What causes dizziness during menstruation?

During menstruation, women’s bodies tend to become weaker. If dizziness occurs, it can significantly affect daily life, work, and studies—making this issue one that everyone should take seriously. Dizziness during menstruation may stem from physiological factors or pathological conditions; thus, women experiencing dizziness during their periods should pay attention to appropriate adjustments. So, what causes dizziness during menstruation? Below, we address this question.

What Causes Dizziness During Menstruation?

1. Deficiency of Qi and Blood

During menstruation, women lose a substantial amount of blood, leading to significant depletion of iron in the body. Iron deficiency reduces hemoglobin levels, impairing the blood’s capacity to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide effectively. Consequently, the brain receives insufficient oxygen and blood supply, resulting in dizziness and fatigue.

2. Hormonal Imbalance

Endocrine imbalance alters the relative proportions of hormones in the body. Such hormonal fluctuations affect the vascular and nervous systems—for instance, variations in estrogen and progesterone levels can trigger vasoconstriction, which may lead to dizziness, headache, nausea, or even vomiting. These menstrual-related symptoms caused by hormonal changes are collectively termed “premenstrual syndrome” (PMS).

3. Excessive Stress

Some women experience emotional instability and irritability before menstruation due to daily stress, increasing susceptibility to dizziness during their period. Many women already suffer from PMS prior to menstruation—characterized by heightened irritability, depression, or mood swings. When combined with excessive work-related stress, the nervous system becomes further overstimulated, making headaches and dizziness more likely during menstruation.

4. Hair Washing During Menstruation

The common advice against hair washing during menstruation stems from the fact that women should avoid cold exposure during this time. After washing hair, the scalp must transfer some heat to evaporate moisture from the hair. This cooling effect on the scalp may trigger uterine contractions, impeding normal downward flow of menstrual blood and causing it to ascend abnormally, thereby disturbing the “clear orifices” (a traditional Chinese medicine term referring to the head and sensory organs) and inducing dizziness.

The above outlines the main causes of dizziness during menstruation. We hope this information is helpful to you.