Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesIs It Spotting?Normal Menstrual BleedingWhen to Worry
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Is It Spotting?
Normal Menstrual Bleeding
When to Worry
Spotting after aperiodends but before the next one begins is common and can occur because of the drop in estrogen that occurs before ovulation. Unlike heavy menstrual flow, spotting involves only small amounts of pink ordark brown blood—not enough that you’ll need a pad or tampon.
You may notice spotting every month or only in between some periods. Some don’t experience it at all.
While spotting after a period can be perfectly normal, bright red and/or more significantbleeding between periodscould be a sign of a more serious health problem like a miscarriage or a hormonal condition. Bleeding after a period along with vaginal discharge can be a sign of an infection.
This article goes over the most common reasons for spotting and other bleeding between periods. You’ll also learn when to call your healthcare provider.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
What Causes Spotting and Bleeding After a Period?
Hormonal fluctuations are one of the most common reasons for bleeding between periods. This can be anticipated and unconcerning, such as with use of birth control or in perimenopause. Or it may be due to a hormonal condition like thyroid disease the requires medical attention.
Spotting and heavier bleeding between periods also have a variety of other potential causes unrelated to hormones, including inflammatory conditions, cancerous and noncanerous growths, and more.
Why Am I Spotting Before My Period?
Birth Control
Bleeding between periods can happen because of your birth control method and how you use it. The reason? Shifts in your hormones, particularly estrogen.
Some people are more likely to get spotting from birth control than others, such as people who smoke or tend to forget to take their birth control pill on schedule.
Is It Normal to Have Spotting While on the Pill?
Pregnancy
Menstruation temporarily stops during pregnancy. Spotting or more substantial bleeding can happen after your last period, sometimes before you even know you are pregnant and not to expect your next one.
There are a few different causes, some of which are serious:
Can You Get Pregnant While on Your Period?
Hormonal Conditions
Irregular periodsor spotting are common inperimenopause, the transition into menopause. Your body’s sex hormones are fluctuating and your usual menstrual cycle is no longer as predictable as it once was.
That is normal and expected. But, there are hormonal medical conditions that can cause spotting and heavier bleeding between periods, too. These require treatment:
Should You Worry About Spotting After Menopause?
Common Infections
Infections are another common cause of bleeding between periods. The tissues in your reproductive system are very sensitive, so inflammation there can easily lead to bleeding. This can be more likely after having vaginal sex.
Spotting can be a sign of:
An infection may cause vaginal discharge along with spotting. Depending on what is causing the infection, the vaginal discharge can be white, yellow, or green.
Can PID Cause Bleeding Between Periods?
Other Causes
There are also some other potential causes of spotting and other bleeding between periods:
Can Stress Cause Spotting Between Periods?Stress can affect your menstrual cycle. Sometimes, being under a lot of stress can make your period late or early. You might even miss a period. It’s possible that you could have bleeding between periods that’s related to stress, but research on this is lacking.
Can Stress Cause Spotting Between Periods?
Stress can affect your menstrual cycle. Sometimes, being under a lot of stress can make your period late or early. You might even miss a period. It’s possible that you could have bleeding between periods that’s related to stress, but research on this is lacking.
Why Am I Spotting Instead of Having My Period?
A healthcare provider will only consider vaginal bleeding “spotting” if you see it before or after your period and it does not require you to use a pad or tampon. Heavy bleeding that lasts a few days or even as long as your typical period is a greater cause for concern.
A slight tinge of blood on toilet paper or a little bloody stain in your underwear is probably spotting.Unlike period bleeding, which is bright red to slightly dark red, spotting can be lighter (pinker) or darker (brown).Older blood is usually brownor even close to black.
Is It Spotting or My Period?
Normal menstrual bleeding lasts for aboutfive to seven days. The average menstrual cycle has about 28 days between periods, but it’s normal to have a cycle that lasts anywhere from 21 to 35 days.
