What Is Bleeding Between Periods
After puberty and before menopause, women experience normal vaginal bleeding each month during their menstrual period. Normal vaginal bleeding, or a period, varies widely between women and can be different for you at different stages of your life. Generally, all women experience a menstrual period around once a month, approximately every 21 to 35 days, and it can last anywhere between 1 and 7 days.
Bleeding between periods is any vaginal bleeding that occurs outside of a normal period. Bleeding between periods may be similar to a normal period, may be heavier with a larger blood loss, or may be a very light blood loss . Bleeding between periods may be once off or may last for a number of days.
Types Of Bleeding Between Periods
There are a few different types of bleeding that can happen when you’re not on your period.
- Spotting: A red or brown tinge on the toilet paper or a drop or two of blood in your underwear is likely to be spotting. However, your provider will only consider bleeding to be “spotting” if it’s not happening during your period and does not require you to use a pad or tampon.
- Light bleeding: This type of bleeding occurs just before or after your period. It’s not technically spottingit’s considered part of your period.
- Breakthrough bleeding: Breakthrough bleeding happens if you are taking oral contraceptives. This type of bleeding between periods is usually caused by low estrogen levels.
- Abnormal bleeding: Any heavy bleeding that requires the use of a tampon or pad that happens outside of your cycle and is not caused by hormonal birth control pills is abnormal. It is also called abnormal uterine bleeding or abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Women In Their 40s And Early 50s
In the years before menopause and when menopause begins, women have months when they dont ovulate. This can cause abnormal uterine bleeding, including heavy periods and lighter, irregular bleeding.
Thickening of the lining of the uterus is another cause of bleeding in women in their 40s and 50s. This thickening can be a warning of uterine cancer. If you have abnormal uterine bleeding and youre in this age group, you need to tell your doctor about it. It may be a normal part of getting older, but its important to make sure uterine cancer isnt the cause.
You May Like: Is There A Way To Delay Your Period
Consequences Of Ignoring Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods
In some cases, this kind of abnormal bleeding will resolve on its own. However, for some women, the underlying cause requires treatment. Ignoring the problem and failing to see a doctor can lead to a worsening of the problem. If the cause of the bleeding is an infection, cancer, or another serious disorder, the consequences could be life-threatening.
Why Am I Sad
HOW TO STOP BEING SAD AND START FEELING HAPPY Wome.Feeling sad all the time for no specific reason doesnt always mean you have depression, but it does suggest you could be experiencing something more complex than sadness alone.Why Am I Sad? Sometimes people feel sad and are just unsure of what the root of it is. This quiz will help you to discover what is actually making you sad deep sown inside. START. parts: 29 danielle ,
Don’t Miss: How Long Should Period Cramps Last
How Is Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Diagnosed
A doctor will want to rule out other health problems before deciding a girl has AUB. For example, doctors might find out that a girl with heavy periods has a bleeding disorder like von Willebrand disease.
To diagnose AUB, doctors will ask questions about periods and bleeding. Expect your doctor to ask the date your last period started.
A doctor also might ask questions that dont seem connected to bleeding like about recent weight changes or if you have ever had sex. Doctors ask these questions because conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and some STDs can cause abnormal bleeding. If theyre not treated, they may lead to more serious health issues, like infertility .
Girls who have had sex and miss a period need to see a doctor. Missed periods could be a sign of pregnancy as well as a sign of AUB. If you have heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods, it could be an infection or other problem. For example, an ectopic pregnancy can cause bleeding, and can be life-threatening.
A doctor might do a physical exam and maybe a pelvic exam. Sometimes doctors order blood tests or ultrasound exams. Blood tests also can show if a girl has anemia.
Dont Miss: What Can Make You Miss Your Period
How Often Can I Take It
You can take Plan B as often as you need to, but the more you take it, the more likely you are to have spotting and menstrual irregularities. If you find yourself needing Plan B often, talk to your doctor about other methods of birth control that may be more effective.
Plan B doesnt cause miscarriage and isnt an abortion pill. You shouldnt have the type of heavy blood flow that contains large clots.
Recommended Reading: Is It Normal To Spot Before Your Period
How Is Bleeding Between Periods Treated
If you have not yet discussed your vaginal bleeding with your doctor, its important you make an appointment to do so, as vaginal bleeding cannot be treated without knowing the cause.
If your doctor has diagnosed the cause of your bleeding, you can treat the bleeding by following their advice, such as by taking a course of antibiotics if you have an infection, or by changing to a different form of contraception if the bleeding is caused by the contraception you have been taking. If the bleeding is light and isnt bothering you, and a serious cause of the bleeding has been ruled out, it may not be necessary to do anything at all.
Bleeding After Sex Diagnosis
Your doctorâs first step will probably be to ask you some questions to see if thereâs an obvious cause for the bleeding, like breakthrough bleeding after you just start to take a birth control pill.
Theyâll also want to know if youâre having pain during sex, which can be a sign of dryness or infection, depending on when it happens.
