Changes To Your Hormone Levels
Young women often spot, or bleed very slightly, when they ovulate . It happens about 10 to 14 days after their period and is usually caused by a temporary drop in levels of the hormone oestrogen. This is quite normal.
As well as reduced oestrogen levels, you may also experience other hormonal imbalances, which are completely harmless. This could be as a result of stress, or a recent change of diet.
Girls who have just started their periods and women going through menopause are more likely to have irregular periods, which can be confused with bleeding between periods.
Your doctor may take a blood test to investigate your hormone levels and will advise you on possible treatments.
Other Possible Causes Of Bleeding Between Periods
1. Hormonal Imbalance
Your menstrual cycle is regulated by two main hormones: estrogen and progesterone. An imbalance between these two can cause spotting. The same can happen in case of dysfunctions in your ovaries and thyroid glands. And according to National Health Services of the UK, hormonal imbalance can also be caused by hormonal birth control methods such as contraceptive pills, contraceptive patch, IUDs, implants and contraceptive injections.
2. Complications During Pregnancy
Pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy can cause abnormal bleeding. If a fertilized egg is lodged within a fallopian tube instead of the uterus, the result will be an ectopic pregnancy.
3. Uterine Fibroids
Many women who have had children get uterine fibroids at some point in their lives. These noncancerous uterine growths can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding.
4. Infection
Many infections of the female reproductive system can present with inflammation and abnormal bleeding. These include sexually transmitted diseases and pelvic inflammatory disease . Bleeding can also occur as a result of sexual intercourse and douching.
How Is Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Treated
Doctors treat AUB based on what’s causing it.
If a girl has very heavy bleeding, her doctor might test for anemia and prescribe iron pills or other treatments. For very light or irregular bleeding that goes on for a long time, medical professionals often prescribe birth control pills. Birth control pills contain hormones that can help balance a girl’s menstrual cycle.
Most girls just need time for their bodies to adjust to their hormones. Eventually, their menstrual cycles get regular naturally. If you’re ever worried that your period might not be normal, talk to your doctor.
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You Have Done Something New With Contraceptives
Millions of women in the US use some form of birth control. Spotting is a common and normal side effect if you are starting, stopping, or switching birth control medications. Estrogen helps keep the lining of the uterus in place. Changing or messing with the estrogen levels in your body as a result of varying your birth control use could lead to spotting in between periods. This type of spotting does not last for longer than 1-3 months as your body tries to adapt to the new estrogen levels.
Spotting is usually a side effect of using hormonal contraceptives which may include a combination of oral contraceptive pill, injections of long-acting artificial progesterone, a rod containing slow-release progesterone usually inserted in the upper arm, or intrauterine system devices that releases progesterone implanted into the womb. Treatments that involve progesterone alone frequently result in spotting. Spotting here usually occurs as a result of the drop in hormone levels.
When you start taking hormonal contraceptives, it is common to experience spotting around two weeks after your last period. Your periods will normally get back to the standard routine within six months. The spotting caused by hormonal contraception should usually stop after a month or two of starting but may reappear when ceasing it.
If you use hormonal contraceptives like a depot injection or rod, you may experience spotting between your first two or three periods after the installation.
Ovulation And/or Hormonal Issues
Spotting can also occur around the time of ovulation . Itâs unclear why some people experience ovulation bleeding while others donâtâsome research suggests it happens in people who have higher levels of some hormones .
Spotting a few days before the period starts, in the late luteal phase, might suggest low progesterone , but more research is needed.
Understanding your body can improve usage of non-hormonal birth control. to learn more about Clue Birth Control.
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When To Be Concerned
Most women know their bodies and can recognize when something changes. Seek medical care with any of the following:
- Unexplained vagina bleeding in post-menopausal women.
- Bleeding accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, and pain.
- An unpleasant odor from vaginal discharges.
- Bleeding in young girls prior to puberty.
Most sporadic spotting between periods is usually not cause for alarm, but it is always best to err on the side of caution. If you have any further questions, or would like to set an appointment with Mid-City OB-GYN today, call to schedule an appointment.
