Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Retrograde menstruation is when blood flows backward into the pelvis instead of out of the vagina duringmenstruation. This is common and actually occurs to some degree in most women who have their period.
Some scientists believe that women with significant retrograde menstruation may be at increased risk forendometriosis—a condition in which cells that typically line the uterus appear on the outside of it. However, not all research supports this.
This article reviews the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis, and discusses why treatment is not necessary.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Retrograde Menstruation Symptoms
People with retrograde menstruation often do not have any symptoms. The primary symptom associated with retrograde menstruation is pain during menstruation (dysmenorrhea).
Unfortunately, this is not very telling, since menstrual pain is also associated with many other conditions affecting reproductive health.
Nevertheless, be sure to mention any extreme or unusual period pain or changes in your period to your healthcare provider.
Causes of Retrograde Menstruation
During retrograde menstruation, blood flows through the Fallopian tubes and out into the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal wall), rather than through the cervix and out the vagina.
Most research about retrograde menstruation looks at it in the context of endometriosis. There is very little research on the causes of retrograde menstruation themselves.
There is also basic research suggesting that having a smaller cervical opening may increase the risk of retrograde blood flow.
Still, as research suggests that retrograde menstruation is extremely common among people who have a uterus, it should probably be considered a normal aspect of menstrual function.
Retrograde menstruation is not usually diagnosed as a condition on its own. It may be diagnosed in the context of endometriosis or pelvic pain evaluation.
For example, retrograde menstruation might be diagnosed if healthcare providers do a laparoscopic examination of the pelvis during menstruation and they see blood.
Unfortunately, many women with endometriosis spend years in pain before they receive a diagnosis. Healthcare providers may attribute symptoms to the more common pain associated with periods or even consider painful periods to be normal.
Discomfort during menstruation is common. However menstrual pain should not be disabling or affect a woman’s ability to live her life.
Healthcare providers should consider a variety of causes, not just assume pain is due to primary dysmenorrhea. Endometriosis is thought to affect as many as 11% of women.It may not be easy to diagnose, but it’s important to check for it when there are signs.
Retrograde menstruation is only a medical concern if and when it leads to symptoms or other conditions, such as endometriosis. As such, it is not treated unless it is causing other problems.
When it is treated, prescription hormones or a hormonal IUD may be recommended to reduceor eliminatemenstrual flow.
Ahysterectomycan also treat retrograde menstruation, but would only be used if there is another reason to remove the uterus.
Theories About Endometriosis Causes
Summary
Retrograde menstruation may sound scary, but remember that it isn’t all that uncommon. It just means that when you get your period, some of the blood and tissue are flowing backward into your pelvis rather than out onto your pad, or into your cup or tampon.
Yes, you still bleed from the vagina. As the uterine lining is shed, a portion of blood flows through the Fallopian tubes and enters the abdominal and pelvic cavity.
It’s common and not fully understood, so there isn’t much you can do to reduce your risk. Hormone medications, such as oral contraceptives or a hormonal IUD, may help lighten periods and potentially reduce retrograde menstruation if it’s causing pain.
How Do Endometriosis Symptoms Feel?
3 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.Kuan KKW, Gibson DA, Whitaker LHR, Horne AW.Menstruation dysregulation and endometriosis development.Front Reprod Health. 2021;3:756704. doi:10.3389/frph.2021.756704Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Jareid M, Thalabard JC, Aarflot M, Bøvelstad HM, Lund E, Braaten T.Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, without increased risk of breast cancer. Results from the NOWAC Study.Gynecol Oncol. 2018;149(1):127-132. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.02.006Additional ReadingAhn SH, Singh V, Tayade C. Biomarkers in endometriosis: challenges and opportunities. Fertil Steril. 2017 Mar;107(3):523-532. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.009.Bokor A, Debrock S, Drijkoningen M, Goossens W, Fülöp V, D’Hooghe T. Quantity and quality of retrograde menstruation: a case control study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 30;7:123. DOI:10.1186/1477-7827-7-123.D’Hooghe TM, Debrock S.Endometriosis, retrograde menstruation and peritoneal inflammation in women and in baboons.Hum Reprod Update. 2002 Jan-Feb;8(1):84-8.Guerriero S, Saba L, Pascual MA, Ajossa S, Rodriguez I, Mais V, Alcazar JL. Transvaginal ultrasound vs magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 May;51(5):586-595. DOI:10.1002/uog.18961.O DF, Roskams T, Van den Eynde K, Vanhie A, Peterse DP, Meuleman C, Tomassetti C, Peeraer K, D’Hooghe TM, Fassbender A. The Presence of Endometrial Cells in Peritoneal Fluid of Women With and Without Endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2017 Feb;24(2):242-251. DOI:10.1177/1933719116653677.
