period spotting | Kat Classics

Spotting between your period can be really stressful and very confusing. Usually it makes you question if you have some kind of hormone imbalance, a serious medical problem, or some other serious scare. And although spotting mid cycle can be a sign of endometriosis or another medical condition, tracking your period can allow you to actually understand if you’re experiencing something regular and somewhat normal or something completely not right!

For example, did you know that spotting at the very beginning of your fertility window is actually completely normal? Today, I want to take some time to tell you about why spotting during ovulation is nothing to be concerned about!

Let’s talk about Ovulation

Ovulation is the phase of your cycle when the ovarian follicles rupture and release the oocyte ovarian cells. In other words, the eggs are released from the ovaries. At this point, the egg can either be fertilized by a sperm, or discarded by the body.

To begin this process the body increases the production of the egg white like substance, cervical fluid. The production of this fluid peaks a day or two before ovulation, which is the point when estrogen levels are the highest. Next, an increase in luteinizing hormone triggers the egg to release (about 2-3 days later).

How does bleeding work into this?

Although there are no solid answers for the exact reasoning bleeding can come with ovulation, some studies suspect that people who bleed with ovulation have increased levels of hormones such as estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone during ovulation. The blood most likely coming from the ruptured follicle, giving it a very light pink color.

Should you be worried?

If you are noticing a small amount of light pink blood during your fertility window that only lasts for 1-2 days (3 max), it’s nothing to be worried about, especially if this reoccurs multiple times. This does not mean you have a hormone imbalance or that something is wrong with your cycle. Keep it in mind the next time you have an OBGYN appointment, but don’t go out of your way to make a special appointment for it.

However, if your bleeding is dark red or brown in color or seems more like a light flow than just spotting, a trip to your OBGYN might be a good idea.

Implantation Bleeding

Don’t confuse ovulation spotting with implantation bleeding, which occurs about a week after ovulation, but before the period begins and is much lighter and shorter than a typical period. Although implantation bleeding is also light pink (and sometimes light brown) in color, it occurs at a very different time than ovulation bleeding.

Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg burrows into the endometrium and is often an early sign of pregnancy.

Do you have any other questions about your cycle? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

Kat

Sources and Further Reading

McWeeney, C. (2017). Ovulation Bleeding: What is it, and how to know if you’re experiencing it. Clue. https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/ovulation-bleeding-what-it-is-how-to-know-if-youre-experiencing-it

Ernst, H. (2018). What is Ovulation Bleeding? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/ovulation-bleeding

I’m sure I’m not the only person who has had this happen: you’re going about your normal business, period two weeks away so it’s not even in your mind yet, but when you go to the bathroom you notice blood. Not a lot, just a little bit, but enough to spark your attention. Maybe it’s light pink in color or maybe a shade of brown instead, but you know one thing for sure, you definitely are not due for your period yet.

Spotting is considered to be any bleeding outside the normal cycle. And although it isn’t uncommon for women, it is considered irregular. Sometimes bleeding between periods can be a sign of something serious going on inside your body, especially if the “spotting” is more like a light flow than a couple of drops. But other times, period spotting can be caused by something not very serious and is just a part of life.

So today, I want to talk about some of the reasons we spot and what is causing that spotting to occur. While most of what I am covering today are not serious at all, other potential causes should be talked to with your doctor, so if you are concerned, please take some time to visit your doctor and discuss your cycle.

You’re new to your period

This one probably goes without saying, but in case I do have any younger readers stumble across this blog post, I wanted to mention this first and foremost. If you are new to your period or have just recently had your first one and have had some spotting after, it is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. When starting your period, it could take multiple months for your period to become regular. So if you aren’t able to track your period accurately just yet, nothing to fear, you are young and it will all even out soon.

You’re changing birth control of starting a new one

This is first and foremost similar to what I said before about just starting your period. Starting a new birth control method can really mess with hormone levels which may take a few months to regulate. So it’s difficult to track exactly what is normal for a cycle when a new birth control method is being used.

Now as far as what those hormones are and how they can specifically affect your period and spotting, there are actually exact details about that.

Estrogen, which we have talked about A LOT when discussing periods on this blog, actually works to keep the uterus lining in place. So when estrogen levels are normal, the lining stays on, but when they drop, the uterus lining sheds. Birth control can change estrogen levels within the body throughout the time of the month. This can actually cause for extra uterus shedding apart from the normal period cycle. It should regulate out as the body grows used to the hormone changes.

Delayed or Partial Period

This happened to me when I was sick at the beginning of the year and my periods got cut off short. I found myself spotting in between my periods and right before my period begun. But unlike a bright pink blood color, it was very dark almost brown. This was because my period cut off short when I was sick and my uterus wasn’t able to fully shed the lining during my cycle. Therefore when my next period started, my uterus first had to shed what was left over from before which was a dark, more dried up blood.

This can also shed in between your cycles when the new uterus wall is growing. This forces the old wall to fall off and therefore causes for you to spot between periods. The clue that this is the reason for your spotting will be the deep and dark color of the blood.

Stress

Stress can be a major player in irregular periods, including spotting. And this can be emotional, mental, or even physical stress like working out.

Stress on the body makes the body release more of the hormone cortisol which actually makes the body release less estrogen and progesterone as a result. As stated earlier, estrogen holds the uterus lining in place, so when levels drop your period can either be early, late, or spotting can occur.

A new workout routine or a very strenuous workout can put a lot of stress on your body and cause for these changes to occur. This should regulate itself the more you work out and as your body gets used to the new routine.

Ovulation

Ovulation can be another common factor for spotting between periods. Some women notice this every once in awhile and others see it more frequently. This spotting is caused by the surfacing of ovarian follicles. When these follicles mature and burst they can cause mild pain and light bleeding. This causes some spotting to occur.

Other medical reasons for spotting

Although most of these reasons for spotting are nothing to be concerned about, there could be other medical conditions that may cause for bleeding between periods.

Vaginal dryness, uterine fibrosis, slow thyroid, STIs, endometriosis, and cancer can all cause bleeding in varying degrees and should be discussed with your health care provider.

There are many different reasons for bleeding outside your normal cycle. Tracking your period can help you determine what the cause may be. If you have regular spotting you should see a doctor to get a medical checkup just to make sure that everything is going well inside your body. Also if any degree of bleeding, even small and just once concerns you, make an appointment with your doctor to get a checkup. Sometimes all you need is a little peace of mind.

Have you ever experienced spotting between your periods? Did it freak you out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Until next time,

Kat

Kat Classics

Lifestyle, Health, and Nutrition with a little random on the side.

Tag Archives: period spotting

For Women Only: Spotting during Ovulation

For Women Only: What’s the deal with spotting between periods?