A normal menstrual cycle usually has a length of 28 days, where a woman usually ovulates at mid-cycle and menstruates for 5-7 days approximately two weeks after ovulation. The first day of menstruation marks the beginning of a new cycle, two weeks after which another ovulation occurs. This occurs 11-13 times a year, and menstrual cycles may normally vary to be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days.

The duration of a normal menstrual period may also vary among different women. You may have a period that lasts for as short as 3 days and as long as 7 days. However, sometimes you may suddenly experience a short period that lasts for one or two days only, and it may lead you to worry whether you are pregnant or if something else is wrong with you. Let us examine the possible reasons why your period may suddenly stop.

Are you Pregnant?

Although you cannot have a period if you are pregnant, you may have some bleeding due to implantation. This occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. So if you recently had an unprotected sex and you experience vaginal spotting that is pinkish or brownish in color around the time of your normal menstrual period, it is possible that you are pregnant. In this type of bleeding you may think that your period has abruptly stopped after one or 2 days, but not longer than 3 days.

Other clues that will help you know if you are pregnant include the common signs and symptoms of early pregnancy:

  • An early symptom of pregnancy is always feeling tired or fatigued, which is caused by hormonal changes of pregnancy.
  • Another symptom that indicates pregnancy is the need to urinate frequently. Six to eight weeks after fertilization, a hormone known as hCG is produced, and this causes you to urinate quite frequently.
  • Another early pregnancy sign is the feeling of tenderness in the breast, where your nipples become sore and may appear larger and darker in color.
  • Morning sickness, which is characterized by nausea and some vomiting, may occur anytime during the day. Headaches and dizziness may accompany these symptoms. These usually begin when you are five or six weeks pregnant.
  • Low back pains may begin early in pregnancy but may persist throughout all the months.
  • Craving certain foods while hating other foods (and even smells) is characteristic of early pregnancy.

Although women commonly experience these signs and symptoms of pregnancy, others do not show any sign of conceiving a baby. To check if your short period may indicate pregnancy, take a pregnancy test which can be done at home or in a doctor's clinic.

What are the Other Reasons for a Short Period?

Estrogen is an important hormone responsible for the changes that occur in the menstrual cycle. In adolescents estrogen levels may be starting to increase while in perimenopausal women its levels are starting to decline. Any fluctuations in estrogen levels during any stage of life can also affect the regularity of your periods.

One possible cause of short periods in women of child-bearing age is the use of oral or injected contraceptives which may affect estrogen levels. Another contraceptive, the intrauterine device (IUD), which is implanted in the uterus, can cause vaginal bleeding that resembles a short period.

Other factors may be also involved in short menstrual periods. These include rigorous exercise training among athletes, mental, physical or emotional stress, eating disorders and weight loss, which may affect estrogen levels, causing changes in your periods.

What to Do If You Experience a Short Period

If you are experiencing signs of pregnancy and you have one day or two of bleeding around the time you are expecting your period, you are probably pregnant. You can confirm this by taking a home pregnancy test.

If you find out that you are not pregnant, consider other possible causes like your use of contraceptives. Unless you are an adolescent or a perimenopausal woman who is experiencing low estrogen levels, your short periods may be due to other causes like too much stress, weight loss or physical exercise. Although short periods are not serious or a cause for worry, you may need to consult your doctor if irregularities in your menstruations persist.

References
  1. Winderlich, M. When Is a Menstrual Period Too Short? http://www.everydayhealth.com/pms/short-periods.aspx.
  2. Pregnancy Symptoms - Early Signs of Pregnancy. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/earlypregnancysymptoms.html.
Discussions(12) Add New

  1. Gloria October 17, 2011 04:49 AM Reply

    When you have a ‘heavy period for 2 days then nothing’, you can be worried about your pregnancy. Generally, you need to have the protection before the starting the sex. If you do not take it, you should be conscious when you are mixing with your partner. After two to three months, it will become normal. Probably you are staying in a non-pregnant state.

  2. Nabulung December 21, 2011 09:22 PM Reply

    My period is normally for a six-day all the time long; however this time I got the period for 2 days. The 1st day was heavier and the 2nd was lighter and it stopped with the spotting. I experience sickness and weariness all the time. Am I pregnant? However, this article sounds excellent.

