Having a period for one day that stopped can be normal in some situations. Very short or light bleeding may occur in the first two years after your first period, or with stress, intense exercise, poor diet, or birth control use.
Sometimes a very short period can signal a problem, including uterine abnormalities, hormone imbalances, perimenopause, or illnesses such as anorexia, bulimia, celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease. If this pattern is frequent or you have other symptoms, it’s important to be evaluated.
Watch for red flags like no period for 3 months or more, severe menstrual pain, bleeding between periods, acne with new facial hair growth, or nipple discharge that looks like milk. The timing of your period can also be affected by weight fluctuations, travel, or illness.
Keep a cycle log with dates, flow, cramps, new medications, and major stressors to share with your clinician. A pregnancy test should be done if there is any chance of pregnancy or if your period lasted only one day and stopped again.
If short periods persist, it is important to see a gynecologist for evaluation.