3 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.Kuan KKW, Gibson DA, Whitaker LHR, Horne AW.Menstruation dysregulation and endometriosis development.Front Reprod Health. 2021;3:756704. doi:10.3389/frph.2021.756704Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Jareid M, Thalabard JC, Aarflot M, Bøvelstad HM, Lund E, Braaten T.Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, without increased risk of breast cancer. Results from the NOWAC Study.Gynecol Oncol. 2018;149(1):127-132. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.02.006Additional ReadingAhn SH, Singh V, Tayade C. Biomarkers in endometriosis: challenges and opportunities. Fertil Steril. 2017 Mar;107(3):523-532. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.009.Bokor A, Debrock S, Drijkoningen M, Goossens W, Fülöp V, D’Hooghe T. Quantity and quality of retrograde menstruation: a case control study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 30;7:123. DOI:10.1186/1477-7827-7-123.D’Hooghe TM, Debrock S.Endometriosis, retrograde menstruation and peritoneal inflammation in women and in baboons.Hum Reprod Update. 2002 Jan-Feb;8(1):84-8.Guerriero S, Saba L, Pascual MA, Ajossa S, Rodriguez I, Mais V, Alcazar JL. Transvaginal ultrasound vs magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 May;51(5):586-595. DOI:10.1002/uog.18961.O DF, Roskams T, Van den Eynde K, Vanhie A, Peterse DP, Meuleman C, Tomassetti C, Peeraer K, D’Hooghe TM, Fassbender A. The Presence of Endometrial Cells in Peritoneal Fluid of Women With and Without Endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2017 Feb;24(2):242-251. DOI:10.1177/1933719116653677.
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.
Kuan KKW, Gibson DA, Whitaker LHR, Horne AW.Menstruation dysregulation and endometriosis development.Front Reprod Health. 2021;3:756704. doi:10.3389/frph.2021.756704Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Jareid M, Thalabard JC, Aarflot M, Bøvelstad HM, Lund E, Braaten T.Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, without increased risk of breast cancer. Results from the NOWAC Study.Gynecol Oncol. 2018;149(1):127-132. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.02.006
Kuan KKW, Gibson DA, Whitaker LHR, Horne AW.Menstruation dysregulation and endometriosis development.Front Reprod Health. 2021;3:756704. doi:10.3389/frph.2021.756704
Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.
Jareid M, Thalabard JC, Aarflot M, Bøvelstad HM, Lund E, Braaten T.Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, without increased risk of breast cancer. Results from the NOWAC Study.Gynecol Oncol. 2018;149(1):127-132. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.02.006
Ahn SH, Singh V, Tayade C. Biomarkers in endometriosis: challenges and opportunities. Fertil Steril. 2017 Mar;107(3):523-532. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.009.Bokor A, Debrock S, Drijkoningen M, Goossens W, Fülöp V, D’Hooghe T. Quantity and quality of retrograde menstruation: a case control study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 30;7:123. DOI:10.1186/1477-7827-7-123.D’Hooghe TM, Debrock S.Endometriosis, retrograde menstruation and peritoneal inflammation in women and in baboons.Hum Reprod Update. 2002 Jan-Feb;8(1):84-8.Guerriero S, Saba L, Pascual MA, Ajossa S, Rodriguez I, Mais V, Alcazar JL. Transvaginal ultrasound vs magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 May;51(5):586-595. DOI:10.1002/uog.18961.O DF, Roskams T, Van den Eynde K, Vanhie A, Peterse DP, Meuleman C, Tomassetti C, Peeraer K, D’Hooghe TM, Fassbender A. The Presence of Endometrial Cells in Peritoneal Fluid of Women With and Without Endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2017 Feb;24(2):242-251. DOI:10.1177/1933719116653677.
Ahn SH, Singh V, Tayade C. Biomarkers in endometriosis: challenges and opportunities. Fertil Steril. 2017 Mar;107(3):523-532. DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.01.009.
Bokor A, Debrock S, Drijkoningen M, Goossens W, Fülöp V, D’Hooghe T. Quantity and quality of retrograde menstruation: a case control study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 30;7:123. DOI:10.1186/1477-7827-7-123.
D’Hooghe TM, Debrock S.Endometriosis, retrograde menstruation and peritoneal inflammation in women and in baboons.Hum Reprod Update. 2002 Jan-Feb;8(1):84-8.
Guerriero S, Saba L, Pascual MA, Ajossa S, Rodriguez I, Mais V, Alcazar JL. Transvaginal ultrasound vs magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 May;51(5):586-595. DOI:10.1002/uog.18961.
O DF, Roskams T, Van den Eynde K, Vanhie A, Peterse DP, Meuleman C, Tomassetti C, Peeraer K, D’Hooghe TM, Fassbender A. The Presence of Endometrial Cells in Peritoneal Fluid of Women With and Without Endometriosis. Reprod Sci. 2017 Feb;24(2):242-251. DOI:10.1177/1933719116653677.
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