sometimes it will only come about after 2 months. I didnt think much then. Then the length of my period gradually shortens over the years and the flow generally decreased. At the age of 15 now, my period last only 2 days and only the first day it would be moderately heavy. Also every time when my period is coming to an end, i would bled out a rather big piece of blood clot. Generally not much pms other than severe bloating and depression. Anybody can tell me why is this happening?

December 31, 2013 - 8:45am

I have for the past 3_4 weeks been having bad headaches and felt nausea. It would only happen during at night. During my last period_i barely bleed. Just the first day of my cycle. The second day of my 7day cycle I wasn't bleeding that much cause it bcame very light.3rd day during my period it went away completly and then the next morning it was just spotting. 4th day was just spotting again 5th and 6th day period was done. It was suppose to last for 7days. On the 7th day however I started getting my period cramps even though my period had finished. I never use any contraseptive. I did this year for the first time. But I haven't used any contraseptive tablets for the past 4months so I don't knw what this is or what it means. Anyone perhaps knows? I want to take a pregnancy test but again I don't feel like I'm pregnant at all. Any advice?

December 5, 2013 - 12:31pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi my period came last month but it only last 4-5 days and its always 6-7 days so back in august I had a miscarage so could u be pregnant again

November 19, 2013 - 7:30am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Sounds like my story is pretty similar to these. I'm 26 years old. For the last seven years or so my period always starts 20 days after the previous one ends, lasts 5 days, and tends to be super heavy except for the last day or two when it slows down and stops. This month and last month, my period has been exactly on time, but much much lighter, and this month it is ending after 3 days instead of 5. I used to be paranoid about early menopause because from age 11 to 19 I had super heavy periods for 8 days at only 14 days apart, so I had twice as many periods as I should have in those years. Are these lighter periods most likely just another new normal or should I be worried? I suppose pregnancy is also a small possibility, but I've had no particular reason to believe I am aside from lighter bleeding.

October 6, 2013 - 1:00am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Anonymous,

Have you been to a doctor regarding your irregularity? Women are all different and our periods are never the same, some days light - heavy, sometimes cramps while other times - we have no idea they even started until we use the bathroom.....this is all pretty common and there is really no rhyme or reason why some months are one way while the next is completely different. I think we get used to a normal cycle, then when that changes - we get concerned something is wrong while the following month goes back to what we think is the norm.

In my life, I tend to get concerned after about 3 months of irregularity and then I will make an appointment with the OBGYN. However, if this irregularity only occurs every once in a while - this may just be the norm.

Can you keep us posted? I still think you may want to get a checkup since your periods are irregular although you may have already been to your doctor about this issue. Has your doctor said anything to you before about your 20 day periods?

 

Keep us posted,

Missie

October 6, 2013 - 7:31am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

What would make my cycle lighter and last shorter days? I am not on birth control, but my menstrual cycles seem to be getting lighter and lasting shorter periods. My cycles use to last 7-8 days, but this month and last they have been cut short. Looks like I stopped 3 days into the cycle last month and then started back the next day. And this month. I started a little earlier, instead of going 28 days with no period, I went 26 days. I was heavy the first two days and after that my cycle was sooo light that I began using the very thin padding. By the fourth or fifth day I had no cycle. What would be causing my menstrual cycle to be cut short? I know this time, when I stopped flowing early I felt as if I was going to start on my cycle which was weird because in actuality I should have still been on my cycle. I'm worried. Does anyone have any suggestions about what may be going on with me and why? Has anyone experience what I'm going through? Could I be pregnant? I took a EPT pregnancy test right after my cycle stopped and it tested negative. I don't feel pregnant, but I surely stay sleepy alot. I could sleep all day if I had the time to. I have heard that you can be pregnant when you are on your cycle. I have never had wrong pregnancy test results. I have also been a little nauseous, but usually at night and not so much morning.

September 26, 2013 - 1:56am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Menstrual Cycle

Get Email Updates

Related Checklists

Menstrual Cycle Guide

HERWriter Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!