You Just Had A Baby Or A Pregnancy Loss
Light spotting to heavy bleeding can occur for the first few weeks after childbirth, pregnancy loss or an induced abortion. This happens because your uterus has not contracted to the pre-pregnancy size or because there is still remaining fetal tissue in your uterus. While this spotting can be normal, it should be checked with your doctor.
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What Does Bleeding In Between Your Periods Mean
What does bleeding in between your periods mean?
What does it mean when a woman is bleeding but not on her period? Irregular vaginal bleeding is any bleeding from a womans vaginal area and usually refers to bleeding that is not part of a regular period. The range of causes includes infection and hormonal changes.
Does bleeding in between periods mean you are pregnant? Share on Pinterest Spotting may be an early sign of pregnancy. Light bleeding or spotting can be an early sign of pregnancy. This spotting is called implantation bleeding because doctors think that it happens when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus.
Is it normal to have periods twice in a month? The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long but can vary from 24 to 38 days. If a menstrual cycle is shorter, a person can have a period more than once a month. While occasional changes in the menstrual cycle are not unusual, frequently experiencing two periods in a month may indicate an underlying issue.
All About Bleeding Between Periods
A normal menstrual cycle usually lasts between 21 to 35 days, with an average of 28 days. Normal menstrual flow lasts for two to seven days, resulting in a total blood loss of 30 to 80 ml.
Abnormal bleeding occurs when theres a minor blood flow between the last day of the menstrual cycle and prior to the start of your next period.
Its believed that nearly all women may experience at least one episode during their reproductive lives. But in most cases, its not a cause for concern.
In spite of this, health experts and gynecologists recommend talking to your doctor if you experience this symptom. This way, they can rule out that the bleeding is caused by a more serious problem, such as cancer or another precancerous disorder.
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You Are Taking Certain Drugs Such As Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are drugs that help prevent your blood from clotting or prevent existing clots from growing. These drugs help keep clots from forming in your heart, veins, or arteries. These drugs should only be taken if advised by your doctor. While anticoagulants help with clotting, one side effect is spotting before your period or bleeding more than normal on your period.
Also medications like phenothiazides, which are antipsychotic tranquilizers and tricyclic antidepressants which affect serotonin uptake can as well result to spotting. Spotting is also common in women who are taking corticosteroids medications. Taking blood thinning medications like Heparin, Warfarin or Aspirin also result to spotting.
What Causes A Woman To Menstruate Twice In A Month
An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can cause your period to come twice in one month. The thyroid gland is regulated by hormones produced and regulated in the same area of the brain the pituitary and hypothalamus as the hormones that control menstruation and ovulation, explains Dr Dweck.
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What Your Period Says About Your Fertility
September 5, 2019, by
When youre trying to get pregnant, one of the first things youll probably start paying extra attention to, is your period. Because after all, its the ABSENCE of your period thats usually the first tell-tale sign that youre pregnant and the reason that youre likely to take a pregnancy test.
Of course, you probably already know that you NEED to be getting periods, and ideally getting them regularly, in order to get pregnant at all.
But what you might NOT know, is that your ability to get pregnant doesnt just rely on having periods per se, it relies on having healthy periods and a healthy menstrual cycle. You might also be unaware that your periods themselves, can actually provide you with some really valuable clues about the state of your fertility and your chances of getting pregnant.
So in this article, I want to discuss what a healthy period and a healthy menstrual cycle looks like. Ill also share the 9 signs to watch out for that can indicate a problem and that your fertility could be compromised.
But first, lets do a quick Period 101, as a reminder of exactly what a period is, why we have them and how they relate to your fertility.
Its Your First Period Ever
For many girls, your first few years of menstruating are very new and confusing marked by painful feelings like cramps, tampons and pads, and irregular menstrual cycles. Not only do girls experience these off-schedule menstrual periods, many girls experience spotting. This is normal and is usually just a hormonal misstep that makes our uterine lining shed at the wrong time of the month. Essentially, this means our bodies are trying to understand this new feature and work out all the nuances of our reproductive system and becoming a woman.
