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The most common symptoms seem to be light periods or longer…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. You started or switched birth control. You recently took the morning-after pill. Other possible causes. When to see your doctor. Read this next. Is It Spotting or a Period? Causes, Symptoms, and More Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, MD.
Although implantation bleeding is usually lighter than menstrual flow, some women may mistake it for a very light period.
Women who think that they might be pregnant may wish to consult a doctor or take a home pregnancy test. The birth control pill is a form of hormonal contraception that works by preventing ovulation and making the cervix and uterus less favorable for fertilization.
When an individual starts taking birth control pills, they may experience some spotting before their period for the first few months. This bleeding does not mean that the pill is not working.
Ovulation is when the ovaries release an egg, which travels down a fallopian tube and becomes available for fertilization. The hormonal shifts that occur around the time of ovulation can also lead to breast tenderness, increased cervical mucus, and bloating. Some periods may be shorter and lighter than others during this stage.
Sexual intercourse can irritate the delicate tissues of the vagina, which can sometimes cause a small amount of bleeding.
If this bleeding occurs regularly, a person may wish to consider using a vaginal lubricant to reduce the risk of tissue trauma during sex. A person should see a doctor or gynecologist if bleeding after sex becomes heavy or causes concern. An individual reaches menopause when they have gone at least 12 months without a period. Perimenopause is the transition to menopause, and it can last for up to 10 years. In rare instances, spotting before a period can be a symptom of cervical cancer , which is cancer that develops in the cervix, the area between the vagina and the uterus.
Other symptoms of cervical cancer include :. People with symptoms of cervical cancer should consult a doctor or gynecologist, who can perform a Pap smear to test for abnormal cells in the cervix. A very light period can sometimes resemble spotting and vice versa. The two factors that can help a person determine whether bleeding is a period or spotting are duration and volume. A period typically lasts for around 4 days or more whereas spotting only lasts 1 or 2 days.
During a period, there is usually enough blood to soak a pad. Menstrual blood is also generally red while spotting blood is often dark red or brown. Spotting before a period is not usually a cause for concern.
A person should talk to a doctor about spotting that lasts more than several months or is causing concern. Spotting is a common side effect of hormonal contraception , especially during the first few months of starting a new method 4. If spotting between withdrawal bleeding continues, your pill may not be the best fit for you , and you may want to try another brand with a different chemical formulation 4.
Spotting is common and often unpredictable with the hormonal IUD , the contraceptive implant, the contraceptive shot injection, and the mini-pill a progestin-only pill 5. Spotting is also a common symptom of early pregnancy.
About 1 in 4 people experience spotting, usually gestational weeks 5 and 8 or about 1 to 4 weeks after someone expects their period 6. However, heavy spotting or bleeding may be more of a concern. It may actually be related to hormonal changes, as the production of progesterone switches from the ovary to the forming placenta 6. Spotting can be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy 7.
This is a pregnancy that is growing somewhere other than the uterus, usually the fallopian tube. If you experience symptoms of spotting and suspect you may have an ectopic pregnancy, seek immediate medical help. 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 abnormal growth of muscle tissue on your uterus , uterine or cervical polyps abnormal growths on your cervix or the inside of your uterus and endometriosis 8.
Pelvic inflammatory disease PID , which happens when certain pelvic infections like STIs 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 9. Urinary tract infections UTIs can cause bleeding from the urethra where you pee from, between your clitoris and vagina. 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 postcoital spotting is often caused by an issue with the cervix or polyps Some people may experience spotting after their first intercourse experience, which is normal.
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