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Is it normal to spot after menstruation?

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on
Menstruation

A normal menstrual cycle shouldn’t have bleeding after the period is gone. Simple causes such as changes in taking birth control pills, more careful such problems as pregnancy, or more complicated diseases such as liver problems and tumors of the genital area can cause you to spot after your period.

Learn more about the female menstrual cycle, the causes of breakthrough bleeding, and what to do if you have it in the following FastlyHeal article: is it normal to spot after menstruation?

Is it normal to spot after the period?

The menstrual cycle consists of several stages, quite different from each other, each influenced in a particular way by hormones. These phases occur as explained below, as long as they are regular cycles, that is, in a woman who menstruates every 21 to 35 days, which is normal.

The first phase, called follicular, lasts about 14 days and goes from menstruation until ovulation. The bleeding during menstruation can last between 2 and 7 days, and the amount will be more significant or more minor. This varies according to each woman. This occurs because a part of the uterus is detached, which an embryo should have nested if a pregnancy had occurred the previous month, but since it was not the rule drops.

After the period is gone, a hormone called luteinizing begins to increase, responsible for ovulation around day 14.

From that moment, other hormones will prepare the uterus for the nesting of an embryo, waiting for the egg that came out of the ovary to be fertilized by a sperm, which can happen in unprotected sexual intercourse. That uterus will thicken more and more for another 14 days until the next menstruation. This entire period is called the luteal phase.

On the 28th day, if the pregnancy did not occur, the hormones drop significantly, sending a signal to the uterus, causing it to detach the part intended to take care of the embryo, producing new menstruation.

As you can see, in a normal female cycle, there is no possibility of bleeding in the middle of the period or intermenstrual bleeding. Let’s see next what can cause bleeding between rules.

Spot after the period

Causes of spotting after menstruation

Different reasons can cause you to have a minor breakthrough bleeding:

  • Your menstruation was not wholly gone: as we have seen, the period has a variable duration between one and another woman, so if yours had lasted three days and you continue to stain a little a couple of days later, it is not something alarming. The vagina is not permanently eliminating blood; there may be times when the bleeding is minimal, and even there is not, it can be like that in the last days of the rule. Menstruation is usually heavier in adolescence and reaching menopause.
  • Hormone deprivation bleeding: If you have changed birth control pills, were not taking them correctly, or are in menopause and have stopped hormone therapy, breakthrough bleeding may appear.
  • IUD: An intrauterine device can cause you to spot between menstrual periods.
  • Thyroid problems: menstrual cycles may not be typical if you suffer from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, and you can even spot between periods.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome: cysts in the ovaries can cause various symptoms such as the appearance of facial hair, prolonged menstruation, and, in addition, bleeding after the period has already ended.
  • Hormonal alterations: the hormone system may not be working quite well. These may vary differently from what has been explained above, leading to ovulation or menstruation at other times in the cycle. It is more common in teenage girls.
  • Bleeding after sexual intercourse: minor bleeding may appear after intercourse. If it is tiny and does not hurt, you may not need to worry.
  • Trauma or sexual abuse: This can cause significant bleeding.
  • Pregnancy: minor bleeding may occur during the implantation of a pregnancy.
  • Ectopic pregnancy is the implantation of an embryo outside the uterus, with which slight bleeding that is not menstruation may appear.
  • Miscarriage: it is expected that after pregnancy has occurred, it is not implanted or an abortion occurs. Many women go through this without even realizing it. It may seem that menstruation is late or a little early, after which new bleeding may appear corresponding to the new menstrual period. The cycle will be a bit altered in terms of days that month because the fluctuation of the hormones will have been different.
  • Infections: An infection in the genital tract can cause bleeding after menstruation. It can be accompanied by pain, discomfort in sexual intercourse, vaginal discharge.
  • Perimenopause: in the moments close to menopause, the female body is adjusting to the new hormonal situation. You may notice that the bleedings are scarce, abundant, or do not come on the correct days.
  • Vaginal atrophy: In menopause, due to a decrease in estrogens, there is a thinning of the vaginal walls, which brings symptoms such as burning, itching, vaginal dryness, genitourinary infections, and bleeding after sexual intercourse, among others.
  • Celiac disease, clotting problems, severe liver or kidney disease may cause this type of bleeding.
  • Benign growths: polyps, fibroids, and adenomyosis are possible spotting between periods.
  • Malignant tumors: Another possibility is that the vagina, cervix, or uterus have more complicated diseases.

What to do in case of spotting after menstruation

The causes of bleeding between periods are very varied, some very slight but, as we have seen, others are complicated.

The most important thing if you spot after your period is to consult your trusted doctor or gynecologist. The cause is likely mild and benign, but it is essential not to delay more complicated diagnoses since the earlier solution is usually more effective.

Vaginal bleeding that occurs:

  • You are reaching menopause.
  • When birth control pills are started.
  • Newborn girls.
  • Adolescents who do not have sex.

However, consult your doctor if the bleeding is very profuse and you have pain or fever.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more similar articles, is it normal to spot them after your period? We recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.

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