If the egg that’s released during ovulation is not fertilized, your period will start about two weeks after you ovulate. During your period, the uterine lining sheds because it’s not needed to support a pregnancy.
People who menstruate get to know their cycles with time, both in terms of how long the bleeding lasts and how much bleeding is typical. Although it may seem like you are losing a lot of blood, it usually only adds up to around 2 to 3 tablespoons per period.
While your period is the only time during your cycle when you should expect bleeding, a little spotting between periods can happen and can be normal. For example, some people have spotting during ovulation.
However, if your cycles are irregular and you’re not sure if the spotting is related to ovulation, talk to your provider. They can help you figure out why you’re bleeding between periods and whether it’s a cause for concern.
What Is Ovulation Bleeding?This type of bleeding occurs just before or after your period when your estrogen levels dip. It’s not technically spotting; rather, it’s considered part of your period.Ovulation bleedingmay happen at this point in the menstrual cycle because estrogen and progesterone levels are fluctuating as the ovary releases an egg.
What Is Ovulation Bleeding?
This type of bleeding occurs just before or after your period when your estrogen levels dip. It’s not technically spotting; rather, it’s considered part of your period.Ovulation bleedingmay happen at this point in the menstrual cycle because estrogen and progesterone levels are fluctuating as the ovary releases an egg.
How Many Days of Bleeding Are Normal During a Period?
When to Worry About Bleeding After Your Period
Occasional light spotting between periods may not be a reason to worry. However, frequent, unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods is something to talk to your provider about, especially if:
It can be useful to keep track of your menstrual cycle with a calendar or app. This information can help you and your healthcare provider figure out whether anyspottingor bleeding outside your cycle is a concern.
If you need to use feminine products, keep track of how many you go through in a day. This can give your provider a sense of how much you’re actually bleeding.
When Is Bleeding Between Periods an Emergency?If you are bleeding between periods and also have a fever, dizziness, bruising, or pain, seek emergency medical care—especially if thebleeding is very heavy and you can’t stop it.
When Is Bleeding Between Periods an Emergency?
If you are bleeding between periods and also have a fever, dizziness, bruising, or pain, seek emergency medical care—especially if thebleeding is very heavy and you can’t stop it.
What Causes Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?
Summary
Many people experience spotting or bleeding between periods. Most of the time, a little bleeding when you’re not on your period is not a reason to worry.
However, if you’re also having other symptoms like pain, spotting between periods can be a sign that something is wrong.
If you have any vaginal bleeding, light or heavy, tell your provider. That’s the only way to find out for sure what is causing it and make sure you get the right treatment.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vitale SG, Watrowski R, Barra F, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women: The role of hysteroscopy and its impact on quality of life and sexuality.Diagnostics (Basel). 2022;12(5):1176. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12051176Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565Sanders JN, Adkins DE, Kaur S, Storck K, Gawron LM, Turok DK.Bleeding, cramping, and satisfaction among new copper IUD users: A prospective study.PLoS One. 2018;13(11):e0199724. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199724Breeze C.Early pregnancy bleeding.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(5):283-286.Hosseini R, Asgari Z, Moini A.Unexpected outcome after expectant management of ectopic pregnancy in two persons.Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(12):1027-1030.Saran S, Gupta BS, Philip R, et al.Effect of hypothyroidism on female reproductive hormones.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan-Feb; 20(1):108-13. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172245Sinha U, Sinharay K, Saha S, Longkumer TA, Baul SN, Pal SK.Thyroid disorders in polycystic ovarian syndrome subjects: A tertiary hospital based cross-sectional study from Eastern India.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(2):304-309. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.109714Bautista CT, Wurapa E, Sateren WB, Morris S, Hollingsworth B, Sanchez JL.Bacterial vaginosis: A synthesis of the literature on etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and relationship with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.Mil Med Res. 2016;3:4. doi:10.1186/s40779-016-0074-5Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Urology Care Foundation.Benign (not cancerous) urethral lesions.Nezhat C, Li A, Abed S, et al.Strong association between endometriosis and symptomatic leiomyomas.JSLS. 2016;20(3):e2016.00053. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2016.00053Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: Current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95-114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083Nebgen DR, Rhodes HE, Hartman C, Munsell MF, Lu KH.Abnormal uterine bleeding as the presenting symptom of hematologic cancer.