Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesPreventionWhen to See a ProviderFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Prevention
When to See a Provider
FAQ
Bloodydischargethat happens when you’re not on your period can have a number of causes, including normal early-pregnancybleeding, or health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or cancer. The medical term for it is abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Causes of Bloody Discharge
Bloody dischargecan be due to benign causes. However, it may also be a sign of a more serious health condition, including the only noted sign.
Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalances have a number of possible causes, such as lifestyle factors like stress or an underlying health condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
These disruptions can alter the body’s ability to regulate various systems, which depends on hormones that influence functions from how you’re breathing to how well you’re managing your mood.
Irregular periods, or spotty, bloody discharge but no period, can be symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Other symptoms can include:
Hormone therapy (HT) or treatments to manage a different underlying health condition, likethyroid medication, may help to manage hormone imbalances.
Hormone Replacement Therapy: What to Know
Pregnancy
While bleeding duringpregnancymay be a problem, it’s actually quite common during the first trimester, or first three months of a normal pregnancy.
About 15% to 25% of pregnant women have bleeding in the first trimester.The bleeding is typically light and occurs afterfertilization(when the fertilized egg implants in the lining of your uterus). This type of bleeding is also sometimes calledimplantation bleedingand isn’t cause for concern.
While implantation bleeding is common, always check in with your healthcare provider about bleeding during pregnancy because it can be an indication of something more serious. For example:
Why Am I Spotting Before My Period?
Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopauseis the phase leading up to menopause. In general, most women begin noticing perimenopausal symptoms in their 40s, with the average age being 47 years old.Menstrual cycle changes are normal during perimenopause. You may have spotting or periods that are shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter than usual. You may even miss some periods.
Some women may be prescribedhormone therapy(or HT) to lessen perimenopause and menopause symptoms. HT refers to a combination of the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone medication.One known side effect of HT is irregular bleeding, which requires an evaluation.
Postmenopausal Bleeding: When Are Symptoms Concerning?
Thyroid Disease
Thethyroid glandis a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of your neck. In addition to controlling metabolism, heart rate, and other functions, the thyroid hormone plays an essential role inreproductive health.
Women are five to 20 times more likely to develop thyroid disease than men, which can lead to complications in menstruation.Too much or too little thyroid hormone can make your periods very light, heavy, or irregular. Thyroid disease also can cause your periods to stop for several months or longer, a condition called oligomenorrhea oramenorrhea.
Thyroid disease can also cause other symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and muscle aches.
Fertility and Pregnancy Challenges With Thyroid Disease
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic condition that affects about 1 in 10 women of childbearing age and can impair fertility.The symptoms of PCOS can vary.
One commonsymptomof PCOS is irregular, absent, or heavy menstruation. That’s because people with PCOS typically have higher levels of male hormones calledandrogens, which throw off the ratio of female sex hormones (like the ones that control your menstrual cycle).
This can lead to spotting, absent periods for several months, or irregular ones that may come two or more times in one month. Other symptoms that can occur with PCOS include weight gain, unusual hair growth, thinning hair, and oily skin or acne.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Birth Control
Hormonal birth controlsuch as birth control pills can cause “breakthrough bleeding,” or bleeding that occurs between periods. It’s most common with low-dose forms of birth control.
People withIUDs may also experience spotting, especially during the first few months after placement.
Can Spotting on Birth Control Be a Sign of Pregnancy?
Cancer
These types of cancers may produce other symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, or feeling full too quickly.
FDA-Approved HPV Self-Screening Tests Aim to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention
There are a number of possible causes for why your discharge is blood-colored. While some prevention efforts are aimed at overall health, such as eating a balanced diet, others are focused on specific reasons why you may experience bloody discharge.
These prevention techniques may include:
Some symptoms of hormonal imbalances are linked toenvironmental factors, like increased sensitivity to heat or cold. Stress also can cause or worsen symptoms. Avoiding the conditions that can lead to symptoms may help.
9 Stress Management Ideas You’ll Feel Confident About
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Any unexplained vaginal bleeding between periods is a reason to see your healthcare provider. It is especially important if you haven’t yet gone through puberty, if you are past menopause, or if you are pregnant.
If menstruating, your healthcare provider might ask you questions about when it occurs, how long it lasts, and how heavy the bleeding is. Consider keeping track of your cycle using an app, a calendar, or a diary.
In addition, your healthcare provider may ask questions about any other symptoms you’re experiencing. So monitoring any pain, dizziness, or other discharge will help direct them to a cause.
To help diagnose your bloody discharge, they may perform a pelvic exam, blood tests,colposcopy, ultrasound,hysteroscopy, or other diagnostic tests.
