Feeling fatigue during your period actually isn\u2019t all that surprising if you think about it; your body is doing\u00a0a lot<\/em>\u00a0of work. \u201cThe energy required for menstruation\u2014uterine contractions and shedding of the uterine lining\u2014can contribute to fatigue,\u201d says Kelly Culwell, MD, an ob-gyn and nationally renowned women\u2019s health expert. Plus, the very hormones that are changing in your body might cause increased exhaustion, as might those other symptoms you\u2019re feeling like cramping, headaches, or difficulty sleeping.<\/p>\n Understanding the causes of your period fatigue and related symptoms can be helpful\u2014especially if your low energy is interfering with your everyday life. And if your fatigue persists month after month, it could be worth a visit to your provider. Ahead, medical experts define the causes and symptoms of period fatigue, what to do about it, and when to see a doctor.<\/p>\n Meet the experts:\u00a0<\/strong>Kristin Markell, MD<\/a>, is an ob-gyn based in Springdale, Arkansas.\u00a0Kelly Culwell, MD<\/a>, is an ob-gyn and former medical officer for the World Health Organization (WHO).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don\u2019t underestimate how tiring simply getting a period can be. All those symptoms you have to deal with month to month like cramps, headaches, or even just bleeding can all contribute to overall fatigue, says Dr. Culwell.<\/p>\n What to do about it:<\/strong>\u00a0Start by treating your period symptoms. That means using over-the-counter meds for pain management for cramps. Plus, although you may not feel super motivated to work out, staying active may actually help boost energy levels (and help you find relief) during your period, says Dr. Culwell. Regular exercise has been associated with a reduction in physical and psychological symptoms of PMS, per a\u00a0review<\/u><\/a>\u00a0done by researchers at Ohio State University. \u201cAlthough it may sound counterintuitive, trying to get exercise and some time outside each day can help improve mood and sleep, both of which can help improve symptoms of fatigue,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Fatigue during your period could also simply be due to the normal hormone changes that occur throughout a cycle, Dr. Culwell says. \u201cThe drop in the hormones\u00a0estrogen<\/u><\/a> and progesterone just before menstruation can lead to decreased energy and depressed mood,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n So, for some people, fatigue\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0a period symptom.<\/p>\n What to do about it:<\/strong>\u00a0Do what you can to support your hormone health, including getting a good night\u2019s rest, eating a healthy, varied diet, and staying active\u2014even though it can be hard to do so when you\u2019re getting your period. \u201cIt\u2019s almost like a loop where you’re less active and so you are actually more fatigued, but then you don’t want to be more active because you\u2019re fatigued,\u201d Dr. Culwell says. But you don\u2019t have to do a full 60-minute HIIT workout. Going for a leisurely walk should do the trick. If you notice that any efforts you may take aren\u2019t improving your fatigue, it may be time to seek additional support from a doctor who can advise on next steps.<\/p>\n It’s completely normal to have a\u00a0light period<\/u><\/a>\u00a0on some days and a heavy one on others. That said, people who consistently have a heavy flow may experience low energy and fatigue more often, says Kristin Markell, MD, an ob-gyn. That\u2019s because heavy bleeding means losing more iron. Fatigue and iron deficiency are more common for women who experience heavy bleeding, per a study published in\u00a0Haemophilia<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Though it\u2019s not necessarily always a cause for concern, heavy bleeding might be a sign of something more serious, Dr. Markell says. If you notice common\u00a0symptoms of anemia<\/u><\/a>\u00a0like lethargy, weakness,\u00a0chest pain<\/u><\/a>, changes in your skin complexion, trouble\u00a0regulating your temperature<\/u><\/a>, or an irregular heartbeat, you might want to speak with your doctor, Dr. Markell says.<\/p>\n What to do about it:<\/strong>\u00a0If low iron is behind your period fatigue, the first step is talking to your doctor, who can order blood work to get to the bottom of your levels. While some level of iron loss is normal during menstruation, if you are losing a lot of blood\u2014and experiencing symptoms like fatigue\u2014you should get it checked out. After that point, you might be recommended dietary tweaks, an iron supplement, or an iron infusion to get you back to a good place.<\/p>\n \u201cLack of sleep\u2014either due to other menstrual symptoms or hormonal changes\u2014can also cause fatigue,\u201d says Dr. Culwell. And, you guessed it: your period can totally mess with your sleep. The menstrual cycle can cause changes in your circadian rhythm, interrupt your sleep cycle and even give you bad dreams, according to a study in\u00a0Sleep Medicine Research<\/u><\/em><\/a>. One reason why? Your basal body temperature changes at different points in your cycle, affecting how well you catch those Zzzs, per a study in\u00a0Physiological Reports<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n What to do about it:<\/strong>\u00a0Getting proper rest may seem like an obvious way to combat period fatigue, but\u00a0quality sleep<\/u><\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t always possible for everyone\u2014especially if your fatigue is consistent and lasts days on end. Small habit changes can help, though, like taking a power nap during your lunch or pulling back on high-intensity workouts while on your period. You can also go to your doctor to talk about other options, like cognitive behavioral therapy or medications.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are a few more serious conditions that might result in increased fatigue during your period\u2014but it wouldn\u2019t be the\u00a0only<\/em> symptom you experience, says Dr. Culwell. Endometriosis and fibroids are two conditions that can cause fatigue because they cause pain and heavy bleeding.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also common for women to experience thyroid conditions, particularly hypothyroidism, which can impact fatigue too.<\/p>\n What to do about it:<\/strong>\u00a0If you experience heavy bleeding\u2014as in, you go through a pad or tampon or pad in just an hour for multiple hours\u2014go see your doctor. They can evaluate you for a number of conditions.<\/p>\n When To See A Doctor<\/strong><\/p>\n Period fatigue isn’t always a sign of something serious, but if your efforts to treat it with things like diet changes or\u00a0pain management<\/u><\/a>\u00a0don\u2019t provide relief, it may be time to see a doctor.<\/p>\n Consistently experiencing extreme exhaustion and very heavy bleeding may be\u00a0signs of anemia<\/u><\/a>, and both Dr. Markell and Dr. Culwell recommend that you see a doctor if you suspect this might be the case. \u201cIf you have heavy menstrual bleeding or fatigue plus other symptoms like weakness, lightheadedness,\u00a0headaches<\/u><\/a>, or decreased exercise tolerance, you should see a healthcare provider to be evaluated for anemia,\u201d Dr. Culwell says.<\/p>\n The\u00a0mental impact<\/u><\/a>\u00a0of period fatigue is worth noting, too. If you have extreme fatigue and worry you may have PMDD,\u00a0tracking your symptoms<\/u><\/a>\u00a0can help since diagnosis requires a very specific set to be present, says Dr. Markell. Symptoms may include increased sensitivity to rejection, feeling tense or on edge, diminished interest in your usual activities,\u00a0feeling overwhelmed<\/u><\/a>\u00a0or out of control, and sleeping too much (or not enough), among others. If you\u2019re concerned and noticing several of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doc for an evaluation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf fatigue symptoms are consistently affecting your quality of life and significantly changing your day to day activities, a visit with your healthcare provider is a good idea,\u201d Dr. Markell says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even if you\u2019re not relying on a trusty cycle tracker, everyone has their sure-fire signs that their period<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=635"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":640,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions\/640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Health-2.webp\")
<\/p>\nCauses Of Period Fatigue<\/h2>\n
Period Symptoms<\/h3>\n
Hormonal Changes<\/h3>\n
Heavy Blood Loss<\/h3>\n
Sleep Disturbances<\/h3>\n
More Serious Underlying Conditions<\/h3>\n