Menstruation Symptoms But No Bleeding

The painful menstruation cramps are a sign for many healthy women that their reproductive cycle is normal. Menstrual cramps are one of the many symptoms of menstruation. When a woman experiences these symptoms, she becomes aware that she is about to begin with the menstruation.

However, sometimes one experiences menstruation symptoms but no bleeding. This becomes a cause of worry for many women and a few become joyous thinking it may be one of the early signs of pregnancy. In the following sections, we will be discussing the topic in detail.

• Women who are sexually active and have unprotected sex have chances of getting pregnant. If you have been trying for a baby, it is a possibility that you have conceived. 

Many women experience period-like symptoms when they are pregnant or around the time their periods are due. It is the body's way of preparing for the pregnancy. One should wait for a week or so after experiencing menstruation signs and no bleeding, before taking a pregnancy test.

• Another reason can be implantation. When the sperm fertilizes the egg which tries to move down to the uterus from the Fallopian tube. When it reaches the uterus, it tries to attach itself to the uterine lining. This process is called implantation and one may experience this symptom.

• A woman may feel these early pregnancy symptoms before the date of her periods. In about 30% of the cases, a woman may experience slight implantation bleeding. The bleeding is light pink or light brown in color and may be one of the pregnancy symptoms. This is different from the bright red and heavy bleeding one experiences during a menstruation cycle.

• The above two reasons may be true for sexually active women. But, what if you are not trying to get pregnant or have not indulged in sexual intercourse lately? You may be experiencing periods symptoms due to ovulation. This is a biological process that may take place mid-way during your menstruation cycle. 

• This means the eggs from the ovaries are being released into the uterus. The ovulation takes place about 2 weeks before you actually begin bleeding. Thus, one may feel pain in the lower abdomen, tender breasts, menstruation cramping when ovulating. It is better to wait for a week or two for your periods to show up after you feel these symptoms.

• Other reason may include hormonal imbalance. Women with thyroid gland disorders, eating disorders, glandular problems, etc., may suffer from irregular periods. They may experience missed menstrual cycle. It is better to visit an endocrinologist for a check up, especially if you are suffering from excessive weight loss or weight gain.

• A few women may be suffering from a serious disorder called the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition is caused due to hormonal problems in a woman. It is related to high androgen levels in the body that results in developing more masculine features. One suffers from obesity, acne, irregular menstruation and amenorrhea causes.

• This is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Women with PCOS may suffer from depression, abdominal cramps, weight gain, etc., that are thought to be similar to signs of a period.

• Obesity is another reason.
• Pre-existing medical conditions and illnesses may also contribute to signs of menses without bleeding.
• Stress, emotional imbalances, psychological conditions may also delay the onset of periods.

• Those who are on birth control pills may find their periods pushed back several dates. All these irregular periods cause may be the reason behind no bleeding after undergoing all the symptoms.

• The start of menopause may also cause the symptom. These women may experience all the signs of menstruation but will not bleed like they used to. This is termed as perimenopause, and the woman may experience tender breasts, headaches, mood changes, hot flushes, bloating, etc., but no bleeding.

The symptoms that may be experienced before the start of your monthly cycle are:

• Back pain
• Abdominal pain
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Body aches like leg pain
• Food cravings
• Water retention
• Sore breasts
• Tender nipples

If you were trying to get pregnant, then this may be one of the signs of pregnancy. Any doubts regarding your condition should be discussed with your gynecologist. This will help ease your mind of different worries and sort out problems, if any.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.