A KEY TO SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN: THE POSSIBLE REASONS OF BLEEDING BETWEEN PERIODS
Pregnancy. Sometimes spotting occurs early in pregnancy. Usually there will also be signs of pregnancy, such as a missed period, breast tenderness, or morning nausea. Spotting may occur even if the pregnancy is proceeding without complications, but it can also signal a problem with the pregnancy, either a “threatened abortion” (meaning that a miscarriage may occur) or an actual miscarriage (spontaneous abortion), or a condition called an ectopic pregnancy, in which the pregnancy is occurring outside the uterus. Any pregnant woman who is experiencing bleeding should consult her health care provider.
Uterine problems. There are several possible causes of abnormal bleeding from the uterus. PID may cause spotting between periods, and heavier than usual periods, as well as pelvic pain and discharge. Fibroids—which are noncancerous growths in the muscle wall of the uterus—may also cause spotting and heavier periods. Spotting after menopause (when periods stop) may be a sign of uterine cancer and should be evaluated by a procedure called an endometrial biopsy, which can be performed in the doctor’s office. In an endometrial biopsy, a sample of uterine lining is removed and examined under the microscope. Uterine cancer is more common in women over age fifty.
Vaginal infections. Some vaginal infections, such as yeast or trichomonas, may cause severe irritation of the vaginal tissue, which can in turn cause spotting, especially after intercourse.
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