Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods
Alternate Names : Intermenstrual Bleeding, Spotting, Metrorrhagia
Vaginal bleeding between periods is when a woman has uterine bleeding after she has finished one menstrual period and before she begins the next. This occurs in many women at some point in their lives.
What is going on in the body?
The normal menstrual flow occurs about every 28 days, and lasts between 3 and 5 days. Bleeding in between periods can occur for many reasons. The bleeding may be harmless or serious. This bleeding can cause much anxiety in affected women.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Bleeding from other areas, such as the bladder or bowels, may make a woman think she is having bleeding from the vagina. True vaginal bleeding has many different causes, including:
hormone imbalances, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or hypothyroidism
early pregnancy or an early miscarriage
tumors or cancer, such as fibroids of the uterus, endometrial cancer, or cancer of the cervix
trauma to the vagina, such as from tampons or sexual intercourse
infections in the female organs, such as cervicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease, both often due to sexually transmitted diseases
endometriosis or adenomyosis
oral contraceptives when they are stopped and started again
certain medications, such as anticoagulants or aspirin
Other causes are also possible. In some cases, no cause can be found.
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