How Much Bleeding Is Too Much
Heavy menstrual bleeding is characterized by experiencing any of the following:
- Bleeding that lasts more than 7 days.
- Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row.
- Needing to wear more than one pad at a time to control menstrual flow.
- Needing to change pads or tampons during the night.
- Menstrual flow with blood clots that are as big as a quarter or larger.
You can learn about the causes of HMB here.
If you are concerned about your menstrual bleeding, or other bleeding tendencies, you can use the self-administered bleeding assessment tool available at the Lets Talk Period website . This tool is designed to evaluate menstrual and other bleeding tendencies and tell you if you should be screened for a bleeding disorder.
Why Am I Bleeding After Sex
Youâve just finished having sex with your partner, when you look down and see blood on the sheets. You donât have your period and arenât supposed to get it anytime soon, so what gives?
While vaginal bleeding after sex can be scary, itâs also fairly common. It affects up to 9% of menstruating women. Thereâs probably no cause for concern. But it can also result from an infection. In rare cases, it’s a sign of cervical cancer.
Fluctuating Periods In Young Women
If youve reached the aged girls get their period for the first time, then your periods over the next few years may be lighter or irregular. It may take up to 6 years for your hormones to normalize. You may sometimes have an early period or a late period.
If you are still notice spotting after period just after menarche, then its likely due to hormone fluctuations.
Read Also: What To Do When Your Stomach Hurts On Period
Causes Of Spotting After Your Period
A healthy menstrual cycle usually lasts between 28 and 32 days. During this time, you will experience bleeding up to 3-5 days. It is not a set rule though because every woman’s cycle will be different in some ways. You should consider it normal so long as the length and pattern of your cycle is steady. Most spotting is normal. However, you should consult your doctor if you notice hevily bleeding because it usually indicates an underlying health problem.
What To Do If You Are Not Sure If You Are Spotting Or Having Your Period
Talk to your doctor or other health care professional if you are not sure if it is your period, or if you are spotting.
Remember, spotting is light bleeding that does not get heavier like a typical menstrual period. The normal menstrual period usually is associated with some other symptoms like breast tenderness or cramps as described previously, and often is accompanied by heavy flow. During the first day of your period bleeding may be light, but it typically becomes heavier over the next few days.
Light bleeding that does not worsen and is not associated with the symptoms of a your period is likely to be spotting.
A home pregnancy test can be helpful if you believe you are spotting due to early pregnancy, or you may experience early signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
You should always contact your doctor or other health care professional if you experience any vaginal bleeding, spotting if you are pregnant or if you have reached menopause, or any time you have unusual bleeding that concerns you.
Read Also: Does The Birth Control Patch Stop Your Period
When Should You See A Doctor About Abnormal Bleeding
“You need to see a doctor if you dont have a monthly period or have more than one period per month. Feeling lightheaded or dizzy when you stand is also concerning,” says Dr. Schrop. She also urges women to see a doctor if they experience bleeding after going through menopause, or if they experience bleeding while pregnant.
Finally, Dr. Schrop says to see a gynecologist if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Bleeding that requires more than one tampon or sanitary pad in an hour, for several hours in a row
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Bleeding after having sex
- Nipple discharge
You Have Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are a type of benign tumor that grow in and around the wall of the uterus. Though doctors havent identified a specific cause of fibroids, they do say that African American women and overweight women are more at risk for developing them. Spotting is one of the main side effects, along with infertility, painful sex, lower back pain, and a chronically bloated feeling. In other words, dont assume you have uterine fibroids just because youre spotting. There are a lot of other causes that are far more likely.
You May Like: Signs To Know Your Period Is Coming
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:
You Have A Cervical Polyp
The are polyps found in the cervix usually caused by high estrogen level or inflammation. If you have a cervical polyp, then these are some of the symptoms you may have
- Bleeding after period has ended
- Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Thick white vaginal discharge
- Black period blood if there is an obstruction of the cervix outflow
Don’t Miss: Can A Plan B Delay Your Period
What Are The Possible Causes Of Spotting After Period
So many factors can affect how you feel during and after your menstrual cycle. Similarly, there can be different causes of noticing any light spotting after your period is over. Here’s more about it:
1. Remaining Uterine Tissue After Period
If you notice spotting a couple of weeks after your period, this could mean your menstrual blood couldn’t be expelled completely during your period. In simple words, it’s your body’s way to get rid of the remaining uterine tissue.
2. Fluctuating Menstrual Cycles
This is common among teenage girls because their bodies will take some time to adjust to the hormonal changes. It may take some time for teenage girls to finally get rid of untimely spotting and move to a consistent menstrual cycle. Irregular spotting is usually normal in this case.
3. Rough Sexual Intercourse
If you’ve had sex with your partner soon after the completion of your menstrual cycle, you may notice slight bleeding or spotting, which is usually the outcome of deep penetration. Your partner’s penis may hit the cervix and cause physical injuries that may result in bleeding.
4. Oral Contraceptives
If you’ve been taking oral contraceptives for quite some time and have stopped suddenly, you may end up dealing with light spotting a week after your period. This usually happens due to the hormones present in oral contraceptives. Spotting usually stops when your body adjusts itself to the elevated levels of hormones.