  3. Baul December 27, 2011 08:25 AM Reply

    I had got sex with my old friend approximately four to five weeks back. It is the 30th of November; my period only lasted 3 days. I take an altered diet. I normally take a big meal and I have not been taking huge foods these days. I am buying a pregnancy test this weekend to observe my progress. However, I am anxious about the matter.

  4. Rhodanthe February 29, 2012 01:39 PM Reply

    As my period stopped after 2 days, my condition is almost similar to you. I continued having the negative hpt. However, it was a close one when my subsequent period was to appear. Ultimately, I received a positive hpt though my levels of hcg are below. I feel it is because of my partial period. I think I am around five to six weeks; however, I am nine according to the signs. While having, I initially received the negative hpt. I cannot wait to find out my condition yet.

  5. Naia April 11, 2012 04:17 AM Reply

    Be steady! I have just gone thirty-seven. I have got a daughter having eighteen years of age and another one is sixteen years old. I along with my husband got sex and we have not used any protection ever. However, within the last sixteen years I have become pregnant. I had not thought of it as I would have. Perhaps, you have period only last 2 days. However, there is no reason to lose the faith.

  6. Barika April 14, 2012 10:40 AM Reply

    I got 2 day period. When I have a five-day period, it was a heavy and I get a back pain. I pee for four times during the night. It creates the problem during the sex. I get a cyst and I was diagnosed before a four-day period. It was a low-priced test. Am I pregnant?

  7. Rasika June 13, 2012 10:02 PM Reply

    I have got a brown discharge for the entire month and my period stopped after 1 day. Am I pregnant? Have any findings about it?

    1. Jenny November 06, 2012 12:26 AM Reply

      How did things go. I'm having the same problem.

  8. Lionel June 17, 2012 09:12 PM Reply

    I have got a miscarriage in recent times and I have stayed on the pill. I have been over it for a month with the first bunch. My period lasted for a five-day. It considered a short period. I have not used any condoms; however, many people say it should be used when you start taking the pill.

  9. alfrieda September 17, 2012 07:44 AM Reply

    I've had my period 3 weeks ago and now I'm getting a brown discharge. Is there anything for me to worry about? I've had my tubes cut and tied 4 years ago so is it possible that I could fall pregnant or has my condition nothing to do with pregnancy since I did have a ligation done

    1. Peter September 18, 2012 12:50 AM Reply

      Since you had your period three weeks ago, I think it is low probability to be pregnant. But pregnancy is possible after tubal ligation. A tubal ligation can fail in three ways: the fallopian tube may be missed during tubal ligation surgery and the tube may not be closed at all, the tube may form a fistula (new opening), and recanalization (rejoining of the tubal lumens) can occur. If you want look more about the brown discharge after period, please take a look at this article: http://www.clinictime.net/Brown-Discharge-After-Period.html But we strongly suggest to seek help from doctors, once not feel good or other signs come out.

  10. Laura September 28, 2012 06:20 PM Reply

    I have been irregular for years since I was 17 yrs old and they have been very unpredictable (3-5 times a yr). Since April, they have been regular and coming on time which has never happened to me before and now are predictable. It's kind of strange to me now. My last regular cycle started on 11th of August and lasted till the 15th. This months cycle was even more weirder to me. I started on the 17th and it lasted for 2 days and then 1 day of nothing but brown. Now it is a week later and I have been having stomach and leg cramps that made my feel uncomfortable last night. I was also feeling wet that wouldn't go away like a period but it wasn't. I woke up and barely rolled over and my nipples started to hurt and continue to do so. I have been crying for no reason when I shouldn\'t be and not knowing why I do so. I just need someone to help me out on this please. I am starting to get confused on why I feel this way.

  11. worried :-/ October 22, 2012 07:09 AM Reply

    Hi iv just had a two day period which was very heavy on first day and very light on the second day but stopped then.. This period was 13 days late and I had done A home pg test which was neg... Im now still worried as im normally regular with a 28/30 day cycle...im tired all the time latel, and have some nausea could I be pregnant .... Worryed

  12. Nicole December 12, 2012 06:43 PM Reply

    My husband came in me on the 2nd day of my period, and the next morning it had stopped abruptly, since then I've had a brownish red spotting that has lasted for 4 days. what is the reason, could i be pregnant?