WHAT DO THEY MEAN? – Cora

What color is your period blood?

Women will usually experience one of the three color patterns during their period: frozen mashed-up blueberries, strawberry jam, and cranberry juice, said Alisa Vitti, a holistic health counselor and functional nutritionist, on The Dr. Oz Show.

Frozen Blueberry: this color is usually an indicator of higher estrogen levels, which can lead the lining of the uterus to thicken when this hormone is in excess; it is typically seen in heavier cycles.

Strawberry Jam: a light pink appearance is a sign that estrogen levels are too low, which can lead to vaginal dryness, low libido, hair loss, and even fatigue. With women who have low estrogen levels, they experience patchy periods that come here and there and their periods frequently begin late.

Cranberry Juice: the “normal” period color that tends to start and end on time. However, women with these periods should always be on the lookout for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).  If you’re experiencing PMS, reach out to your doctor because it might be a sign of a hormonal imbalance.

P.S. The dark brown color that you probably see in the beginning and end of your period is totally normal, too. This is older blood. During those light flow days, the blood takes longer to exit your body, and takes on a darker color as it makes its slow exit. Another reason is that some of us are slow-bleeders. Our uteruses are not always able to completely clean the slate each month so we get to see the leftovers on the next round.