Bleeding between your periods can be unnerving, especially when it comes out of nowhere. Sometimes, abnormal bleeding isn't a big issue, but it could be a sign of a more significant problem.
At Collaborative Women's Care in Miami, Florida, Dr. Eduardo Valdes provides well-women exams to diagnose issues like abnormal bleeding, fibroids, and endometriosis that could be causing bleeding between periods.
Most women have experienced abnormal vaginal bleeding at some point. While it's not always a cause for concern, it's a good idea to know what's going on.
Spotting between your periods can occur for various reasons, many of which aren't serious. In most cases, it's a sign that something's out of the ordinary in your body, even if that's more stress than usual.
However, abnormal vaginal bleeding can also be a reason for concern due to cancer. Some types of cancer cause changes with bleeding, including uterine cancer.
If you only experience spotting once or twice, it's usually a benign cause that may not be very concerning. However, spotting that persists or develops along with other symptoms could be a sign of another problem within the reproductive system.
Spotting between periods happens for various reasons. Some of the causes are minor, while others can be life-threatening. In most cases, spotting between periods happens because of the following five conditions:
Uterine fibroids are benign growths inside the uterine wall. They're noncancerous and grow within the muscle of the uterus, usually during a woman's reproductive years. Symptoms typically include abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, and abdominal bloating.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common issue among women that causes multiple cysts to grow on the ovaries. It's a hormonal disorder that affects women during childbearing years, often resulting in infertility, abnormal or absent periods, and painful ovarian cysts.
Hormone imbalances happen when the body's levels of estrogen and progesterone are too high or low. Various conditions cause hormonal imbalances, including thyroid disorders and perimenopause. Changes in birth control can also lead to spotting between periods.
The tissues within the reproductive tract are sensitive, and inflammation can lead to abnormal bleeding. Infections within the uterus, cervix, or urinary tract can lead to spotting between periods.
Pelvic inflammatory disease and sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea are other infections that lead to bleeding between periods and after vaginal intercourse.
Endometriosis is a condition that happens when uterine-like tissue appears outside of the uterine walls. The tissue can appear anywhere on the uterus and in the pelvic cavity, precipitating various symptoms, including pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding.
It's essential to understand that spotting between periods is not normal – and when to see Dr. Valdes for a definitive diagnosis. You should contact our office today if you're experiencing any of the following between periods:
At your appointment, Dr. Valdes asks about your menstrual cycles, when the spotting started, and any other symptoms you experience. He may order blood tests, a pelvic exam, and an ultrasound to find out the cause of abnormal spotting.
The treatment you require depends on the cause of the spotting. Surgery may be necessary for severe bleeding related to fibroids, endometriosis, or PCOS. Hormonal birth control or antibiotics are other treatments for other causes of spotting.
To learn more about our treatments for abnormal bleeding, call our Miami, Florida, office to speak with Dr. Valdes or request an appointment using our convenient online booking feature.
