What happens if you have spotting

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. Women who suspect that they may be pregnant may also wish to consult a doctor or take a home pregnancy test. Spotting before a period is unlikely to require treatment.

A doctor may sometimes advise a person to change their method of contraception to reduce spotting. For example, they may recommend a different type or strength of birth control pill. Spotting before a period does not always have an obvious cause. However, it can sometimes be an early sign of pregnancy. Spotting may also occur due to hormonal fluctuations, starting a birth control pill, or perimenopause.

Although spotting is not usually a cause for concern, a person should talk to their doctor if spotting is persistent or occurs alongside other symptoms, such as pain, irritation, and unusual discharge. Vaginal bleeding between periods is a common experience with many possible causes.

When this occurs, a person may notice light brown spotting in their…. Normal period blood typically varies from bright red to dark…. For many, it can be hard to distinguish between spotting and periods. Spotting is quite common and is usually no cause for concern.

It may just…. Many people have some spotting, or breakthrough bleeding, when they start taking the birth control pill. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control. Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue. App Store Play Store.

Top things to know: Light bleeding at the beginning or end of your period is not spotting Spotting is any bleeding outside your menstrual period Any unexplained spotting should be addressed with your healthcare provider Spotting can be a side effect of your hormonal contraceptive What is the difference between the period, spotting, and bleeding?

Download Clue to track your period and menstrual cycle. What are the baby blues? Gender Equality Why are women and people with cycles underrepresented in health research? The consequences have been dangerous. COVID How coronavirus impacts pregnancy, breastfeeding, and postpartum Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. About Clue Clue Plus: get the most out of your Clue app When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, This stress can be physical, meaning: too much exercise, strict dieting, or severe illness.

It can also be emotional, which may be due to big life events, such as divorce, a death in the family, or an important work deadline. If you think stress is impacting your cycle, consider trying to find more ways to relax. Engaging in regular activity may help, such as:.

Hormones in different birth control methods, like the pill, patch, or shot, may cause spotting instead of a normal period. Estrogen helps to stabilize the lining in the uterus. This symptom is more common in the months after you first start using it. Some methods are meant to be used continuously to help skip periods. You may also experience spotting with these methods.

To get a full period, take off three to five days between packs of pills or rings. In rare cases, you may see spotting instead of your period due to underlying cervical or uterine cancers.

Seeing spotting instead of a period one month may not be a reason for concern. If your spotting is being caused by medical conditions, such as PCOS, thyroid issues, or STIs, you may experience other symptoms that prompt you to call your doctor. The same goes with possible pregnancy. Experiencing spotting in place of your period may be normal from time to time. There are a variety of situations that can alter the hormonal balance in the body and lead to a disrupted cycle. Consider tracking your periods on paper or in a tracking app, like Clue.

Record things like the number of days you see bleeding or spotting, the color of the blood, and the flow to watch for patterns. There are many reasons you might experience spotting before your period, including changes to a medication, pregnancy, an infection, or another…. Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition. Call your doctor if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. You may see red, brown, and even black blood during your period.

Here's what the different period blood colors mean and when to see your doctor. Here are options for diagnosis and treatment. How late is too late for a period to come?

Ovulation spotting may be light pink or red in color, and will last for about 1 to 2 days in the middle of your cycle. Other signs and symptoms of ovulation may include:.

Implantation spotting may occur when a fertilized egg attaches to the inner lining of your uterus. If it does occur, implantation spotting happens a few days before your next period should occur. Spotting during pregnancy is not uncommon. About 15 to 25 percent of women will experience spotting during their first trimester.

The bleeding is often light, and the color may be pink, red, or brown. If you experience heavy bleeding or pelvic pain, contact your doctor right away. This could be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic tubal pregnancy.

This transitional time is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, your periods become more irregular, and you may experience some spotting. 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. Your doctor can easily see cervical polyps during a routine pelvic exam. 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. These polyps most commonly occur in people who have finished menopause. Sexually transmitted infections STIs , such as chlamydia or gonorrhea , can cause spotting between periods or after sex.

Other symptoms of STIs include:. Contact your doctor if you suspect an STI. Many STIs can be treated with minimal complications when caught early. Abnormal bleeding between periods is a common symptom of pelvic inflammatory disease PID. You can develop PID if bacteria spreads from your vagina to your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. If you experience any signs of an infection or PID, see your doctor.