The doctor will give you a pelvic exam and look for any source of the bleeding, like vaginal tears or lesions, signs of pelvic organ prolapse, cervical polyps, or inflammation. If you have polyps, they might be able to remove them in the office and send them to a lab for testing. Or you might need a later appointment to have them surgically removed. You could also get a:
- Test for a sexually transmitted disease or sexually transmitted infection
During a Pap test, the doctor can swab your cervix to test for sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea, which can cause bleeding after sex and are treated with antibiotics. The Pap test also detects any sign of abnormal, precancerous growths or cancer cells.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does A Girls Period Last
When To See Your Doctor
See your doctor if you are worried about abnormal bleeding or if your usual pattern of periods has changed especially if you have more frequent or heavier bleeding.
If you are past the menopause see your doctor if you have any vaginal bleeding.
It is also important to see your doctor if you get any bleeding after having sex.
Call Healthline if you are unsure what you should do.
Can Implantation Bleeding Last 4 Days
In most cases, implantation spotting only lasts from a few hours to a couple days, but some women report having implantation spotting for up to seven days. You may experience some light cramping and soreness during implantation. For this reason, women often mistake implantation spotting for their regular period.
Can you have a light period and still be pregnant?
Intro. The short answer is no. Despite all of the claims out there, it isnt possible to have a period while youre pregnant. Rather, you might experience spotting during early pregnancy, which is usually light pink or dark brown in color.
Also Check: Why Do I Get Yeast Infections Before My Period
Few Things That You Should Know
-
Spotting after your period may indicate pregnancy, but it is not always true. It may or may not be implantation bleeding, so you may want to take a pregnancy test to be sure.
-
You can become pregnant only after ovulation and successful fertilization, and the process usually starts at least 10 days after your menstrual cycle. Therefore, the possibility of you becoming pregnant immediately after your monthly period is quite low.
-
Spotting or bleeding 10 days after period ended is not associated with early miscarriage, unless you experience heavy bleeding that is accompanied with cramps.
Physical Conditions Infections And Spotting
Spotting can also be caused by infections and physical changes in the reproductive tract, or hormonal imbalances. Physical conditions that can cause spotting episodes include fibroids , uterine or cervical polyps and endometriosis .
Pelvic inflammatory disease , which happens when certain pelvic infections go untreated, can also be another culprit for unscheduled spotting. Other symptoms of PID can include pain in the lower abdomen, unusual vaginal discharge, and fever . If you suspect you have spotting and other associated symptoms of PID or of physical pelvic conditions, itâs important to discuss this with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Urinary tract infections can cause bleeding from the urethra . Pain while urinating, paired with a small amount of blood on the toilet paper, might be signs of a UTI .
Consistently spotting after penetrative vaginal intercourse is not considered normal. Bleeding after sex is often caused by an issue with the cervix or polyps . Some people may experience spotting after their first intercourse experience, which is normal. If youâre noticing spotting after sex, talk to your healthcare provider.
You May Like: Is There A Way To Stop Periods
Vaginal Infection In Women
Women with pelvic inflammatory disease caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia infection can sometimes have irregular bleeding or spotting during their menstrual cycle. This bleeding is usually lighter than you menstruation with other symptoms like
- Low abdomen pain
- Vaginal itching and pain
If you notice these symptoms, then your early period may be due to an infection. Inform your doctor as vaginal infection can easily be treated with antibiotics.
Read Also: Can I Swim On My Period Without A Tampon
Things You Need To Be Aware Of About Bleeding
A light spotting after your period doesnt always indicate that youre pregnant. Many women believe its the implantation process, but its not. The implantation spotting doesnt occur immediately after your period. Instead, it occurs a week before menstruation. The gynecologist at Rainbow Hospital Marathahallisuggests a blood test to reveal hormonal problems.
The women can conceive the baby successfully after successful ovulation and fertilization. The process takes place 10 days after the menstrual cycle. It means the likelihood of becoming pregnant the day after your monthly cycle is small. A week after youve had your period cant be caused by an early miscarriage. In contrast to spot, miscarriage can always be accompanied by bleeding and cramps.
Also Check: How Do You Stop Period Pains
Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods
Overview
Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods is also called intermenstrual bleeding, spotting, and metrorrhagia. When bleeding occurs between normal periods, there are many possible causes.
While some causes may be easy to treat, others can indicate a serious underlying condition. Whether you notice spotting or heavier bleeding between periods, its important to see your doctor for testing, diagnosis, and treatment options. Potential causes of bleeding between periods include:
- a growth in your uterus or cervix
How Early Does Pregnancy Spotting Occur
Implantation bleeding is generally light and short, just a few days worth. It usually occurs 10-14 days after conception, or around the time of your missed period. However, vaginal bleeding has been reported anytime in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Spotting is also common before the start of a menstrual period.
