Causes Of Bleeding A Week After Period
1. Old Blood
If you notice brown spotting a week or two after your monthly period, it would often mean that some amount of tissue and menstrual blood were not properly expelled out of your body. Since they could still be inside the uterus, they need to be discharged in a form of spotting even after your period has ended.
2. Infection
Bacterial infections and yeast infections are two of the most common infections that occur in women. These infections often expel colored spotting with foul smell a few days after period. While they are not the main cause, they may have an effect to abnormal bleeding or discharge, which is often mistook as spotting.
3. Deep Penetration During Intercourse
Deeper penetration during a vigorous or rough sexual contact could lead to very light bleeding and may sometimes create physical injury. It can cause bruises to the cervix which is usually accompanied with pain.
4. Unregulated Menstrual Cycle
Untimely bleeding or bleeding a week after period often happens to teenage girls while their bodies try to get accustomed to their menstruation. It may last for a couple of months or years until they are able to adjust to their menstrual pattern.
5. Oral Contraceptives
6. Polyps
Polyps are non-cancerous cells that grow in the uterus. Sometimes, some of these polyps burst and lead to bleeding or spotting.
7. Uterine Fibroids
You May Have Delayed Ovulation
This seemingly small step is actually the key to how the morning after pill works. “The morning after pills with levonorgestrel are effective at preventing pregnancy by delaying ovulation … If ovulation is delayed by the levonorgestrel effect, then the sperm that may be present after unprotected intercourse will not have the opportunity to fertilize an egg, thereby preventing pregnancy,” Dr. Bolt explains. It can be confusing to understand how the morning after pill works, but this is something to take note of.
You Have Cervical Stenosis
A rare but uncomfortable problem, Dr. Akopians says this occurs when the cervix narrows or closes up completely. This may occur after previous surgery of the cervix or uterus, such as a LEEP procedure for an abnormal pap or an endometrial ablation for heavy menses. Cervical stenosis may also be due to low estrogen levels during perimenopause. As a result, blood stays trapped in the uterus or is only able to trickle out slowly. If you experience bad cramping, despite a light flow, talk to your doctor.
Read Also: How Many Pay Periods In 2021
It May Be Due To Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS is a condition where the ovaries produce an abnormally large amount of androgens, which are male sex hormones. Some women with PCOS will have small fluid-filled sacs, or cysts, form in the ovaries. These hormonal changes can prevent a woman from ovulating normally, which can lead to a host of unpleasant symptoms, including acne or oily skin, weight gain, and excess body hair. Other symptom of PCOS are irregular and missed periods. When women do get their period, it may be heavier or lighter than average. Talk with your doctor if youre experiencing these symptoms.
Types Of Emergency Contraception Pills
There are 2 types of emergency contraceptive pills commonly sold in the U.S.:
Editor’s note: Technically, a doctor could have you take higher doses of regular combination birth control pills as emergency contraception, something called the Yuzpe regimen. But that’s not as effective as the other 2 types listed above, and it brings with it more side effects. Additionally, the copper IUD could be inserted within 5 days as a form of emergency contraception.
Scientists have found that both Plan B One-Step that you can get over-the-counter, or the prescription for ella, are safe to use to prevent pregnancy. Any side effects that you have after taking either of the emergency contraceptive pills should be mild and short-term.
After you take emergency contraceptive pills, the most common side effect is – you guessed it – changes to your menstrual periods.
Here is a list of some possible side effects after using a “morning-after” pill like Plan B:
- Irregular bleeding
- Fatigue
Read Also: Can You Conceive On Your Period
What To Do If Plan B Didnt Work
The sooner you take Plan B, the more likely it is to be effective. Ideally, it should be taken within a 72-hour window. Thats 3 days from the time you had unprotected sex. You should also continue to use your regular birth control.
In any case, its not 100 percent effective. Its estimated that about 7 of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not get pregnant after taking the medication. It may not work if you vomit within 2 hours of taking it.