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(2):357-363. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001529Nagma S, Kapoor G, Bharti R, et al.To evaluate the effect of perceived stress on menstrual function.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(3):QC01-QC3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/6906.5611Jain V, Chodankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18(5):290-308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4Grieger JA, Norman RJ.Menstrual cycle length and patterns in a global cohort of women using a mobile phone app: Retrospective cohort study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e17109. doi:10.2196/17109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.Jain V, Chondankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol.2022;18(5):290–308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding between periods.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vitale SG, Watrowski R, Barra F, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women: The role of hysteroscopy and its impact on quality of life and sexuality.Diagnostics (Basel). 2022;12(5):1176. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12051176Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565Sanders JN, Adkins DE, Kaur S, Storck K, Gawron LM, Turok DK.Bleeding, cramping, and satisfaction among new copper IUD users: A prospective study.PLoS One. 2018;13(11):e0199724. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199724Breeze C.Early pregnancy bleeding.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(5):283-286.Hosseini R, Asgari Z, Moini A.Unexpected outcome after expectant management of ectopic pregnancy in two persons.Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(12):1027-1030.Saran S, Gupta BS, Philip R, et al.Effect of hypothyroidism on female reproductive hormones.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan-Feb; 20(1):108-13. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172245Sinha U, Sinharay K, Saha S, Longkumer TA, Baul SN, Pal SK.Thyroid disorders in polycystic ovarian syndrome subjects: A tertiary hospital based cross-sectional study from Eastern India.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(2):304-309. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.109714Bautista CT, Wurapa E, Sateren WB, Morris S, Hollingsworth B, Sanchez JL.Bacterial vaginosis: A synthesis of the literature on etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and relationship with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.Mil Med Res. 2016;3:4. doi:10.1186/s40779-016-0074-5Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Urology Care Foundation.Benign (not cancerous) urethral lesions.Nezhat C, Li A, Abed S, et al.Strong association between endometriosis and symptomatic leiomyomas.JSLS. 2016;20(3):e2016.00053. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2016.00053Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: Current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95-114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083Nebgen DR, Rhodes HE, Hartman C, Munsell MF, Lu KH.Abnormal uterine bleeding as the presenting symptom of hematologic cancer.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(2):357-363. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001529Nagma S, Kapoor G, Bharti R, et al.To evaluate the effect of perceived stress on menstrual function.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(3):QC01-QC3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/6906.5611Jain V, Chodankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18(5):290-308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4Grieger JA, Norman RJ.Menstrual cycle length and patterns in a global cohort of women using a mobile phone app: Retrospective cohort study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e17109. doi:10.2196/17109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.Jain V, Chondankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol.2022;18(5):290–308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4Additional ReadingNational Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding between periods.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Vitale SG, Watrowski R, Barra F, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women: The role of hysteroscopy and its impact on quality of life and sexuality.Diagnostics (Basel). 2022;12(5):1176. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12051176Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565Sanders JN, Adkins DE, Kaur S, Storck K, Gawron LM, Turok DK.Bleeding, cramping, and satisfaction among new copper IUD users: A prospective study.PLoS One. 2018;13(11):e0199724. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199724Breeze C.Early pregnancy bleeding.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(5):283-286.Hosseini R, Asgari Z, Moini A.Unexpected outcome after expectant management of ectopic pregnancy in two persons.Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(12):1027-1030.Saran S, Gupta BS, Philip R, et al.Effect of hypothyroidism on female reproductive hormones.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan-Feb; 20(1):108-13. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172245Sinha U, Sinharay K, Saha S, Longkumer TA, Baul SN, Pal SK.Thyroid disorders in polycystic ovarian syndrome subjects: A tertiary hospital based cross-sectional study from Eastern India.