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
Further reading:
Moss, Gabrielle (2015). Why Am I spotting Before My Period? 12 Reasons You Might Be Bleeding At Unscheduled Times. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/articles/84176-why-am-i-spotting-before-my-period-12-reasons-you-might-be-bleeding-at-unscheduled-times
Team Medicine (2017). 29 Reasons Why You are Spotting Before your Period. Buoy Current. https://www.buoyhealth.com/current/29-reasons-why-you-are-spotting-before-your-period/
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