End Of Period Or Something Else
If youre bleeding *right* after your period. It might simply be one of the lighter days at the end of your period.
The light days at the beginning and end of a period can manifest more as spottingand can often confuse you whether your period has begun or is still ending, or if theres something else happening. The blood at the beginning and the end of a period is often a brown color .
But, if your period has ended and you start bleeding between periods, a good first step is to understand if youre bleeding or spotting.
What Home Remedies Stop Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Make sure that the bleeding is coming from the vagina and is not from the rectum or the urinary tract . You can insert a tampon into your vagina to confirm that the source of your bleeding is coming from the area of your vagina, cervix, and uterus. If you are bleeding heavily, rest in bed. Keep track of the number of pads or tampons you use so that you and your health-care professional can determine the amount of your bleeding. Avoid taking aspirin because it may prolong bleeding.
Why Do I Have Brown Discharge For A Week
In many cases, brown discharge is old blood that’s taking extra time to leave the uterus. This is especially true if you see it at the beginning or end of your menstrual period. Brown discharge at other points in your cycle may still be normal but be sure to take note of any other symptoms you experience.
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Youre Spotting A Ton Between Periods
The weird thing about spotting is that its one of those period problems that can actually be totally normalto a certain extent. For example, spotting isnt necessarily worrisome if youve just started a new type of birth control, or are pregnant , Dr. Minkin says. But if nothing in your life has changed and you start spotting between periods, its time to check in with your doctor.
Oftentimes, something thats ultimately pretty harmless is causing this menstrual cycle problem, like a benign uterine or cervical polyp thats prompting you to bleed between periods. But spotting is also a common sign of pelvic inflammatory disease , which happens when sexually transmitted bacteria from infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea spreads to reproductive organs like your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. In addition, pelvic inflammatory disease can cause issues like fever, strange vaginal discharge that smells bad, and burning when you pee.
If you have PID, your doctor will first address the STI in question with antibiotics, says the CDC, then treat your partner for an STI if necessary. Pelvic inflammatory disease is a leading cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility in women, so if you suspect you have it, getting quick treatment is of the essence.
What Causes Abnormal Periods
Abnormal bleeding is common. Causes of irregular bleeding can include pregnancy, obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid problems, side effects from medicines, and cancer. Very heavy periods may be caused by thyroid problems, bleeding disorders, and noncancerous growths in your uterus. Many women have very heavy periods without a known cause.
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Period Problems You Shouldnt Ignore
As basically anyone who menstruates knows, certain period problems are just an unfortunate fact of life, like pain radiating through your midsection, a shorter fuse than usual , and bleeding more than you would like to be bleeding from your vagina.
On the flip side, some menstrual cycle problems are a clear sign that you should chat about whats going on with your doctorjust in casebecause they fall outside the bounds of what’s normally expected during menstruation. Here are some period problems that are worth discussing with a medical expert.
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 397-6600 to schedule an appointment.
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When Birth Control Causes Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Birth control pills, patches, implants, injections and rings that contain hormones can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding as a side effect. This can occur:
- During the first few months when a woman begins using hormone-based birth control.
- When changing the type of birth control pill or the dose of estrogen.
- When a woman does not take her birth control pill correctly, missing doses or not taking them at the same time each day.
- After using birth control for a long time, which can affect the lining of the uterus and cause bleeding.
- During the first few days of using an intrauterine device , one either with or without the synthetic hormone progestin some women continue to experience spotting between periods with an IUD.
- When using the Depo-Provera birth control injection.
- When using a birth control implant.
It is important to check with a health care provider to determine the cause of abnormal vaginal bleeding. It may be due to one of the birth control issues above, which should be monitored.
Reasons For Blood In Your Panties
Isn’t being a woman fun?
There’s nothing more baffling than seeing red in your undies when you’re pretty sure it’s not that time of the month. And unfortunately, without visiting your ob-gyn, theres no way to know if your cycle is just out of whack or if something else is going on, says Natasha Johnson, M.D., an ob-gyn at Brigham and Womens Hospital.
If you notice irregular bleeding, one of these eight factors could be at playbut you’ll want to see your doctor to suss out what’s going on.
The American Pregnancy Association suggests 20 percent of women spot during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Thats why if you have irregular bleeding, docs will want to rule out a baby-on-the-way, says Mamta Mamik, M.D., an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. FWIW, spotting in the early stages of pregnancy tends to be lighter than your usual period.
Taking a blood thinner like Warfarin? Typically, any kind of blood thinner can cause periods to be heavier and cause bleeding, says Johnson. Supplements like ginkgo biloba also have blood-thinning properties that could affect your flow, adds Mamik. Of course, even birth control options like the NuvaRing, which contains estrogen and progestin , could be the culprit, notes Johnson. So if you just started a new prescription and notice symptoms, mention that to your doc.
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What Is Spotting A Sign Of
- Hormone based birth control
- Premenopause
Is spotting after period a sign of pregnancy?
What does mid cycle spotting mean?
How long should spotting last after period?
Is it normal to bleed when not on period?
