Why do I get spotting instead of my regular period?

Doctor's Answers 2

A lot of women may experience spotting as their "normal" period. for some women, their menses may reduce in amount so that it is just spotting rather than a full period. as long as your menses is regular, there is usually nothing to worry about.

However if your menses is irregular, then it would be a good idea to get this investigated. some possible causes may be a hormonal change or imbalance or vaginal/cervical infections. your gynaecologist can perform an ultrasound scan to determine if there are any abnormal growths (cervical or endometrial poylps, ovarian cysts) and also measure the endometrial thickness of your uterus. a hormonal blood test can screen for any hormonal abnormalities and a vaginal swab can pick up any possible infections as the cause of your irregular per vaginal spotting. quiet often enough after all these investigations there may be no cause found.

Spotting is usually not a sign of something worrying, especially if it happens around your ovulation, or 1-2 days before or after your period.

The length of time for which you've had spotting for does not sound normal, and you should visit your GP/gynae to have it checked out.

Your doctor may need to perform a pregnancy/STD test or ultrasound scan, depending on your history. Off the top of my head, one possible cause of your spotting from what you've mentioned is switching/stopping your hormone pills.Hormone pills can cause irregular periods and spotting for a period of time (up to months), especially when you first start or stop using them.

Other factors that could cause spotting include:

Ovulation. During ovulation, which happens in the middle of your menstrual cycle, some women notice light spotting.

Pregnancy. About 20 percent of women have spotting during the first 3 months of their pregnancy.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is common in young women.

Uterine fibroids or cervical polyps. Both are non-cancerous growths.

Infections. An infection can sometimes make you spot.

Similar Questions

What could be the cause of dark brown spotting and discharge before my period?

Hi Hui Yi, The monthly period pattern is maintain by network of regulating hormones between the brain, the ovaries and the uterus. Disturbance to the hormonal axes may tweak the timing of the periods, the pattern of bleeding and the flow of the content. If it occurs once in a while, it is considered a harmless disrupted state, and will probably resolved by itself. If it happens repeatedly, then a visit to the gyne will be appropriate.

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Is a smelly white discharge after my periods a sign of an STI or fungal infection?

The best advice I can give is actually to go for a check. There are reliable tests to check for infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other possible STIs. While a white discharge is often associated with a fungal/ yeast infection, which sometimes flare up with the menses, there can be a concurrent bacterial infection which may or may not be sexually transmitted. Some of these STIs in women can be silent, yet can have important sequelae.

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