Vaginal bleeding that isn’t part of your regular period can happen for several reasons. It’s important to consider how long it lasts, how heavy it is, any accompanying symptoms, and what your recent hormonal changes or health events have been. If this bleeding is new, unusual, or you’re unsure of the cause, it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider to get an proper evaluation. Key possible causes
- Hormonal changes or contraception: Shifts in hormone levels, starting or stopping birth control, or using certain methods (like the pill, patch, ring, or injections) can cause spotting or irregular bleeding.
- Pregnancy-related bleeding: Implantation bleeding is possible early in pregnancy, and more concerning would be bleeding with other pregnancy symptoms.
- Infections or pelvic conditions: Cervicitis, endometritis, STIs, or pelvic infections can cause bleeding outside your regular period.
- Structural or growth issues: Uterine fibroids, polyps, or other cervical/uterine changes can lead to spotting or bleeding between periods.
- Medical conditions or medications: Certain medical conditions (like thyroid issues or clotting disorders) or medications that affect clotting can cause unusual bleeding.
- Perimenopause or menopause transition: Hormonal fluctuations can produce irregular bleeding patterns.
When to seek urgent care
- Bleeding is heavy (soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours) or lasts more than a few days without improvement.
- You have severe abdominal or pelvic pain, dizziness, fainting, or signs of dehydration.
- You’re pregnant or could be pregnant and have bleeding.
- Bleeding is accompanied by fever, unusually foul discharge, or severe vaginal itching or swelling.
- You’ve recently had a procedure or inserted something into the vagina and are bleeding heavily.
What you can do now
- Track the bleeding: note the date, duration, heaviness, and any associated symptoms (pain, fever, discharge, pregnancy signs), and whether you recently started/stopped contraception.
- Check for infection or irritation: Consider recent sexual activity, new soaps or products, or irritation around the cervix.
- Avoid irritants: Refrain from douching or using vaginal products that could irritate the area while you monitor symptoms.
- Schedule an evaluation: If the bleeding is abnormal for you or you can’t identify a clear, benign cause, arrange an appointment with a doctor or a sexual health clinic. A pelvic exam and possibly tests (pregnancy test, pregnancy-related tests, ultrasound, cervical cultures) may be done to determine the cause.
If you’d like, share a bit more context (your age, recent contraceptive changes, presence of pregnancy symptoms, how long the bleeding lasts, and whether there’s pain or fever). With that, a more tailored overview of possible causes and next steps can be provided.