Less Common Plan B Side Effects
Migraine or severe headache, lower abdominal pain, painful menstruation and vaginal discharge. If your period is more than a week late or if the symptoms persist for more than 48 hours or are severe, see your healthcare professional.
Unusual side effectscall a healthcare professional immediately
- Itching and a rash
- Sudden or unusual cramping or severe pain in your stomach or belly prior to your next normal period
- Uterine hemorrhage
- Vaginal hemorrhage
- Any effects that persist or worsen
- If you vomit within two hours of taking Plan B®, you may need to take another dose
Some medications can interact with Plan B® and make it less effective. These include anti-HIV drugs , anticonvulsant drugs , antibiotics , rifampicin, rifabutin, griseofulvin, St. Johns wort, and ulipristal acetate.
There are some medical conditions that may mean Plan B® is not right for you. Plan B® is not recommended if:
- You have a confirmed or suspected pregnancy
- You are allergic to levonorgestrel, or to any of the ingredients in the formulation
- You have abnormal vaginal bleeding
For more details, download the abbreviated Plan B® Product Monograph :
Read Also: Why Am I Still Spotting After My Period
Stress Is Messing With Your Body
You already know that stress can mess with your body in a lot of ways. While the usual day-to-day annoyances arent enough to throw your hormones out of whack, Dr. Choi says that major life stressorsfor example, grieving over a loss or suffering from depressioncan do just that. She also points out that overexercising can also wreak havoc on your period because of the stress it puts on your body physically.
Further Information On The Morning After Pill
The morning after pill is very safe to use. Infrequently, women who take it may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness or tiredness, headaches, breast tenderness or abdominal pain. An irregular menstrual cycle after taking the morning after pill can commonly occur.
If you vomit within two hours of taking the morning after pill, it may not be fully absorbed, so you should come back for a repeat prescription and ask for antisickness medication to be taken at the same time. An alternative form of emergency contraception is the IUCD . This is a small device that can be inserted into the womb and is highly effective at preventing pregnancy. It can remain there for up to 10 years as a regular form of contraception.
Our sexual health clinics can provide both types of emergency contraception
There is a chance that the morning after pill can fail and you can fall pregnant. If your period is late/delayed, light or shorter than normal, consider having a pregnancy test. This is available free of charge in any of our sexual health clinics.
Recommended Reading: Negative Pregnancy Test But No Period
Your Endometrial Lining Might Change
Levonorgestrel may sound like the name of a spell, but it’s basically just a form or progestin . And progestin is a synthetic that acts similarly to the naturally-occurring progesterone .
” side effect of taking this progesterone hormone is that it may affect implantation, which is a bonus as an emergency contraceptive.”Dr. Sheila Loanzon, MD tells Bustle. This works because Plan B changes the lining of the endometrium, Dr. Loanzon says, which also contributes to preventing pregnancy.
When To See A Doctor
In rare cases, bleeding after taking Plan B can be a sign of something more serious, especially if it comes with other symptoms like severe abdominal pain.
Generally, bleeding after Plan B shouldn’t last much longer than a week, so prolonged bleeding can be a sign of a problem.
It’s also concerning if your bleeding is too heavy, meaning you have to change your pad or tampon at least every two hours for longer than a day, Gersh says.
If you’re having any of these symptoms after taking Plan B, it’s best to see your gynecologist to make sure there isn’t a more serious issue.
Other symptoms that should raise an alarm include:
- Sudden or severe belly pain
- Itching and a rash
- Vomiting within two hours of taking the pill this may mean you need to take another Plan B dose
Also, if any of the normal side effects like nausea or cramping last more than a day or feel severe to you, it’s best to get medical attention, Gersh says.
