# Did my hamster menstruate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-my-hamster-menstruate/257045>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-my-hamster-menstruate/257045 "2004-07-27T03:34:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fox\_Paws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/85e7bf/32.png) [@Fox\_Paws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fox_Paws)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-my-hamster-menstruate/257045/1 "2004-07-27T03:34:47Z")

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Last night my hamster, Gizmo, was bleeding. Not much, mind you. There were a couple tiny spots of blood on her bedding, a couple small spots on me from picking her up, and some smeared in her, umm, “crotch,” if you can call it that on a hamster. She had zero other symptoms at the time (she was as active as usual, she ate fine, etc.). Today she is blood- and symptom-free. Gizmo is about 21 months old.

Given that information, what are some possible causes of her bleeding? My first thought was “Woah, I didn’t know hamsters had periods!” Do they? I’ve had several hamsters over the years, and this would be a first (unless I’ve just not paid attention all this time). I assume things like cancer and digestive maladies are possibilities, but I really don’t know how those things manifest themselves in hamsters.

Any thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-my-hamster-menstruate/257045/2 "2004-07-27T03:48:14Z")

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Found this, FWIW.

[http://experts.about.com/q/2005/3063344.htm](http://experts.about.com/q/2005/3063344.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> …Actually hamsters don’t have periods. However, female hamsters sometimes suffer from a small amount of vaginal bleeding once or twice in their life. This is only minor bleeding and only happens for like a day or two.
> 
> Since you said she seems healthy and her droppings don’t have blood in them, I would say this is the case and you shouldn’t have to worry about it much.
> 
> Best thing you can do though is keep a close eye on her. If the bleeding stops in the next day or so, then she should be fine. However, if…
> 
> 1)there is a lot of bleeding  
> 2)the bleeding does not stop within the next day or so  
> 3)you notice any other symptoms(excessive drinking/urination, bloody droppings, lethargy, etc.)
> 
> then I recommend you take her to a vet as soon as possible so that a correct diagnosis and proper treatment can be given…