Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy You Feel FaintPainful PeriodsHeavy PeriodsHormonal Changes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why You Feel Faint
Painful Periods
Heavy Periods
Hormonal Changes
Some people feel lightheaded or experience fainting episodes during their period. If you feel period cramps so badly you almost pass out, then you may also be concerned that it’s a sign of a serious issue rather than a common experience.
Your body undergoes many changes during a normalmenstrual cycle. Sometimes these changes can heighten certain responses in your body that increase your risk of fainting during your period.
This article explains the medical reasons why people faint from any cause. It also discusses the specific reasons why that may happen during your period and what you can do about it.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Why You Feel Like You’re Going to Pass Out
Vasovagal syncopeis the most common type of fainting and is characterized as a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to fainting. During your period, changes in your body, such as hormonal fluctuations, pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and low blood sugar, may increase your chance of fainting.
Vasovagal syncope involves both your nervous and cardiac systems. The nervous system is always sending signals that control heart rate and other vital functions in your body. One of those nerves is thevagus. Certain things can trigger a reflex in which the vagus nerve sends signals that cause heart rate and blood pressure to drop quickly. This can cause decreased blood flow to your brain and lead to fainting.
As these changes are happening, they cause common symptoms that may include:
If you know the warning signs, you can try to avoid fainting because of a vasovagal response. But sometimes, these symptoms come on too fast, and you can’t stop yourself from fainting.
The most common type of fainting is called vasovagal syncope. Certain triggers can cause heart rate and blood pressure to drop. This reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain and may lead to a fainting episode.
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: What’s the Difference?
Pain, in general, is a known trigger for vasovagal syncope. Just like other forms of pain, your response to period pain can cause changes in your body that lead you to faint.But there might be something specific about period pain that increases your chance of fainting.
Primarydysmenorrhea, or a painful period with no underlying cause, is related to a hormone calledprostaglandin. It’s produced in theendometrium, the lining of your uterus, during the later part of your menstrual cycle, right before and as your period starts.
Painful periods may cause your body to make more prostaglandin, which your body needs to manage pain, illness, and injury. One of these responses will cause your blood vessels to open wider, a process known asvasodilation.
Fibroids
Uterine fibroids, also known asleiomyomas, are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and can lead to painful periods. In addition to pain, fibroids can cause heavy or long-lasting menstrual bleeding, bloating, trouble going to the bathroom, pain during intercourse, infertility, and miscarriage. Many people with uteruses experience fibroids, but Black people are three times as likely to develop fibroids as white people.
There are many possible treatment options for fibroids, including:
Many people wonder when pelvic pain warrants a trip to seek emergency care. If you have severe pain that is associated with fever, dizziness, fainting, nausea, and vomiting, or if pain keeps you from walking or sitting normally, it might be a good idea to seek emergency medical care. It is important to determine if the pain is from menstrual cramps or something else that requires urgent treatment, such as a ruptured ovarian cyst, appendicitis, an intestinal blockage, or another problem.
Endometriosis
Endometriosisis a condition where tissue that lines the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus.Endometrial tissue might grow almost anywhere in the body but is more commonly found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, kidneys, and liver. It can cause debilitating symptoms and severe pain. The only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is a surgical procedure where tissue outside the uterus is collected and analyzed to see if it is endometrial tissue.
While there is no cure for endometriosis, some treatments include:
What to Do About PainTaking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen is probably your best treatment option. This will both ease your pain and decrease prostaglandin production. This, in turn, may limit the risk of feeling faint on your period. Some studies suggest that you should avoid smoking and caffeinated drinks, too.
What to Do About Pain
Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen is probably your best treatment option. This will both ease your pain and decrease prostaglandin production. This, in turn, may limit the risk of feeling faint on your period. Some studies suggest that you should avoid smoking and caffeinated drinks, too.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosisis a potentially painful condition in which the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows into the muscular walls of the uterus. Although most women withadenomyosisare in their 40s and 50s, younger women are being diagnosed at higher rates.It is diagnosed with a clinical history of symptoms and can be detected with ultrasound and MRI.
Treatment for adenomyosis includes:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is associated with painful periods, although the exact cause is somewhat unclear. Some research suggests it may be due to the general hormonal imbalances typically seen in people with PCOS.