You May Like: Period Cramps Vs Early Pregnancy Cramps
Plan B Side Effect Or Pregnancy
Hello.Three days after my period ended, I had sex with my boyfriend. I wasn’t ovulating. We used a condom, but it broke. We went and got the plan B pill right away, and I had taken the first pill less than an hour after it happened. I didn’t feel sick while taking it like I was warned I might, and thought everything was fine. Now, 5 days later, I am experiencing some light spotting which is a dark brownish with a little light pink. My period isn’t due for about 2 weeks. Is this implantation bleeding or just a side effect from the plan b pill? Please help, I am so scared!
You Lost A Ton Of Blood During Or After Childbirth
This is a very rare condition, says Dr. Akopians. Losing a lot of blood deprives your body of oxygen, which can end up damaging the pituitary gland and cause something called Sheehans syndrome. That, in turn, drastically reduces the glands production of all types of hormones, including those that control your menstrual cycle. This hormone production not only impacts your menstrual cycle, but it can affect other parts of your body, like your thyroid. So if your doctor is concerned about this, they will likely refer you to an endocrinologist for diagnosis and treatment.
The bottom line: While having a lighter period than normal isnt necessarily cause for alarm, dont ignore the change. Track your cycle for a couple of months, and if it doesnt go back to your normal, make an appointment with a gynecologist.
Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.
Also Check: When Will My Next Period Start
Can Plan B Affect Your Period
The short answer is yes: Plan B can affect your period because it can change your menstrual cycle’s timing. The National Institutes of Health says that emergency contraception may cause mild side effects like menstrual bleeding changes. After taking Plan B, your next period may start earlier or later than you expect, and it could be heavier or lighter than usual. To understand why you have to know how emergency contraception works.
What You Might Experience
The morning-after pill can cause your next period to be:
- A few days to a week early.
- A few days to a week late.
- Heavier than normal.
- Longer than normal.
- More or less painful than usual.
Because of the hormones in these pills, you might also notice spotting between periods, particularly right after taking emergency contraceptive. If you experience any of these symptoms, dont worry your period should return to normal by your next menstrual cycle. If at least a week passes, however, and you still dont get your period as expected, take a pregnancy test to make sure the morning-after pill worked.
Also Check: Calculate Due Date From Last Period
Why Does Plan B Affect Your Period This Way
Plan B uses a synthetic hormone called levonorgestrel to prevent pregnancy by stopping an egg from being released.
Levonorgestrel is found in birth control pills, but Plan B contains a higher dose that can alter your bodys natural hormone levels.
The extra hormones can, in turn, affect the menstrual cycle, leading to an earlier or delayed period as well as heavier or lighter bleeding.
Plan B Very Light Spotting 3 Negative Pregnancy Tests
Just Curious writes, I started my period on April 3rd. I had a regular cycle no problems there. Went to my o/b on April 15, for my check up. i told her that I had unprotected sex with my husband, she gave me a prescription for the plan b only one pill. My period was supposed to start on May 1, no period. on may 6th I started to bleed but a very very light spotting, for a day then stopped very unusual for my cycle. did that pill mess with my cycle? Took 3 hpt and they have all came back negative! I am losing my mind. My period has always been regular 28 days! Even after I had my daughter my period came on time!
Dear Just Curious,
I love hard questions =] Any idea how many hours passed between the time you had unprotected sex and you took the Plan B One Step? Even though your period is loyal & faithful, giving your body such a high dosage of the pregnancy hormone found in Plan B can make even the most faithful period betray you! If I was a gambler, Id side with the 3 negative pregnancy tests.
Cha cha,
Read Also: How To Stop Period Pain Naturally
Your Period Might Be Delayed
There’s no cause for alarm if you don’t get your period after taking emergency contraception. “Because Plan B delays ovulation, this may result in changes in your menstrual cycle your cycle starting earlier or later than usual,” Dr. Loanzon says. “This can cause anxiety however, as long as you have a negative pregnancy test, this is reassuring.” The fact that you can take Plan B any time of the month is amazing, but when you take it will affect side effects.
“Shortly after taking it, you may or may not have a period, this is because depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle will determine if you have a period,” Dr. Ramos says. So don’t freak out, and keep a pregnancy test on hand in case you need reassurance.