Spotting Between Periods Awareness

Normal menstrual cycle is every 28 days but some situations can reach up to 35 days and a blood discharge is coming out of the vagina. This is commonly known as “period” or “menstruation”. Menstruation is a combination of two to eight teaspoon of your blood and tissues. A period would last three to seven days. Then, you noticed little red spots on your undies after two weeks although your period had already passed. Doctors call this vaginal bleeding or spotting between periods and this is already ordinary to women.

Nevertheless, we should be aware that spotting between periods is abnormal if it is repeated. Behind that is an inner and more serious reproductive health problem. Women are often misleading with false information about spotting. We thought that every woman undergoes this kind of condition and that it is just typical, well in fact it is not.

Spotting between periods can occur in any medical circumstances like unplanned abortion or pregnancy, injury at the vagina due to some insertion of objects or even sexual intercourse, taking some drugs like anticoagulants and aspirin, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalance, stopping and starting oral contraceptives, IUDs, tumor at uterine, polycystic ovary syndrome, stress and much worse malignant cancers. Other causes of it are bladder or vaginal infections, use of blood thinners, irritation to vagina due to dryness, endometriosis or changes in the endometrium, gynecological exam procedures such as Pap smear and believe it or not, diabetes is one reason, too.

If you are a teenager ages 11 or younger and women who are at post-menopausal stage and experience spotting, better consult a physician immediately so that you may know what to do and be given proper medication. You will examine yourself first. You should determine where did the blood goes out because we have two outer holes; rectum for feces and vagina for urine and menstrual discharge. Be precise how often do you bleed or spotting between periods.

With doctors’ help, you can be treated if in any case they found some irregularities on your body system. Here are few of their advices:

• Taking birth control pills as prescribed and avoid skipping and starting again any one of it.
• Replace your present birth control methods if this is the cause of your spotting between periods and ask your gynecologist about this matter.
• Limit your aspirin intake because this can cause spotting although it is a blood thinner, unless prescribed by the doctor.
• Getting regular pap smears as much as possible. Pap smears can detect early stage of cervical cancer.
• Maintain healthy lifestyle and exercise often.
• Manage stress. Try to relax sometimes.
• Make a menstrual diary for future references in times of your check-up.