In rare instances, spotting before a period can be a symptom of cervical cancer , which is cancer that develops in the cervix, the area between the vagina and the uterus.
Other symptoms of cervical cancer include :. People with symptoms of cervical cancer should consult a doctor or gynecologist, who can perform a Pap smear to test for abnormal cells in the cervix. A very light period can sometimes resemble spotting and vice versa. The two factors that can help a person determine whether bleeding is a period or spotting are duration and volume. A period typically lasts for around 4 days or more whereas spotting only lasts 1 or 2 days.
During a period, there is usually enough blood to soak a pad. Menstrual blood is also generally red while spotting blood is often dark red or brown. Spotting before a period is not usually a cause for concern. A person should talk to a doctor about spotting that lasts more than several months or is causing concern.
Women who suspect that they may be pregnant may also wish to consult a doctor or take a home pregnancy test. Spotting before a period is unlikely to require treatment.
A doctor may sometimes advise a person to change their method of contraception to reduce spotting. For example, they may recommend a different type or strength of birth control pill. Spotting before a period does not always have an obvious cause. However, it can sometimes be an early sign of pregnancy. Spotting may also occur due to hormonal fluctuations, starting a birth control pill, or perimenopause. Although spotting is not usually a cause for concern, a person should talk to their doctor if spotting is persistent or occurs alongside other symptoms, such as pain, irritation, and unusual discharge.
Vaginal bleeding between periods is a common experience with many possible causes. When this occurs, a person may notice light brown spotting in their…. Normal period blood typically varies from bright red to dark…. For many, it can be hard to distinguish between spotting and periods. Spotting is quite common and is usually no cause for concern.
Talk to your doctor if you have prolonged spotting. Prolonged spotting could be caused by one of many conditions. Your doctor could perform a range of tests and procedures to diagnose your condition. These include:. Spotting may be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the cause. Your doctor may recommend that you try birth control pills to regulate your hormones. They may prescribe antibiotics if you have an infection or a medication to treat fibroids, for example.
In some cases, you may need surgery. Your doctor will give you the best advice for managing long-term spotting. Your doctor may recommend that you change your diet or take supplements to make up for iron deficiencies caused by blood loss. However, long-term spotting that lasts a month or longer should be discussed with a doctor. Your doctor can determine the cause of your spotting and recommend a treatment plan to reduce spotting and other symptoms. Spotting is lighter than a period and may indicate that you have an underlying condition.
Call your doctor if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. Spotting refers to any light bleeding outside of your typical menstrual period. It often looks like — as the name suggests — small spots of pink or…. There are several reasons why a woman might…. There are many reasons you might experience spotting before your period, including changes to a medication, pregnancy, an infection, or another…. Some women may experience light bleeding between periods while on the pill.
Learn why this happens and what you can do to prevent it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Causes Spotting for a Month? Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on October 10, What is spotting?
Light bleeding at the beginning or end of your period is not spotting. Any unexplained spotting should be addressed with your healthcare provider. The lines between menstrual bleeding i. Menstrual bleeding is bleeding that is associated with the shedding of the endometrium at the end of the menstrual cycle. Spotting has different definitions, depending on who you ask. However, this is kind of an arbitrary definition.
In theory, spotting can happen at any time during your cycle, so around the period or between periods. Below we talk more about spotting vs. Sometimes people describe this bleeding as heavy spotting. Sometimes people describe light bleeding that occurs at the beginning or end of their period as spotting. It can be hard to differentiate spotting from menstrual bleeding by just looking at the amount.
Generally, if you have light bleeding that occurs within 2 days of your period, you should consider that part of your period, not spotting 2. For example, if you have light bleeding on Sunday, no bleeding on Monday, and bleed enough to require a tampon on Tuesday, you should consider Sunday the start of your period. The first 3 categories - light, medium, and heavy - are for bleeding associated with your period.
That way, so Clue will be able to give you more accurate predictions and insights about your body and cycles. Spotting can come from your upper reproductive tract like your uterus or your lower reproductive tract like your cervix or vagina. Spotting is different from your period, which is the cyclical shedding of your uterine lining, your endometrium.
Heavier spotting is most often from the uterus, while lighter spotting can come from the upper or lower tract 3. Spotting is a common side effect of hormonal contraception , especially during the first few months of starting a new method 4.
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