5. Polyps
6. Uterine Fibroids
7. Infections
8. Ovulation
Why Am I Spotting After My Period
Dear Doctor,
My period usually lasts no longer than three days and a week after it ended, I noticed that I was spotting. I have been spotting for a little over two weeks now and it is not consistent. What is the cause of this? My friends say morning after pills cause this but I have never taken any. Do I need to go to the hospital?
Dear Helen,
You have not specified your age, number of pregnancies and living children. Spotting is a streaky vaginal bleeding occurring between menstrual periods. Normally, a menstrual period can last from three to seven days, recurring after 28 to 35 days, plus, minus one week. This cycle is highly variable among different women. Interval between periods, duration of periods, and quantity of blood loss, varies depending on their hormonal status, body weight, level of physical activity, use of birth control pills and hereditary factors. The entire menstrual cycle is governed by balance of levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body. These, in turn, are controlled by hormones released from pituitary and thyroid glands and also estrogens produced by the ovaries.
The underlying cause for spotting can be detected by a clinical evaluation including speculum examination and imaging techniques. Treatment depends on an underlying cause. If spotting is of recent onset, it is better to consult a gynecologist and get all possible investigations done to detect the possible underlying cause of spotting. Most of the causes are treatable.
You May Like: When Will My Next Period Start
Sometimes I Have Bleeding After Sex What Could Be Causing This
Great question It can be alarming to find that you are bleeding after sex when you werent expecting it. It can be normal, but it could also be a symptom of a serious problem.
Most commonly, bleeding after or during sex is caused by your typical monthly cycle. Sometimes, you may get a little spotting or bleeding after sex a few days before or after your period, and this is usually nothing to be concerned about. In fact, having sex can sometimes make your bleeding start a little earlier than normal if you are close to your expected start date. This is due to a combination of your uterus naturally contracting when you orgasm, and semen softening your cervix. Similarly, if you have just ended your period, you may still have had a little bleeding over the next day or two, even if you thought it was over, and sex can sometimes trigger that bleeding faster than it would have happened on its own so.
Some other common causes of bleeding after sex are: Breakthrough bleeding from hormonal birth control use, especially if you recently started a new method Friction from sex due to a lack of lubrication or lack of arousal A vaginal infection like BV or a yeast infection An STD like chlamydia or gonorrhea
If you have bleeding after sex and it is coupled by any signs of infection such as foul-smelling discharge, colored discharge, itching, discomfort or pelvic pain, you should come in for an infection screening right away.
Not Sure What To Do Next
If you are still concerned about bleeding between periods, check your symptoms with healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.
The Symptom checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether its self-care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero .
Read Also: Can You Have A Period During Pregnancy
The Difference Between Spotting And Your Period
Generally, periods come every 21 to 35 days. Some women have shorter periods that last up to 2 days, while others menstruate for up to 7 days. Still others can bleed for even longer but this is a sign of a heavy period and, although common, is not normal and can indicate that there are underlying reproductive issues.
The first day of your period is considered day 1 of your monthly cycle and is often accompanied by period pains: headaches, cramps, cravings, and the like. Though it may seem like youre bleeding out, the amount of blood women release is usually between 4 and 7 tablespoons. The color of period blood can range but is typically red or, if your uterus is shedding off old tissue, brown.
On the other hand, spotting can occur at any time during your monthly cycle and is most likely going to be just a few drops of blood throughout the day. Spotting blood is usually either light pink or dark brown. Though cramps and periods seem to be best buds, you probably wont feel any pain if youre spottingunless you are experiencing implantation spotting but well get to that.
Now that youre clear on the differences between spotting and having your period, lets move on to the really important stuff: why youre spotting at different times throughout your menstrual cycle.
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.
Don’t Miss: Why Are My Period Cramps So Bad
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.
Spotting After Your Period Has Ended When To See A Doctor
You should see a doctor in any case of unusual or abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods. This can help to put your mind at rest and start treatment as soon as possible in case the spotting is because of a serious condition.
Your doctor may also check you over for other underlying health conditions. For example, irregular menstrual cycles have been linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease16 and type 2 diabetes.17
Related articles:
Read Also: Why Am I Still Having My Period At 54
Why Spotting Between Periods Happens And When To Be Concerned
- Birth control pills: Some women on the birth control pill may experience irregular bleeding if pills are missed.
- Injections: Women who use the Depo-Provera injection as their birth control method may experience irregular cycles or bleeding between cycles as a side effect of the medication.
- Hormonal IUD: Women who have a hormonal IUD in place may also experience irregular bleeding. However, this typically resolves itself within the first several months after placement.
Megan Quimper is an ob/gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
How Does Spotting Differ From Light Period Bleeding
Sometimes people describe light bleeding that occurs at the beginning or end of their period as spotting.
It can be hard to differentiate spotting from menstrual bleeding by just looking at the amount. Generally, if you have light bleeding that occurs within 2 days of your period, you should consider that part of your period, not spotting . However, if itâs very, very light – like you only see a little on your toilet paper – that probably could be considered spotting.
For example, if you have light bleeding on Sunday, no bleeding on Monday, and bleed enough to require a tampon on Tuesday, you should consider Sunday the start of your period.
You May Like: What Age Do You Normally Get Your Period