Treatment for PCOS can include lifestyle changes, oral contraceptives, and other medications to help withhormones.
Often, aheavier menstrual flowis associated with more build-up of the endometrial lining in your uterus during your menstrual cycle. This may lead to more prostaglandin production—which, as noted above, might also increase the chances of a fainting episode.
Heavy periods also can lead to blood loss that causesanemia. When you are anemic, the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry is lower. When your brain senses even the slightest drop in oxygen levels, it triggers the changes that may lead to fainting.
The amount of flow in a period is relative, however, there are some guidelines. Your period is considered heavy if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
What to Do About AnemiaEating foods rich in iron or taking iron supplements may increase the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.It may help you to avoid this cause of feeling faint during your period.
What to Do About Anemia
Eating foods rich in iron or taking iron supplements may increase the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.It may help you to avoid this cause of feeling faint during your period.
There are many factors that can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, also calledmenorrhagia. Some people simply have a more heavy period based on their own genetics and predisposition. Other reasons periods can become heavy include:
An Overview of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Changes in hormone levels are the basis of your menstrual cycle. If you have regular cycles, the estrogen and progesterone levels in your body change in typical ways across the cycle.During the start of your period, these hormone levels are at their lowest.
Why Period Poops Happen and How to Deal With It
Hypoglycemia
In some people, these hormonal shifts can cause changes in insulin sensitivity that can lead to episodes of relatively low blood sugar calledhypoglycemia. These episodes can happen even if you do not have diabetes. Low blood sugar levels also may lead to a vasovagal response that causes you to faint.
What to Do About Blood SugarSimple shifts in diet can help you to avoid low blood sugars that may lead to fainting during your period. Don’t skip breakfast, and eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. Avoiding foods high in simple sugars, like candy, can help to minimize episodes of hypoglycemia that can lead to fainting during your period.
What to Do About Blood Sugar
Simple shifts in diet can help you to avoid low blood sugars that may lead to fainting during your period. Don’t skip breakfast, and eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. Avoiding foods high in simple sugars, like candy, can help to minimize episodes of hypoglycemia that can lead to fainting during your period.
What Is Hypoglycemia?
Fluid Shifts
Another cause of fainting episodes is linked to fluid shifts in your body. The low hormonal levels during a period may cause more fluid to move from the bloodstream and into body tissues. This may cause edema, or swelling, of the legs and ankles. It also means there is less blood volume circulating oxygen throughout your body.
Your body reacts to this much as it does to dehydration. Because the amount of fluid in your bloodstream is less, your body can’t adjust as well to changes in position. This may cause a drop in blood pressure when you stand or move, calledorthostatic hypotension,which can lead to fainting.
Orthostatic Hypotension
POTS
Symptoms of POTS include fatigue, dizziness, and frequent fainting.
What to Do About Fluid Intake
Summary
Some people do experience fainting spells during their periods. In many cases, hormonal changes in the body during your period may be part of the reason. These can lead to lower blood pressure, less blood volume, lower blood sugar, anemia, and a more sensitive vagal response.
A Word From VerywellSevere pain, heavy bleeding, or fainting can occur during the menstrual cycle, but if you experience these things, you should consult with your healthcare provider. Your menstrual cycle should not negatively impact your quality of life. Talk to your provider about what may be causing your symptoms and what the best management option is for you.—RENITA WHITE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Severe pain, heavy bleeding, or fainting can occur during the menstrual cycle, but if you experience these things, you should consult with your healthcare provider. Your menstrual cycle should not negatively impact your quality of life. Talk to your provider about what may be causing your symptoms and what the best management option is for you.—RENITA WHITE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Severe pain, heavy bleeding, or fainting can occur during the menstrual cycle, but if you experience these things, you should consult with your healthcare provider. Your menstrual cycle should not negatively impact your quality of life. Talk to your provider about what may be causing your symptoms and what the best management option is for you.
