Ladies, a question

hmmmm I've never heard of anything like that. Have you called your doctors?

I would deffinitly contact your doctor and explain whats going on. good luck The only thing I've heard remotely related (and it's not really) is that when you have cramps it helps ease them by exercising.. so I just don't know hun.

I've never heard of that either....any chance you might be pregnant? I would definitely call your dr. though! There might be something else going on.
Good Luck!!

I would suggest calling the doc first. I went thru that when I had IUD and turned out it was an allergic reaction. Some of my friends experience that and it's because of the pill. So many speculations, so the best way would be to check with your doctor.

When I first started exercising and changed my eating habits, I would have breakthrough bleeding. I don't anymore. I think a lot of the times your hormones get thrown off.

Go see the doctor, don't just call. It is better to have an actual exam and know what is going on, it could be hormone fluctuations, but your doctor can't diagnose over the phone.

I had the same problem when I was doing the couch to 5K last year. I guess I didn't worry too much about it as it was just light spotting. I did google some and it seems to be fairly common - though apparently not on MFP! Maybe call an Ask A Nurse line if you have one in your town.

I thought this was interesting. WTG on the no BC thing, (healthiest thing you can be doing...nothing!)

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear Dr. Sugar,
I would really appreciate some information about women spotting after higher intensity exercise. What is the cause of the spotting? Are there any dangers? If I keep doing the exercises that trigger the spotting, will the spotting go away? I enjoy challenging myself but I do not want to damage my body. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.
— Nervous About Down There

To see what DrSugar has to say on this topic, read more.

I understand your concern and can tell you that vaginal bleeding between periods or "spotting" is fairly common and can have many different causes. From your description, it sounds like the trigger of your spotting is high-intensity exercise. When it comes to intense exercise, it is actually more common to have lighter periods or less frequent periods than it is to have spotting. However, spotting during very heavy exercise has been reported by some women. Either symptom, spotting or loss of periods, could be a sign that you are stressing your body too much. The bleeding itself is probably not dangerous, assuming it is only a small amount, but you could be causing damage to other parts of your body from exercising too much or too hard. I would recommend listening to what your body is telling you and try to cut back a little to see if the spotting goes away.

I would also keep in mind that there are many other issues that could be contributing to your spotting. It would be a good idea to make absolutely sure that you are not pregnant. Certain problems related to pregnancy can cause spotting. Also note that some women experience spotting during ovulation, so if you only notice the bleeding mid-cycle, this could be the cause. If the spotting does not improve with a lighter exercise regimen, I would recommend seeing a doctor for a full evaluation. For more online information check out the FitSugar health guide on vaginal bleeding between periods.

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DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Since you don't have insurance, if this persists after lighter workouts, go see Planned Parenthood. Their real purpose is helping women take charge of their reproductive health, and that includes what you're dealing with. Also, a blood panel done for pregnancy testing could A. catch pregnancy if your drug-store test missed it or B. tip you off to hormonal imbalances that could be to blame.

It's called Exercise Induced Amenorrhea...Heavy or strenuous exercise, including intense sports such as ballet dancing, gymnastics, Olympic-length triathlons and long-distance running, can trigger spotting in between periods. Strenuous exercise can slow or prevent the release of GnRH, which is a type of hormone that tells the body when to start its menstrual period. The combination of extreme exercise and low body weight can cause the body to go into a “starvation mode,” in which it starts to shut down organ systems, including the reproductive system. See a doctor for a diagnosis he/she can rule out any other medical conditions and complications. In the meantime, listen to your body while you are exercising. Slow down if you feel you are pushing yourself too hard. Reduce your exercise levels to 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, such as a 30-minute bike ride five days a week. Or you can do 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, such as jogging for 35 minutes three days per week. Perform exercises that reduce stress such as yoga, Pilates or martial arts at least twice a week.

Do you have an IUD or are you pregnant, perhaps? I can't think of any reason why exercise would do this. You should see a doctor.