Causes of Dizziness During Your Period

Do you sometimes experience dizziness and wonder what might be causing it? If you're menstruating, the reason you feel dizzy may be related to your period.

Dizziness is a sensation that often makes people feel off balance. It may feel like the room is spinning. You may notice this symptom more intensely when getting up quickly from sitting or lying down. Also, you may lose your balance.

This article explains why periods can bring on dizziness, what other conditions can cause the symptom, and when to see your healthcare provider.

Blood Loss Can Cause Dizziness

One of the most common causes of dizziness in menstruating girls and women is iron-deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition in which you don't have enough red blood cells (RBCs).

Blood loss can result in anemia, whether it is chronic (persistent or recurring) or acute (severe). When you bleed, you lose RBCs. Your RBCs are the cells in your body that carry oxygen.

Your brain is very sensitive to even the smallest changes in oxygen concentrations in your blood. When your brain senses a relative lack of oxygen, you likely will become dizzy.

If you have an average menstrual flow, you lose about 30 milliliters (mL) or about 2 tablespoons of blood every month. Usually, this is not enough blood loss to cause symptoms, unless you have another underlying condition that causes you to be anemic.

But if you regularly have very heavy periods, it is possible to become anemic just from menstrual blood loss.

When you are anemic, any activities that direct blood flow away from your brain and into your muscles will cause dizziness. This "alarm," triggered by the brain, gets you to stop what you are doing so it can receive more oxygen.

Blood loss from an ulcer or another digestive tract source can lead to anemia in men and non-menstruating women.

Other Causes of Dizziness

Dizziness is also a symptom of several other diseases and conditions. These include balance disorders, ear problems, stroke, motion sickness, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and dehydration.

Dizziness is a possible side effect of many different types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. These drugs include medications for high blood pressure, asthma and other breathing problems, heart disease, and pain.

Sedatives (which induce calm or sleep) and drugs used to treat ADHD and other mental health conditions can also cause dizziness.

Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you suspect that a drug is causing your dizziness. Never suddenly stop taking any drug without your practitioner's approval.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most instances of dizziness get better on their own without medical intervention. However, if you experience dizziness often, contact your healthcare provider to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Your healthcare provider will be able to assess what could be causing the symptoms, screen for any developing conditions, and provide any needed treatment.

Summary

A period can cause dizziness because blood loss can lead to anemia, a condition in which you don't have enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Usually, normal amounts of bleeding won't bring on anemia and dizziness, but heavy periods might.

See your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse or interfere with your daily activities.