What Causes Dizziness During Periods?

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Dizziness during your period is primarily caused by heavy bleeding leading to low iron (Anemia) or by pain chemicals (prostaglandins) constricting blood vessels, which temporarily reduces oxygen supply to the brain.

Dizziness and lightheadedness are common signs that your body’s oxygen supply or circulatory system is temporarily disrupted. The causes generally fall into two categories:

1. Low Iron Levels (Anemia)

The most common cause of dizziness is Anemia, or low iron, especially if you have heavy periods.

  • The Link: Iron is essential for producing the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body, including to your brain.
  • The Effect: When you lose a lot of blood during your period, the iron count can drop quickly. If your body doesn’t have enough iron, your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen, leading to dizziness and lightheadedness.

2. Chemical Constriction (Prostaglandins)

Prostaglandins – the pain chemicals responsible for cramps can directly affect your circulation.

  • The Mechanism: When the body produces an excess of prostaglandins (the pain-triggering chemicals), they leak into the bloodstream.
  • The Effect: These chemicals can cause the blood vessels outside of the uterus to constrict (tighten). This constriction results in a reduced flow of blood, which means a temporary lesser supply of oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain, causing feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness.

If the dizziness or lightheadedness you suffer during periods is due to the excess production of prostaglandins, it means you are almost certainly suffering from period pain, also known as primary dysmenorrhea.

An educational infographic about menstrual dizziness titled “What Causes Dizziness and Lightheadedness During Periods?” The graphic explains that dizziness during menstruation is mainly caused by heavy menstrual bleeding, which can lead to low iron levels or anemia, and by prostaglandins—pain chemicals that constrict blood vessels and temporarily reduce oxygen supply to the brain. A smaller section below states that feeling lightheaded during your period can indicate the body is producing too many prostaglandins, and recommends taking a doctor-prescribed NSAID for menstrual pain relief (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) early to block excess prostaglandin production. The design uses soft menstrual health infographic colors, with icons representing blood cells, the brain, and period pain relief medication. The graphic ends with the campaign message "STOP The Period Pain." Which is a knowledge initiative campaign by Blue Cross Laboratories the makers of meftal spas.

Your Journey to #StopThePeriodPain Starts Here

Every month, millions of Indian girls & women suffer in silence, told that their severe period pain (dysmenorrhea) is “normal.” Our mission is to break that silence. #StopThePeriodPain campaign is here to empower you with 3 simple truths:

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Period Pain Calculator Section

Hit Up Our Period Pain Calculator

For real, how bad is your pain? Our interactive tool uses a 1-10 pain scale and a few quick questions to help you get the full picture. In just a few clicks, you’ll know if your pain is a chill or a major red flag.

Calculate Your Period Pain Score

References:

  1. Boroondara Osteopathy – Why do I feel low back pain during my period?