What Causes A Light Period?

Other Factors

There are many reasons why your period can appear light or scanty, including age, breastfeeding, birth control methods, and menopause. Hormonal imbalances during the teen and menopause years can cause light periods. Your menstrual cycle will gradually slow down as you approach menopause. Some of your periods may be light during this time. This can start during your mid-thirties, and go well into your early forties and fifties. This is due to you having fewer functional eggs and less estrogen production.

Breastfeeding produces a hormone that aids milk production and simultaneously prevents ovulation. This works to delay the return of your period. You can still get pregnant, however, so spotting or what appears to be a light period may be a sign of implantation bleeding. Birth control can also cause irregular or light periods. Many methods of birth control prevent the release of an egg from your body. Your uterus won't have a thick lining under these circumstances, so your period may be light or not happen at all. Menstrual irregularities can also occur when you start or stop taking birth control.