Spotting, i.e. bloody or brownish spots on underwear appearing outside the period, often causes anxiety. Spotting, however, does not always have to mean something dangerous. There are some that result from our physiology. However, it is worth knowing when you need to tell the gynecologist about spotting. What might be the causes of vaginal spotting?
Spottingis a small amount of blood-stainedvaginal discharge . It can be light red or even dark brown, with a rusty shade. Sometimes it occurs in the middle of the cycle, sometimes it precedes the period, sometimes at the end of menstruation, extending its duration. It is always a good idea to report the spotting to the gynecologist who will best dispel any doubts and fears. And in case of disorders, he will start treatment.
Spotting in the middle of the cycle
If it occurs frequently around the time you ovulate - most likely it is normal. In a certain group of women there is the so-called periovulatory spotting due to the sudden fall in estrogen levels during ovulation. Spotting is usually sparse but can last up to four days. It stops when the concentration of progesterone increases.
Spotting between periods, which cannot be associated with ovulation, must always be reported to the doctor. If you have heavy, painful periods alongside the spotting, this could be a sign of uterine fibroids. If, apart from the spots, there are: fever and sudden cramping abdominal pain - there is a suspicion of adnexitis.
Intermenstrual spots may also indicate genital tract infections, the presence of erosions and a developing neoplastic process.
Spotting after intercourse
The bleeding that accompanies the first intercourse in life is natural and normal. It is associated with the rupture of the hymen. Minor bleeding can also happen to women who already have a regular sex life. The vaginal walls are very delicate and it is easy to rub or scratch.
Minor bleeding after intercourse may result from insufficient vaginal lubrication, which can cause injury. Applying a moisturizer (lubricant) should fix the problem.
Bleeding that appears after intercourse often or always requires consultation with a doctor. They can be a symptom of an infection of the reproductive organs orvenereal disease, evidence of erosion, cervical polyps and even cancer. Bleeding after intercourse is also a symptom of chlamydiosis, i.e. infection with bacteriaChlamydia trachomatis .
Spotting while using birth control
They are a common complaint during the first three months of taking the hormone pill. They can appear with each change of the preparation to a different type. If the spotting while taking the hormonal pill does not last more than 6 months and does not worsen - this can be considered a normal symptom of the body getting used to hormonal contraception.
When the bleeding extends beyond this period or becomes more intense, go to the gynecologist and change the type of pill. Bleeding and spotting while using hormonal contraceptives can also happen if you forget to take one or more pills or if a patch comes off. This is called Withdrawal spotting, resulting from a sudden fall in the levels of externally supplied hormones.
Breakthrough spots can also appear in the first three months after an IUD is inserted. They are a reaction to the presence of a foreign body in the uterus. If the spotting lasts more than three months or becomes more profuse see your gynecologist. Most likely, you will need to change your contraceptive method.
ImportantSpotting in pregnancy
Such cases must be reported to the gynecologist conducting the pregnancy each time. The reasons can be trivial: scanty bleeding appearing in the first months of the expected menstruation, the body's reaction to hormonal changes, fatigue, bleeding from the outer layer of the fetal bladder. But there are times when spotting signals the danger of a miscarriage. Therefore, during pregnancy, you should inform your doctor about each such episode.
Spotting before your period
It sometimes happens that spotting precedes the period. There are spots as if it was about to start, then a break for even a few days and only then the proper menstruation begins. It doesn't mean anything terrible, but you should report it to your gynecologist.
In regularly menstruating women, such spotting may mean so-called luteal insufficiency, i.e. the insufficiency of the corpus luteum, which results in insufficient secretion of progesterone.
In women in their forties who enter the menopause, spotting before menstruation is one of the symptoms of decreased progesterone production, i.e. physiological changes in their bodies. It can also manifest itself by spotting onthe end of menstruation and its duration.
Spotting after menopause
Menopause is the last normal period in a woman's life. But for 6 to 12 months afterwards, you may experience irregular spotting and bleeding, so don't worry about them. However, any spotting or bleeding that occurs more than one year after the last normal period should be reported to your doctor and investigated.
The cause of bleeding may be uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia and polyps, polyps of the cervix, atrophic changes in the endometrium leading to exposing the ends of blood vessels under the mucosa, as well as endometrial cancer. Each of these problems requires medical attention.