Spotting. So common; not always talked about.
(But ya know I’ll talk about it.)
Almost everyone spots from time to time, but it’s crucial to know what’s normal and what might warrant a trip to the doctor. Familiarize yourself with what spotting is normal, then read on to find out if it could be something more serious.
And also— don’t panic! There are plenty of things you can do to improve your menstrual health and make spotting problems a thing of the past.
7 Causes of Spotting or Bleeding that May Require Medical Help
Luteal Phase Insufficiency
If you spot for more than two days before your period, you may have what they call luteal phase insufficiency. Basically, your LP (the time between ovulation and your next period) is shorter than normal.
A too-short LP may make it difficult to conceive, since the endometrium (uterine lining) may not be healthy enough for a fertilized egg to implant. Even if you’re not trying to get pregnant, a short LP can result in mood issues.
Cervical Erosion
Terrible name, right? Cervical erosion (or cervical ectropion— even weirder name) describes when cells that typically grow on the inside of your cervix start growing on the outside of the cervix (the part that you can feel).
A sign of it could be whitish, slightly bloody spotting over a continuous period.
CE is common and not a sign of anything scary, like cancer. But, the symptoms (like that discharge, plus pain during or after intercourse) could get annoying, so talk to a doctor if you’re bothered. There are both heat and cold procedures to treat the affected area.
Endometriosis
Some people who have endo experience irregular spotting between periods. If you also have very painful, heavy periods, talk to a doctor who’s an expert in endo to see if you need to look into it.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances like PCOS, estrogen dominance and thyroid dysfunction can all lead to spotting. The good news is that lifestyle changes can help with accompanying symptoms, so work with an expert if you have a diagnosis.
Fibroids
Fibroids are super common and often not an issue (but I understand that they sound scary). These noncancerous growths can sometimes lead to heavier, clottier periods or clots between periods.
If your period suddenly gets heavier or you develop big clots, it’s a reason to get checked out. Many fibroids that bug you can be shrunk or removed, with both medical and holistic treatments.
Pelvic Infections
For these, it’s key that you make note of any other symptoms you have, like abdominal pain, cramping, strange or smelly discharge, pain during urination, pain during intercourse or fever.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) can have those symptoms paired with spotting between periods. PID is best treated when caught early, so get checked ASAP if you suspect it.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also cause these symptoms and spotting, and untreated STIs can lead to PID. So of course, get tested and checked right away if you suspect chlamydia, gonorrhea or any other STI.
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
DUB is one of those frustrating things that have no apparent cause. It’s sort of the catch-all for all unexplained uterine bleeding (after other conditions have been ruled out).
Abnormal spotting with no diagnosis could be due to issues with anovulation, hormonal imbalances, puberty or perimenopause. In fact, it’s during those two big reproductive life changes (puberty and perimenopause) that DUB is most common.
Although medical culture has named conditions in terrible, blame-y ways (“insufficiency,” “erosion,” “dysfunctional,” etc.), you are not at all at fault for whatever spotting or bleeding you experience.
Thankfully, most causes of spotting and bleeding will lead to a diagnosis and treatment. But the only way to get help is to seek help, and you only seek help when you suspect there’s a problem.
So, familiarize yourself with symptoms to watch out for, so you can get help ASAP when you need it!
Wonder if other people share your symptoms? Join the free Hormone Hacking community to get support.
Did you learn about all these problems growing up, or is this the first you’ve heard of one of these causes for spotting?