Almost every single mature woman experiences the problem of spotting, at some point or the other, in her life. Spotting can be described as a few drops of blood that are passed from the vagina. Most instances of vaginal spotting go undetected, as the blood is so little that it does not even reach the underwear. Women only notice traces of blood, when they use toilet paper on the area, after urinating. Vaginal spotting can appear in different forms: the blood could look like mucus with a tinge of pink, bright red or even rusty brown spotting. For some women spotting is a one time occurrence, whereas others may face this problem for many days at a stretch. In fact there are many women who experience spotting before a period, every month on a regular basis. They often regard premenstrual spotting as an indication of their periods. However, it is important to realize that spotting should not be considered as the first day of a period, as the menstrual cycle only begins on the day that actual bleeding starts.
There are several reasons that could cause a woman to experience spotting before periods. While some of these factors are absolutely normal and are not a cause of concern, other instances of spotting before menstrual cycle could indicate a problem. Therefore, in normal women, a one time occurrence of spotting could be a common occurrence, caused by factors like hormonal imbalance, the ovulation process and birth control pills. If a woman sees a bit of spotting up to one week before the begining of her menstrual cycle, it could be a case of implantation bleeding or spotting. However, implantation spotting usually lasts for less than a day. Therefore, if the spotting occurs over a period of two or more days, then it could be for the other reasons mentioned above. Some women experience spotting just before their period is due, as an early indication of pregnancy. Hence, it is important for women to read this sign appropriately, so that they can begin prenatal care as soon as possible.
However, in some cases, spotting before period could also be caused by serious conditions, such as uterine fibroids or a polyp, ovarian cysts and in the worst case, cancer in the ovaries or cervix. These conditions are rare, but they still require medical treatment at the earliest. Therefore, it is best to have instances of premenstrual spotting checked by a doctor, at least once, to rule out the possibility of such conditions. This should also be done if the spotting is brown in color.
Like regular premenstrual spotting, there could be several factors that lead to brown spotting before period. While some of these factors are absolutely harmless and do not warrant any concern, others could be the indication of a serious health complication that should be treated as early as possible. Every month, the lining of the uterus gets filled with blood, as it builds up, in preparation of a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg does not fill the uterus in a given month, then the levels of hormones in a woman’s body drop which sheds the lining of the uterus. This leads to red or pink spotting in must cases. However at times, a woman could see brown spotting before the period is due, which mean that old blood is coming out of the uterus. In case the brown spotting is not soon followed by a period, it may be best to set an appointment with the doctor, at the earliest. This is because brown spotting can also be an indication of a disease or trauma. The same course of action is imperative, in case a woman notices an entire brown period too.
There are many women who believe they have irregular bleeding problems, because they notice a few drops or even a light flow of blood, around ten or twelve days, before their period is due. This is more like mid cycle bleeding, there is an approximate two week gap, between the last period and the next due period. This is generally referred to, as ovulation spotting, which is absolutely normal. In fact, spotting during ovulation is actually regarded as a good sign of fertility in women. The main cause of bleeding during ovulation is the rise in the levels of estrogen in the body, which prompt the uterus to shed a bit of their lining, resulting in spotting between periods.
However, if a woman experiences moderate to heavy bleeding in between periods, it could also be an indication of one of the many types of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB). Some of the most common forms of DUB are metrorrhagia, menorrhagia, post coital bleeding and polymenorrhea, to name a few. It is important to have this condition checked by the doctor as soon as possible.
Most women experience a bit of spotting at the end of their period. In some women, this could also occur, about 4 or 5 days after their period ends. Light spotting after periods could go on for a day or perhaps two.
Implantation bleeding can be described as the blood, which is passed through the vaginal, due to the implantation of a fertilized egg, into the lining of the uterus. Several women, who are planning babies or are looking out for signs and symptoms of pregnancy, are not sure whether the vaginal blood is implantation bleeding or a period. Hence, women who are planning babies should speak to their doctors or healthcare providers before hand and ask questions like “When does implantation bleeding occur?” and “what does implantation bleeding look like?” to help them read the signs of pregnancy accurately. Fortunately, there is a lot of information that is also easily available through online resources as well as books. However, it is important to realize that only about 30% to 35% of the women experience implantation bleeding as an early symptom of pregnancy.
Spotting and especially brown spotting is usually the indication of a serious health problem in women, who have reached menopause. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative to consult a doctor and undergo a detailed check up to identify its exact cause and begin treatment at the earliest.
Spotting either prior to, during or before your period is a fairly common occurrence for many women. While the intensity and frequency of spotting may differ, it still does not indicate any ill health or disorder. It is normal for a woman to spot prior to her period. Spotting, mucus secretions or dark brown discharge should be distinguished from the menstrual fluid that is secreted by the woman’s body every 28 days or so. If, for instance, you experience spotting just before your menstrual period is about to begin, it is perfectly normal. This will also depend upon the intensity of menstrual blood flow and the nature of physical exertion during the period, among other factors. The fluid and tissue that is expelled during a menstrual period is composed of not only blood but also vaginal secretions and cervical mucus. Therefore it is entirely possible that for the first day of the period, or during times of weak menstrual flow, the menstrual fluid could take on a brownish color. The same can also be with spotting prior to or even after menstruation as it is only indicative of a weaker or lighter menstrual flow. Therefore, spotting is normal if it occurs a few days prior to the actual start of the monthly menstrual period or even if it occurs during and after the monthly period. It is also normal for spotting to occur during ovulation. An increase in the levels of estrogen while a woman is ovulating can sometimes lead to spotting. However, if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in addition to spotting or if you experience pain while urinating, then you should seek medical help immediately. Similarly, if you have observed that you are spotting for a considerable period of time before or after your monthly period, you should consult your gynecologist immediately.
It is important to seek medical advice as prolonged spotting could be indicative of several disorders. For instance, a deficiency of progesterone could sometimes lead to spotting. Prolonged spotting is also symptomatic of uterine fibroids and this should be given immediate attention. In addition to seeking medical help, you can follow a few tips to help care for spotting prior to your menstrual period. If you are concerned about spotting, you should use panty liners until the start of your monthly period. Panty liners will help keep the mess from your clothes but should be changed frequently and substituted with pads when the monthly period commences.