—RENITA WHITE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Syncope.Corvino AR, Russo V, Monaco MGL, et al.Vasovagal syncope at work: a narrative review for an occupational management proposal.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5460. doi:10.3390/ijerph20085460Tataj-Puzyna U, Ilczuk P, Kalita-Kurzyńska K, Gotlib J.Women’s experiences of dysmenorrhoea – preliminary study.Prz Menopauzalny. 2021;20(3):133-139. doi:10.5114/pm.2021.109771Stewart EA, Cookson CL, Gandolfo RA, Schulze-Rath R.Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review.BJOG. 2017;124(10):1501-1512. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14640Gruber TM, Mechsner S.Pathogenesis of endometriosis: The origin of pain and subfertility.Cells. 2021;10(6). doi:10.3390/cells10061381McKinnon BD, Nirgianakis K, Ma L, et al.Computer-aided histopathological characterisation of endometriosis lesions.J Pers Med. 2022;12(9):1519. doi:10.3390/jpm12091519Al-Husban N, Odeh O, Dabit T, Masadeh A.The Influence of Lifestyle Variables on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study.Int J Womens Health. 2022 Apr 13;14:545-553. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S338651.Schrager S, Yogendran L, Marquez CM, Sadowski EA.Adenomyosis: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(1):33-38.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of PCOS?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Kumar A, Sharma E, Marley A, Samaan MA, Brookes MJ.Iron deficiency anaemia: pathophysiology, assessment, practical management.BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan;9(1):e000759. doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000759.Elbarbary N, Moser O, Al Yaarubi S, Alsaffar H, Al Shaikh A, Ajjan RA,et al.Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes.Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2021 Nov-Dec;18(6):14791641211062155. doi:10.1177/14791641211062155.Wester M, Bergmann T, Müller-Schilling M, Maier LS, Sossalla ST.Transient hypoglycemia as a rare cause of recurring transient loss of consciousness: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2021;15:261. doi:10.1186/s13256-021-02844-zSawai A, Tochigi Y, Kavaliova N, et al.MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(1):e0191022. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191022Pollack B, von Saltza E, McCorkell L, Santos L, Hultman A, Cohen AK,et al.Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2023 Apr 28;4:1122673. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1122673.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Syncope.Corvino AR, Russo V, Monaco MGL, et al.Vasovagal syncope at work: a narrative review for an occupational management proposal.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5460. doi:10.3390/ijerph20085460Tataj-Puzyna U, Ilczuk P, Kalita-Kurzyńska K, Gotlib J.Women’s experiences of dysmenorrhoea – preliminary study.Prz Menopauzalny. 2021;20(3):133-139. doi:10.5114/pm.2021.109771Stewart EA, Cookson CL, Gandolfo RA, Schulze-Rath R.Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review.BJOG. 2017;124(10):1501-1512. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14640Gruber TM, Mechsner S.Pathogenesis of endometriosis: The origin of pain and subfertility.Cells. 2021;10(6). doi:10.3390/cells10061381McKinnon BD, Nirgianakis K, Ma L, et al.Computer-aided histopathological characterisation of endometriosis lesions.J Pers Med. 2022;12(9):1519. doi:10.3390/jpm12091519Al-Husban N, Odeh O, Dabit T, Masadeh A.The Influence of Lifestyle Variables on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study.Int J Womens Health. 2022 Apr 13;14:545-553. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S338651.Schrager S, Yogendran L, Marquez CM, Sadowski EA.Adenomyosis: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(1):33-38.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of PCOS?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Kumar A, Sharma E, Marley A, Samaan MA, Brookes MJ.Iron deficiency anaemia: pathophysiology, assessment, practical management.BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan;9(1):e000759. doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000759.Elbarbary N, Moser O, Al Yaarubi S, Alsaffar H, Al Shaikh A, Ajjan RA,et al.Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes.Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2021 Nov-Dec;18(6):14791641211062155. doi:10.1177/14791641211062155.Wester M, Bergmann T, Müller-Schilling M, Maier LS, Sossalla ST.Transient hypoglycemia as a rare cause of recurring transient loss of consciousness: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2021;15:261. doi:10.1186/s13256-021-02844-zSawai A, Tochigi Y, Kavaliova N, et al.MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(1):e0191022. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191022Pollack B, von Saltza E, McCorkell L, Santos L, Hultman A, Cohen AK,et al.Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2023 Apr 28;4:1122673. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1122673.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Syncope.Corvino AR, Russo V, Monaco MGL, et al.Vasovagal syncope at work: a narrative review for an occupational management proposal.