Also Check: Birth Control That Takes Away Periods
Don’t Miss: What To Do If Period Is Too Heavy
Period 2 Weeks Early: Light Or Heavy 8 Main Causes
Period 2 weeks early may cause women to panic especially if it happening for the first time.
Should your period come two weeks earlier than normal, it may not mean a serious problem. In fact, its possible you may have light vaginal bleeding or spotting that can occur for many reasons.
You should understand that most womens menstrual cycle lasts for around 28 days. However, this can vary from one woman to another If your period comes between 21 and 35 days, it is considered normal.
In some women, various activities like stress, severe weight burn out, emotion issues with your lover and many nights without bedrest may cause hormones to be secreted abnormally, resulting in an early period.
While the chances you could be pregnant may be slim, its still possible. This may occur because of implantation bleeding if youve had an unsafe sexual intercourse with your boyfriend
In this article, we explain the causes of 2 weeks early period and when you must see your doctor.
Spotting Vs Period: Differences
If youre experiencing something that looks like spotting in your vaginal discharge but are expecting your period, how can you tell the difference? Here are some distinctions between spotting and menstrual bleeding.
The menstrual period is the typical monthly bleeding process. Your uterine lining gets thicker over the course of your cycle and then sheds during your period. It may be difficult to distinguish between spotting before your period and the menstrual flow itself.
The color of your menstrual blood might be anywhere from red to dark brown. It may look almost inky black toward the end of your period.
There are several differences between period bleeding and spotting. Spotting is lighter bleeding than the heavier flow of menstruation. From a medical standpoint, spotting technically has one or more days without bleeding before or after menstruation. It shouldnt be accompanied by heavy cramps or clots. The color is light brown or pink.
Spotting can occur at any time of your cycle and is often linked to ovulation, but sometimes its a signal of other changes in your body.
Also Check: How To Skip Period On Birth Control Pills
Recommended Reading: What Is The Latest Age To Start Your Period
Why Are You Bleeding Again 7 Days After The Period
Bleeding a week after period is a frustrating and stressful experience since you dont have any idea why they would occur between periods. Perhaps your period has ended in the past week but then you found out youre spotting again. Perhaps this is the first time youve experienced blooding or spotting after your period or it could be the second or third time that you notice youre bleeding again. Whether bleeding or spotting between periods occurred to you for the first time or in frequent occasions, still it is a frightening experience.
What Is Considered Normal Menstrual Bleeding
Normal menstrual bleeding is when menstrual periods last four to seven days, with a normal cycle occurring every 21 to 35 days.
Most woman have a definition of what normal looks like for them. Many women already know that on average, menstrual periods last four to seven days, with a normal cycle occurring every 21 to 35 days. But did you know this interesting fact? Blood loss during a period averages about 40 ccs, or the equivalent of only three tablespoons.
You May Like: Can I Get Pregnant Right After My Period
When To See A Healthcare Provider
Use your menstrual cycle calendar to record the number of tampons or pads you use. This information can help your healthcare provider determine whether or not you are bleeding excessively.
Any unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods is a reason to call your healthcare provider. While it needs to be reported at any age, it is especially a concern for people who havent yet gone through puberty and for females who are past menopause.
If you are pregnant and you have spotting or bleeding, you need to see your healthcare provider.
You should seek immediate medical care if the bleeding is heavy, or if it is accompanied by pain, fever, dizziness, chills, nausea, or vomiting.
Why Is My Period 4 Days Long
Normal menstruation can differ widely from woman to woman anywhere from three to seven days of bleeding is considered normal, and each full menstrual cycle can last anywhere from 21 to 35 days. Three days of bleeding, which may seem short, is still considered normal as long as youre menstruating regularly.
Read Also: Does Birth Control Help Your Period
Living With Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding can impact your life in a negative way. Not being able to predict when bleeding will begin can cause you to be anxious all the time. Also, heavy menstrual bleeding may limit your daily activities during your period. For some women, it even prevents them from leaving the house.
If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, try taking ibuprofen during your period . Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug . NSAIDs can work to reduce the bleeding during your period.
You also should make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet. Your doctor may prescribe an iron supplement to ensure that you dont become anemic.
Spotting Due To Bacterial Infections Or An Std
If you think you may have an infection that is causing your spotting, visit your doctor as soon as possible for further testing to confirm what is going on. Your doctor will also be able to provide you with treatment options to manage the infection. If an infection is confirmed, your partner should also be tested and treated to prevent reinfection.
When it comes to improving progesterone levels and addressing other underlying causes of spotting, remember that it takes on average 100 days for your ovarian follicles to develop from immature eggs all the way to being released at ovulation. This means it takes 100 days of being fully nourished, eating enough calories and managing stress, for the true impacts on your cycle to be seen. The period symptoms you are having now are likely the result of changes you experienced several months ago. Dont expect changes over night, or even by your next cycle. Be patient and remember you are in this for the long haul! Youve got this.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Period Blood Out Of Your Underwear
Also Check: Can I Get An Iud While On My Period