- Bleeding or spotting between menstruation
- Bleeding or spotting after intercourse
- Heavy bleeding during your period
- Menstrual cycles longer than 38 days or shorter than 24 days
- Irregular periods lasting longer than 7 days
- Post-menopausal bleeding
Adenomyosis
Polyps
Ectopic Pregnancy
What Can Cause Bleeding Between Periods
There are several things that could cause bleeding between periods, such as changes to your hormones levels, use of hormonal contraception or contraceptive devices, an infection, or an injury.
Other causes of bleeding between periods may include:
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Should I Take A Pregnancy Test
If youre of reproductive age, and you think pregnancy might be the reason youre spotting, you can take an at-home test. Pregnancy tests measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine. This hormone rises rapidly when youre pregnant.
If your test comes back positive, make an appointment with your OB-GYN to confirm the results. You should also see your doctor if your period is over a week late and you have a negative pregnancy test.
Your doctor can run tests to determine if an underlying condition is responsible for your missed period.
When Is Period Bleeding Less Than Normal
Period occurs because your hormones wash out the inner uterine covering called endometrium. The endometrium continues to get thicker and taller from the end of your period to when it begins again.
If period occurs very early or if natural hormones that control your menstrual cycle are affected, you may notice a scanty period.
Most women get their menses every 25 to 35 days. During period, bleeding last between 3 to 7 days in most women with blood loss about 40 to 60 milliliters.
Should your period last less than three days or blood lost during menstruation less than 20mls, you have a scanty period.
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What Is The Source Of Spotting
Spotting can come from your upper reproductive tract or your lower reproductive tract . Spotting is different from your period, which is the cyclical shedding of your uterine lining, your endometrium. Heavier spotting is most often from the uterus, while lighter spotting can come from the upper or lower tract .
I Have Bleeding During My Active Birth Control Pills Is This Normal
If the bleeding is severe: If the bleeding is heavy enough to fill 1 tampon or pad per hour for 2-3 hours in a row or you are feeling dizzy or lightheaded, we recommend you see your primary care provider or go to Urgent Care to ensure there is not a serious issue going on. Make sure to tell them youre using birth control and be prepared to tell them the name of your birth control. Please let us know what they say so we can ensure we are prescribing you a safe and appropriate medication.
If the bleeding is not severe, but still annoying or concerning: Are you experiencing breakthrough bleeding in the first 3-6 months of your birth control? Breakthrough bleeding is unscheduled bleeding during the active pills, or during the ring-in or patch-on phase of your cycle. Dont stress! This is not abnormal. Breakthrough bleeding is the most common side effect for women beginning birth control. Just continue using your birth control as normal and give your body time to adjust to the birth control you are using. Breakthrough bleeding typically goes away with time and the second cycle is usually much better than the first, but it may take up to 3 full cycles for breakthrough bleeding to go away for good.
If you are interested in switching birth control brands to help reduce spotting or bleeding, our medical team can help you find the right fit. Get started here or for more answers to your healthcare questions, visit our Knowledge Center.
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Can Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Be Prevented Or Avoided
If your abnormal uterine bleeding is caused by hormonal changes, you will not be able to prevent it. But if your hormonal changes are caused by being overweight, losing weight could help. Your weight affects your hormone production. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent abnormal uterine bleeding.
What To Expect At Your Office Visit
The provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. The physical exam will include a pelvic exam.
Questions about the bleeding may include:
- When does the bleeding occur and how long does it last?
- How heavy is the bleeding?
- Do you have cramps too?
- Are there things that make the bleeding worse?
- Is there anything that prevents it or relieves it?
- Do you have any other symptoms such as abdominal pain, bruising, pain when urinating, or blood in urine or stools?
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests to check thyroid and ovarian function
- Cervical cultures to check for a sexually transmitted infection
- Colposcopy and cervical biopsy
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Uterine Or Cervical Polyps
Polyps are small abnormal tissue growths that can occur in a number of places, including the cervix and uterus. Most polyps are benign, or noncancerous.
Cervical polyps typically dont cause any symptoms, but may cause:
- light bleeding between periods
- unusual discharge
Your doctor can easily see cervical polyps during a routine pelvic exam. Generally, no treatment is needed unless theyre causing bothersome symptoms. If they do need to be removed, removal is generally easy and not painful.
Uterine polyps can only be seen on imaging tests like ultrasounds. Theyre most often benign, but a small percentage can become cancerous. These polyps most commonly occur in people who have finished menopause.
Symptoms may include:
Some people may only experience light spotting, while others experience no symptoms at all.
Its Not My Periodwhy Am I Bleeding
Contraceptives, STDs, the onset of menopausea variety of conditions can cause vaginal blood flow during any time of the menstrual cycle. An accurate diagnosis will point to the most suitable treatment for you.
Most often, vaginal bleeding between periods, or intermenstrual bleeding, is no cause for concern. The most common reasons are menopause and hormonal contraception . But these are not the only reasons for intermenstrual bleeding.
If you frequently experience intermenstrual bleeding, it is considered abnormal and should be checked.
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- What is the likely cause of my abnormal uterine bleeding?
- Is my condition serious? Am I at risk for any other health problems?
- Based on the cause, what treatment options do you recommend?
- What are the risks and benefits of this treatment?
- Will the treatment affect my chances of getting pregnant in the future?
Physical Conditions And Infections
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.
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