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(2):304-309. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.109714Bautista CT, Wurapa E, Sateren WB, Morris S, Hollingsworth B, Sanchez JL.Bacterial vaginosis: A synthesis of the literature on etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and relationship with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.Mil Med Res. 2016;3:4. doi:10.1186/s40779-016-0074-5Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.Urology Care Foundation.Benign (not cancerous) urethral lesions.Nezhat C, Li A, Abed S, et al.Strong association between endometriosis and symptomatic leiomyomas.JSLS. 2016;20(3):e2016.00053. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2016.00053Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: Current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95-114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083Nebgen DR, Rhodes HE, Hartman C, Munsell MF, Lu KH.Abnormal uterine bleeding as the presenting symptom of hematologic cancer.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(2):357-363. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001529Nagma S, Kapoor G, Bharti R, et al.To evaluate the effect of perceived stress on menstrual function.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(3):QC01-QC3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/6906.5611Jain V, Chodankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18(5):290-308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4Grieger JA, Norman RJ.Menstrual cycle length and patterns in a global cohort of women using a mobile phone app: Retrospective cohort study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e17109. doi:10.2196/17109Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.Jain V, Chondankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol.2022;18(5):290–308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4
Vitale SG, Watrowski R, Barra F, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women: The role of hysteroscopy and its impact on quality of life and sexuality.Diagnostics (Basel). 2022;12(5):1176. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12051176
Villavicencio J, Allen RH.Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates.Open Access J Contracept. 2016;7:43-52. doi:10.2147/OAJC.S85565
Sanders JN, Adkins DE, Kaur S, Storck K, Gawron LM, Turok DK.Bleeding, cramping, and satisfaction among new copper IUD users: A prospective study.PLoS One. 2018;13(11):e0199724. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199724
Breeze C.Early pregnancy bleeding.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(5):283-286.
Hosseini R, Asgari Z, Moini A.Unexpected outcome after expectant management of ectopic pregnancy in two persons.Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(12):1027-1030.
Saran S, Gupta BS, Philip R, et al.Effect of hypothyroidism on female reproductive hormones.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan-Feb; 20(1):108-13. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.172245
Sinha U, Sinharay K, Saha S, Longkumer TA, Baul SN, Pal SK.Thyroid disorders in polycystic ovarian syndrome subjects: A tertiary hospital based cross-sectional study from Eastern India.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(2):304-309. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.109714
Bautista CT, Wurapa E, Sateren WB, Morris S, Hollingsworth B, Sanchez JL.Bacterial vaginosis: A synthesis of the literature on etiology, prevalence, risk factors, and relationship with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.Mil Med Res. 2016;3:4. doi:10.1186/s40779-016-0074-5
Sutter Health.Vaginal discharge.
Urology Care Foundation.Benign (not cancerous) urethral lesions.
Nezhat C, Li A, Abed S, et al.Strong association between endometriosis and symptomatic leiomyomas.JSLS. 2016;20(3):e2016.00053. doi:10.4293/JSLS.2016.00053
Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK.Uterine fibroids: Current perspectives.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:95-114. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S51083
Nebgen DR, Rhodes HE, Hartman C, Munsell MF, Lu KH.Abnormal uterine bleeding as the presenting symptom of hematologic cancer.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(2):357-363. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001529
Nagma S, Kapoor G, Bharti R, et al.To evaluate the effect of perceived stress on menstrual function.J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(3):QC01-QC3. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/6906.5611
Jain V, Chodankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18(5):290-308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4
Grieger JA, Norman RJ.Menstrual cycle length and patterns in a global cohort of women using a mobile phone app: Retrospective cohort study.J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e17109. doi:10.2196/17109
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.
Jain V, Chondankar RR, Maybin JA, Critchley HOD.Uterine bleeding: how understanding endometrial physiology underpins menstrual health.Nat Rev Endocrinol.2022;18(5):290–308. doi:10.1038/s41574-021-00629-4
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding between periods.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