Summary
Age, lifestyle, and medical history all come into play when determining the cause of bleeding outside of menstruation, so it’s important to track your symptoms and see your healthcare provider.
When it comes to bloody discharge, it’s not always bad news. Keeping track of your period is a simple way to help understand the cycles of your body, what’s normal for you, and what should be flagged.
Frequently Asked Questions
A bit of bloody discharge could mean a lot of different things, from early-pregnancy implantation bleeding to normal perimenopausal symptoms. It could also point to more serious conditions, so be sure to track any additional symptoms to help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis.
17 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.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Thyroid disease.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stillbirth.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are the symptoms of pregnancy loss (before 20 weeks of pregnancy)?National Health Service.Miscarriage overview.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preterm labor and birth.Santoro N.Perimenopause: from research to practice.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-339. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556Dave FG, Adedipe T, Disu S, Laiyemo R.Unscheduled bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;21(2):95-101. doi:10.1111/tog.12553Gietka-Czernel M.The thyroid gland in postmenopausal women: physiology and diseases.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):33-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68588U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Howard Brown Health.DoxyPEP for STI prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group.U.S. cancer statistics data visualizations tool.Singh S, Narayan N, Sinha R, Sinha P, Sinha VP, Upadhye JJ.Awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms.Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018;7(12):4987-92. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184953American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic pregnancy: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Rafique N, Al-Sheikh MH.Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences.Saudi Med J. 2018;39(1):67-73. doi:10.15537/smj.2018.1.21438
17 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.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Thyroid disease.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stillbirth.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are the symptoms of pregnancy loss (before 20 weeks of pregnancy)?National Health Service.Miscarriage overview.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preterm labor and birth.Santoro N.Perimenopause: from research to practice.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-339. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556Dave FG, Adedipe T, Disu S, Laiyemo R.Unscheduled bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;21(2):95-101. doi:10.1111/tog.12553Gietka-Czernel M.The thyroid gland in postmenopausal women: physiology and diseases.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):33-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68588U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Howard Brown Health.DoxyPEP for STI prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group.U.S. cancer statistics data visualizations tool.Singh S, Narayan N, Sinha R, Sinha P, Sinha VP, Upadhye JJ.Awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms.Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018;7(12):4987-92. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184953American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic pregnancy: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Rafique N, Al-Sheikh MH.Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences.Saudi Med J. 2018;39(1):67-73. doi:10.15537/smj.2018.1.21438
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.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Thyroid disease.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stillbirth.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are the symptoms of pregnancy loss (before 20 weeks of pregnancy)?National Health Service.Miscarriage overview.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preterm labor and birth.Santoro N.Perimenopause: from research to practice.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-339. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556Dave FG, Adedipe T, Disu S, Laiyemo R.Unscheduled bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;21(2):95-101. doi:10.1111/tog.12553Gietka-Czernel M.The thyroid gland in postmenopausal women: physiology and diseases.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):33-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68588U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.Howard Brown Health.DoxyPEP for STI prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group.U.S. cancer statistics data visualizations tool.Singh S, Narayan N, Sinha R, Sinha P, Sinha VP, Upadhye JJ.Awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms.Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018;7(12):4987-92. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184953American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic pregnancy: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.Rafique N, Al-Sheikh MH.Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences.Saudi Med J. 2018;39(1):67-73. doi:10.15537/smj.2018.1.21438
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Thyroid disease.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Bleeding during pregnancy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About stillbirth.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).What are the symptoms of pregnancy loss (before 20 weeks of pregnancy)?
National Health Service.Miscarriage overview.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Preterm labor and birth.
Santoro N.Perimenopause: from research to practice.J Womens Health(Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-339. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556
Dave FG, Adedipe T, Disu S, Laiyemo R.Unscheduled bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.Obstet Gynaecol. 2019;21(2):95-101. doi:10.1111/tog.12553
Gietka-Czernel M.The thyroid gland in postmenopausal women: physiology and diseases.Prz Menopauzalny. 2017;16(2):33-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2017.68588
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Howard Brown Health.DoxyPEP for STI prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group.U.S. cancer statistics data visualizations tool.
Singh S, Narayan N, Sinha R, Sinha P, Sinha VP, Upadhye JJ.Awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms.Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018;7(12):4987-92. doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184953
American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?
Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L.Ectopic pregnancy: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
Rafique N, Al-Sheikh MH.Prevalence of menstrual problems and their association with psychological stress in young female students studying health sciences.Saudi Med J. 2018;39(1):67-73. doi:10.15537/smj.2018.1.21438
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