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You Have A Sexually Transmitted Disease
As just mentioned, cervicitis can cause spotting and be caused by sexually transmitted diseases. Most common types that cause spotting are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Chlamydia, if not treated, can cause serious health issues such as pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility. Because chlamydia does not often cause symptoms, it is important to get tested every year. However, certain symptoms include unusual vaginal discharge burning while urinating, spotting between periods, pain in your stomach, back pain, nausea, and pain during sex. Gonorrhea is another common STD that, if untreated, can lead to infertility and can spread to parts of the body such as the blood, joints, heart, or even the brain. Symptoms include yellow or vaginal discharge that may smell bad, a burning sensation while urinating, pain during sex, and spotting between periods. Gonorrhea can also be in other parts of your body, such as the throat and anus. Trichomoniasis and genital herpes can also cause cervicitis. To prevent any types of STDs, go get regularly tested at your doctor or local clinic.
Which Tests Should Be Performed
One of the most common tests for gynecological abnormalities is the cell sample. The results are used to assess whether bleeding between periods comes from the uterus and whether there are cancer cells present in the cervix.
An ultrasound scanner is an extremely sensitive diagnostic test that can detect potential changes in the uterus and ovaries.
But if these are not enough to dispel any doubts, the last resort is usually a hysteroscopy. This involves inserting a small camera into the uterus through the vagina to study it more closely.
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Bleeding Between Periods: What Does It Mean
Vaginal bleeding between periods is known by the medical term spotting, and usually serves as a warning sign. This is because it may be a symptom of a more serious problem related to the reproductive system.
However, although it may not be considered normal, it is also not unusual and does not always indicate the possibility of a more dangerous condition.
Therefore, it is important that all women are well informed about this problem and its possible causes before jumping to any extreme conclusions.
When Should Bleeding Between Periods Be Treated Immediately
If the bleeding between periods is as heavy or heavier than your normal period and has an intense red, black, or brown color, you should go to the emergency room. If you also have other symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, arrhythmia, or abdominal pain, seek immediate medical attention.
In addition, if youre passing a lot of blood, but not more than you normally do during your period, you may have a uterine fibroid. However, you should go see your doctor if youre suffering from considerable bleeding between periods. The medical professional will determine if the blood is coming from the cervix, uterus, or vagina.
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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Treatment
There are several treatment options for abnormal bleeding. Your treatment will depend on the cause of your bleeding, your age, and whether you want to get pregnant in the future. Your doctor will help you decide which treatment is right for you. Or, if your doctor decides that a hormone imbalance is causing your abnormal bleeding, you and your doctor may decide to wait and see if the bleeding improves on its own. Some treatment options include the following:
Intrauterine device . Your doctor may suggest an IUD. An IUD is a small, plastic device that your doctor inserts into your uterus through your vagina to prevent pregnancy. One type of IUD releases hormones. This type can significantly reduce abnormal bleeding. Like birth control pills, sometimes IUDs can actually cause abnormal bleeding. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.
Birth control pills. Birth control pills contain hormones that can stop the lining of your uterus from getting too thick. They also can help keep your menstrual cycle regular and reduce cramping. Some types of birth control pills, especially the progestin-only pill can actually cause abnormal bleeding for some women. Let your doctor know if the pill youre taking doesnt control your abnormal bleeding.
If youre having heavy bleeding, your doctor may perform a D& C both to find out the problem and to treat the bleeding. The D& C itself often makes heavy bleeding stop. Your doctor will decide if this procedure is necessary.
You Have An Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy, also known as eccyesis or tubal pregnancy, is a complication in pregnancy where the embryo forms and attaches outside the uterus. In a normal pregnancy, a fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg occurs in one of the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy cannot end normally. The fertilized egg has no chance for survival, and the growing tissues might destroy some reproductive parts. It can lead to extensive blood loss and can be life threatening for the mother. In the beginning, an ectopic pregnancy might not show any symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they are usually the same as any pregnancy, such as missed period, tenderness in the breasts, and nausea. However, spotting and light vaginal bleeding and pain in your pelvis and abdomen are the first signs of an ectopic pregnancy. See a doctor immediately if you are experiencing severe pain in your abdomen or pelvis, vaginal bleeding, extreme lightheadedness, fainting, and shoulder pain. Ectopic pregnancies can occur for a few reasons, including inflammation, infection, fertility issues, structural concerns in your body, contraceptives, and smoking.
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