What does spotting after menstruation mean?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Sometimes you can score for blood, and sometimes you need to call an ambulance.

Why are there spotting

Vaginal bleeding that occurs between periods is called differently. Metrorrhagia, intermenstrual bleeding, spotting. There are many reasons for them.

Most often, spotting does not affect life at all and you can safely forget about them. But sometimes they can threaten health and lead to death (if the bleeding is profuse). It all depends on the characteristics of each case.

For example, for adolescent girls who have not yet established a cycle, or for premenopausal women, such discharge is the norm. You should not be surprised if you had violent sex yesterday, but there was not enough lubrication: microtraumas simply make themselves felt. However, even ordinary stress can provoke bleeding.

There are other reasons why blood appears when it was not expected:

1. Ovulation. In some women, the maturation of the egg takes place with the release of several milliliters of blood. And this is completely normal.
2. Neoplasms of the uterus or cervix. Neoplasms - tumors - can be either benign or malignant.
3. Miscarriage. Lifehacker already wrote that many pregnancies end very early due to defects in the ovum.
4. Medicines. For example, many hormonal contraceptives have this side effect. If you miss a pill, then spotting is a normal reaction.
5. Hormonal changes. For example, before menopause or due to the fact that something happens to the hormonal background in general.
6. Some sexually transmitted infections. For example, chlamydia.
7. Polycystic ovary disease. This is a chronic condition that causes the ovaries to stop working properly.
8. Ovarian dysfunction.

In the end, bleeding may not be related to the gynecological sphere at all. Such an effect can be caused by problems with the thyroid gland, blood clotting disorders, and kidney diseases.

The main problem is that it is impossible to diagnose only one type of bloody discharge or the fact of their appearance. Generally. No way.

When to see a doctor

It is clear that because of every small speck that does not cause discomfort, no one will run around the gynecological offices. If metrorrhagia occurs rarely and does not cause discomfort, it is enough just to tell the doctor about it at the next scheduled visit (and we remember that you need to go to the gynecologist at least once a year).

You should run to the doctor if:

1. This is not just a few drops, but bleeding, equivalent to menstruation. If it's stronger, call an ambulance.
2. Pain in the lower abdomen joins the discharge.
3. The temperature rises.
4. Your head is spinning, you feel very weak.
5. Bleeding between periods gets worse or more often over the course of a couple of months.
6. In any case, if you have already reached postmenopause, and there is bleeding.
7. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

What the doctor will do

The doctor can help determine the cause of the bleeding. Even a simple examination is not always enough for this. Most likely, you will have to pass tests for sexually transmitted diseases, take several smears, a pregnancy test (if there is a reason) and conduct an ultrasound scan. This is the minimum, to which can be added visits to the endocrinologist and examinations in this area.

What you can do before going to the doctor

In order not to increase bleeding, you do not need to take certain medications: aspirin, for example, increases bleeding. If you feel pain, take a regular pain reliever such as ibuprofen. And tranexamic acid preparations can be tried to reduce bleeding. Just remember to read the instructions and take the pills correctly.

And be sure to tell the doctor what you drank and in what quantities.