The Internet wants to know if women have periods while in a coma

The causes of coma are encephalitis and meningitis that are known to cause brain inflammation and swelling," said Dr Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, consultant gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road

By: Lifestyle Desk
New Delhi | September 30, 2024 03:26 PM IST

4 min read

Let's understand about periods in a comatose patient (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

The internet sometimes surprises us with intriguing questions. So, when we came across a thread on whether periods happen to a comatose woman, we thought you might share our curiosity and would want to know the answer. So let’s find out: “Do females in a coma still get their periods, or does it stop until they wake up?”

But first things first:

What is a coma?

Going into a coma means a state of semi-consciousness wherein the person is unresponsive and cannot be woken up.

“The person may just lie on the bed without any activity. They will not understand what is going around and not respond in any manner. The causes of coma are encephalitis and meningitis that are known to cause brain inflammation and swelling,” said Dr Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, consultant gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.

Do periods happen in a coma? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Cardiac arrest, diabetes, liver or kidney failure, hypothermia, drugs and alcohol overuse, and electrocution and toxins exposure, stroke, brain tumour, traumatic brain injury (TBI) may “also cause a person to enter a comatose state as the brain doesn’t respond,” added Dr Bhasale.

So, do women in coma get their period?

Dr Bhasale shared that if the reproductive system is functioning without any injury, menstruation tends to happen. In such a case, the body will continue with its routine function. The menses will be every month like they would get before going into a coma.

However, for some women, the blood flow may be low due to improper nutrition or other ailments like PCOS. “Period is a natural phenomenon, and one will get it even in a coma unless there are other health issues,” said Dr Bhasale.

Do usual periods happen? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Concurred consultant neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, and shared that women in reproductive age groups can have periods while in a coma. “In a comatose person, it is the brain that is affected and not the reproductive organs. So, women (after menarche and before menopause) can have their monthly periods, even when unconscious. Other bodily functions such as urination and defecation too continue to occur in a coma,” said Dr Kumar.

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But wait…isn’t the brain responsible for all the cues and controlling all bodily functions?

The brain is responsible for controlling functions such as motor movements, sensations, speech, vision, hearing, etc. So, a comatose person can not move arms and legs, feel sensations, or see or hear.

Also Read | Dietary tweaks to prevent and manage period cramps

However, Dr Kumar noted that certain functions, such as menstrual cycles, are not controlled by the brain. A conscious person can control urine and defecation for a certain amount of time. However, in an unconscious person, once the bladder is full, urine will be released (in some cases, urine could be retained in the bladder, for which a urinary catheter is placed). Urine and feces formation continues in a comatose person,” explained Dr Kumar.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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