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5460. doi:10.3390/ijerph20085460Tataj-Puzyna U, Ilczuk P, Kalita-Kurzyńska K, Gotlib J.Women’s experiences of dysmenorrhoea – preliminary study.Prz Menopauzalny. 2021;20(3):133-139. doi:10.5114/pm.2021.109771Stewart EA, Cookson CL, Gandolfo RA, Schulze-Rath R.Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review.BJOG. 2017;124(10):1501-1512. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14640Gruber TM, Mechsner S.Pathogenesis of endometriosis: The origin of pain and subfertility.Cells. 2021;10(6). doi:10.3390/cells10061381McKinnon BD, Nirgianakis K, Ma L, et al.Computer-aided histopathological characterisation of endometriosis lesions.J Pers Med. 2022;12(9):1519. doi:10.3390/jpm12091519Al-Husban N, Odeh O, Dabit T, Masadeh A.The Influence of Lifestyle Variables on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study.Int J Womens Health. 2022 Apr 13;14:545-553. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S338651.Schrager S, Yogendran L, Marquez CM, Sadowski EA.Adenomyosis: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(1):33-38.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of PCOS?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Kumar A, Sharma E, Marley A, Samaan MA, Brookes MJ.Iron deficiency anaemia: pathophysiology, assessment, practical management.BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan;9(1):e000759. doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000759.Elbarbary N, Moser O, Al Yaarubi S, Alsaffar H, Al Shaikh A, Ajjan RA,et al.Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes.Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2021 Nov-Dec;18(6):14791641211062155. doi:10.1177/14791641211062155.Wester M, Bergmann T, Müller-Schilling M, Maier LS, Sossalla ST.Transient hypoglycemia as a rare cause of recurring transient loss of consciousness: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2021;15:261. doi:10.1186/s13256-021-02844-zSawai A, Tochigi Y, Kavaliova N, et al.MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(1):e0191022. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191022Pollack B, von Saltza E, McCorkell L, Santos L, Hultman A, Cohen AK,et al.Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2023 Apr 28;4:1122673. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1122673.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Syncope.
Corvino AR, Russo V, Monaco MGL, et al.Vasovagal syncope at work: a narrative review for an occupational management proposal.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5460. doi:10.3390/ijerph20085460
Tataj-Puzyna U, Ilczuk P, Kalita-Kurzyńska K, Gotlib J.Women’s experiences of dysmenorrhoea – preliminary study.Prz Menopauzalny. 2021;20(3):133-139. doi:10.5114/pm.2021.109771
Stewart EA, Cookson CL, Gandolfo RA, Schulze-Rath R.Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review.BJOG. 2017;124(10):1501-1512. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.14640
Gruber TM, Mechsner S.Pathogenesis of endometriosis: The origin of pain and subfertility.Cells. 2021;10(6). doi:10.3390/cells10061381
McKinnon BD, Nirgianakis K, Ma L, et al.Computer-aided histopathological characterisation of endometriosis lesions.J Pers Med. 2022;12(9):1519. doi:10.3390/jpm12091519
Al-Husban N, Odeh O, Dabit T, Masadeh A.The Influence of Lifestyle Variables on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study.Int J Womens Health. 2022 Apr 13;14:545-553. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S338651.
Schrager S, Yogendran L, Marquez CM, Sadowski EA.Adenomyosis: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(1):33-38.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development.What are the symptoms of PCOS?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
Kumar A, Sharma E, Marley A, Samaan MA, Brookes MJ.Iron deficiency anaemia: pathophysiology, assessment, practical management.BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan;9(1):e000759. doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000759.
Elbarbary N, Moser O, Al Yaarubi S, Alsaffar H, Al Shaikh A, Ajjan RA,et al.Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes.Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2021 Nov-Dec;18(6):14791641211062155. doi:10.1177/14791641211062155.
Wester M, Bergmann T, Müller-Schilling M, Maier LS, Sossalla ST.Transient hypoglycemia as a rare cause of recurring transient loss of consciousness: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2021;15:261. doi:10.1186/s13256-021-02844-z
Sawai A, Tochigi Y, Kavaliova N, et al.MRI reveals menstrually-related muscle edema that negatively affects athletic agility in young women.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(1):e0191022. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191022
Pollack B, von Saltza E, McCorkell L, Santos L, Hultman A, Cohen AK,et al.Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2023 Apr 28;4:1122673. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1122673.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. National Institutes of Health.Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
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