What Is The Actual Cause Of Breakthrough Bleeding? Read This

Breakthrough bleeding is a form of bleeding that occurs at any other time that doesn’t fall within the normal menstrual cycle. Spotting, as breakthrough bleeding is also called, may really not be the best comforting experience, but it is not dangerous either – unless when, of course, it is not breakthrough bleeding.

Vaginal bleeding happens when the endometrial or the inner lining of the uterus sheds into the uterine canal and thus passed through the vagina. Breakthrough bleeding is initiated by hormone level fluctuations in the female body; when there is significant alteration in the body’s levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estrogen and progesterone hormones. This is simply because these hormones control the endometrial shedding. Any of these hormone alterations can be caused by pregnancy, ovulation, oral contraceptives or simple body stress.

The major cause of breakthrough bleeding is the use of oral contraceptives. Anybody using birth control pills is prone to irregular bleeding which results from the thinning or atrophy of the endometrial walls - when the normal body hormones levels are replaced by the lower hormones supplied from the contraceptives.

Furthermore, fibroid tumors have also been identified as one of the major causes of breakthrough bleeding. Benign tumors grow on the interior uterine walls which initiates unfavorable effects on the endometrial walls. In most cases, women within the ages of thirty and fifty are often diagnosed with benign tumors which normally lead to menopause.

Smokers are more susceptible to breakthrough bleeding. Compared to none-smokers, they generally witness longer bleeding. This is because smoking lowers the level of estrogen in the female body thereby causing more hormone imbalance. Just like smokers, excessive body weight is also associated with breakthrough bleeding; hence while there may not be any hormone imbalance, excess body weight may be the sole cause of irregular bleeding.

In any case, if you are witnessing any unexplained bleeding that doesn’t resolve itself after a few days or which is too heavy or too light than normal, you may have to seek a solution to lessen the symptoms or consult a health care professional.