Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s Considered AbnormalCausesWhen to Seek Medical CareTreatmentManaging Vaginal Bleeding
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What’s Considered Abnormal
Causes
When to Seek Medical Care
Treatment
Managing Vaginal Bleeding
Most people who menstruate experiencevaginalbleeding each month during theirperiods.Abnormal vaginal bleeding occurs between periods,after sex, aftermenopause, or before menstruation. Unusual vaginal bleeding also includes heavy or irregular periods.
Severe causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding include hormonal changes, medication side effects, health conditions of the uterus, and cancer. While it is possible to experience unusual vaginal bleeding at any age, the most common times are when you first start menstruating and duringperimenopause, the period leading up to the cessation of menstrual cycles.
This article discusses the possible causes of vaginal bleeding and how to manage it.
When Are Vaginal Bleeding Symptoms Abnormal?
Vaginal bleeding is normal during yourmenstrual period. However,bleeding between periodsis considered abnormal. If you experience bleeding after sex or between periods, see your healthcare provider. Even very light bleeding or spotting is not normal between periods.
Very heavy or prolonged periods are also considered abnormal bleeding. If you experience largeblood clotsor soak through a pad or tampon every hour during your period, talk with your healthcare provider. Bleeding for more than seven days in a cycle is also atypical.
Abnormal bleeding may occur if yourmenstrual cycle is irregular. A typical menstrual cycle usually lasts 25 to 30 days, with an average length of 28 days.If your cycle is shorter or longer, you may experience abnormal bleeding. If you have already gone through menopause and no longer have menstrual periods, no vaginal bleeding is expected.
Causes of Vaginal Bleeding
When Not Having a Period
For people who menstruate,ovulation(when the ovaries release a mature egg) occurs every cycle. When ovulation does not happen, it can lead to a hormonal imbalance. When you do not ovulate, your body has moreestrogen, which causes the uterine lining to swell and get thicker. This can lead to heavy menstrual periods and spotting between periods.
Health conditions that may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding include:
Other possible causes of vaginal bleeding include:
Perimenopause
Perimenopauseis the phase of life leading up tomenopause, the time when your menstrual cycle has stopped recurring for 12 months. People in their 40s and 50s may experience irregular periods and abnormal vaginal bleeding. This occurs when your body does not ovulate.
After Menopause
Any vaginal bleeding after menopause is considered abnormal. You may experience bleeding due to low levels of estrogen, which cause a thinning of the vaginal wall. This can increase the risk of vaginal bleeding.
As you age, the risk of cancer of the reproductive organs increases. Vaginal bleeding is a possible sign ofuterine (endometrial) cancer,cervical cancer, andovarian cancer.If you experience any vaginal bleeding after menopause, call a healthcare provider right away.
Diagnosing Menopause: 5 Signs Your Body Is Entering the Transition
After Hysterectomy
Hysterectomyis a type of surgery to remove the uterus. Some vaginal bleeding or blood-tinged discharge is normal after a hysterectomy. Bleeding after hysterectomy should become lighter over days and weeks until it goes away.
Abnormalbleeding after a hysterectomyis sudden and heavy. See a healthcare provider right away if the bleeding is not improving or you experience large blood clots.
Pregnancy
It is common to experience vaginal bleeding or spotting early inpregnancy. About 15% to 25% of pregnant people experience vaginal bleeding when the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining, known asimplantation bleeding.
Other causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy include:
Medications
Certain medications can raise the risk of bleeding, especially vaginal bleeding. These medications include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding and any of the following symptoms with your period:
Other reasons to see a provider include vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause, after sex, and while pregnant.Your provider will likely perform apelvic exam, ask questions about the bleeding, and might order a pregnancy test and blood tests to check platelets and iron levels.
A Word From Verywell
—CORDELIA NWANKWO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD MEMBER
How to Treat Unusual Vaginal Bleeding
Fortunately, abnormal vaginal bleeding can be successfully treated. A healthcare provider will work with you to determine the cause of your bleeding. If you are diagnosed with a medical condition such as endometriosis or fibroids, your provider will recommend appropriate treatment for that condition.
Medications used to treat vaginal bleeding include:
Procedures used to treat abnormal vaginal bleeding include:
Vaginal Bleeding During the Day: Management Strategies
Experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding can be frustrating. To better manage the bleeding during the day, consider the following tips:
Summary
Vaginal bleeding outside of your menstrual period is considered abnormal. This may include bleeding between periods, bleeding after sex, and bleeding after menopause. Other examples of unusual vaginal bleeding include heavy menstrual periods, periods lasting longer than seven days, and irregular periods.
Possible causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding are hormonal changes, medication side effects, and chronic health conditions. Certain types of cancer may also cause bleeding. If you are experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding, see a healthcare provider.
11 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.MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Zhang CY, Li H, Zhang S, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding patterns determined through menstrual tracking among participants in the Apple Women’s Health Study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(2):213.e1-213.e22. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.10.029Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Bull, J.R., Rowland, S.P., Scherwitzl, E.B. et al.Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.npj Digit. Med.2, 83 (2019). doi:10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.American Academy of Family Physicians.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - discharge.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
11 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.MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Zhang CY, Li H, Zhang S, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding patterns determined through menstrual tracking among participants in the Apple Women’s Health Study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(2):213.e1-213.e22. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.10.029Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Bull, J.R., Rowland, S.P., Scherwitzl, E.B. et al.Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.npj Digit. Med.2, 83 (2019). doi:10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.American Academy of Family Physicians.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - discharge.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
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.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Zhang CY, Li H, Zhang S, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding patterns determined through menstrual tracking among participants in the Apple Women’s Health Study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(2):213.e1-213.e22. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.10.029Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.Bull, J.R., Rowland, S.P., Scherwitzl, E.B. et al.Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.npj Digit. Med.2, 83 (2019). doi:10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.American Academy of Family Physicians.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - discharge.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
MedlinePlus.Vaginal bleeding.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
Zhang CY, Li H, Zhang S, et al.Abnormal uterine bleeding patterns determined through menstrual tracking among participants in the Apple Women’s Health Study.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(2):213.e1-213.e22. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.10.029
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heavy menstrual bleeding.
Bull, J.R., Rowland, S.P., Scherwitzl, E.B. et al.Real-world menstrual cycle characteristics of more than 600,000 menstrual cycles.npj Digit. Med.2, 83 (2019). doi:10.1038/s41746-019-0152-7
MedlinePlus.Vaginal or uterine bleeding.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterectomy.
MedlinePlus.Hysterectomy - vaginal - discharge.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
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