Spotting before period

What is spotting?

Spotting is defined as light vaginal bleeding that happens outside of your regular periods. Typically, spotting involves small amounts of blood. You may notice it on toilet paper after you’ve used the restroom, or in your underwear. It usually only requires a panty liner if you need protection, not a pad or tampon.

Can I Bleed or experience spotting any other time of the month?  

Bleeding or spotting any time other than when you have your period is considered abnormal vaginal bleeding, or inter menstrual bleeding.

What causes spotting before periods?

There are several reasons you might experience spotting before your period. Many of these causes can be effectively treated or dealt with.

• Birth control: Hormonal birth control pills, patches, injections, rings, and implants can all cause spotting between periods.
• Ovulation: About 3 per cent of women experience spotting related to ovulation. Ovulation spotting is light bleeding that occurs around the time in your menstrual cycle when your ovary releases an egg. For many women, this can be anywhere between 11 days and 21 days after the first day of your last period. Ovulation spotting may be light pink or red in colour and will last for about 1 to 2 days in the middle of your cycle.
• Implantation bleeding: Implantation spotting may occur when a fertilised egg attaches to the inner lining of your uterus. But everyone doesn’t experience implantation bleeding when they become pregnant. If it does occur, implantation spotting happens a few days before your next period should occur. Implantation bleeding is usually light pink to dark brown in colour, much lighter in flow than a typical period, and doesn’t last as long as a typical period.
• Pregnancy: Spotting during pregnancy is not uncommon. About 15 to 25 per cent of women will experience spotting during their first trimester. The bleeding is often light, and the colour may be pink, red, or brown.
• Perimenopause: As you transition to menopause, you may have months where you don’t ovulate. This transitional time is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, your periods become more irregular, and you may experience some spotting. You might also skip your periods altogether or have menstrual bleeding that’s lighter or heavier than usual.
• Trauma: Trauma to the vagina or cervix can sometimes cause irregular spotting.
• Uterine or cervical polyps: Polyps are small abnormal tissue growths that can occur in a number of places, including the cervix and uterus. Most polyps are benign, or noncancerous.
• Sexually transmitted infection: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, can cause spotting between periods or after sex.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: Abnormal bleeding between periods is a common symptom of a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). You can develop PID if bacteria spreads from your vagina to your uterus, Fallopian tubes, or ovaries.
• Fibroid: Uterine fibroid are growths on the uterus. In addition to spotting between period.
• Endometriosis: Endometriosis happens when tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside of the uterus. This condition can cause bleeding or spotting between periods, as well as other symptoms.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Irregular bleeding between periods is sometimes a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition happens when a woman’s ovaries or adrenal glands produce too much “male” hormones.
• Stress: Stress can cause all kinds of changes in your body, including fluctuations in your menstrual cycle. Some women may experience vaginal spotting due to high levels of physical or emotional stress.
• Medications: Certain medicines, such as blood thinners, thyroid medications, and hormonal drugs, can cause vaginal bleeding between your periods.
• Thyroid problems: Sometimes, an under active thyroid can cause you to spot after your period ends.
• Cancer: Certain cancers can cause abnormal bleeding, spotting, or other forms of vaginal discharge.
• Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and bleeding disorders, may cause spotting between your periods. Spotting before your period can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these require prompt medical treatment, while others are harmless.

References

1. Avawomen. Spotting before Period. Accessed on 23rd September 2018
2. Healthline. Spotting before Periods. Accessed on 23rd September 2018