Hello all,

So for three months now, my 'periods' have changed from its regular flow with lots of clots/dark colour to a lighter, thinner flow. And not to gross anyone out, but it also doesn't smell like my older menstrual cycles. It now smells like regular blood, like if you had cut your hand. It doesn't smell like "period blood."

I don't actually bleed that heavily normally during my periods, but on the first night I usually have to get up during the night to change my pads at least once. For the past three months, I haven't had to and when I wake up, there isn't much blood.

I still get my period cramps the first day, but the flow is much lighter and again, smells like regular blood. My period cycle did change--I used to anticipate it to start on the 23-25th, then for two months it started on the 14th. So for one month I did have my period 'twice.' That is, I had my period end of December and then had it the second week of January again for 6 days.

On top of this, I never used to get 'pre-period' symptoms, like tender breasts, nausea, and cravings. I now do.

The thing I'm worried about the most is the different type of flow these recent periods have--smells like regular blood and is much lighter than my old periods. Could this be a sign of pregnancy? I did take a test yesterday morning and it was negative, and then I got my period in the afternoon (again, earlier than usual--got it on the 9th instead of the 14th).

I don't take any medication, nor have I ever taken Plan B (I know that it can change the flow of your periods). Nothing in my life has changed recently, either so I can't attribute it to stress.

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks!