Bleeding Between Periods: When to See a Specialist

For women of child-bearing age, vaginal bleeding is a part of life. However, when bleeding happens outside of your regular periods, it can be alarming — alarming enough to make you wonder if you need to see your doctor.

At Feminine Urgicare, we help women identify the source of abnormal bleeding so they can receive the most appropriate care for their health needs. 

In this post, learn about the possible causes of abnormal bleeding and how to tell when it’s time to schedule a visit with our team.

Bleeding between periods: Why it happens

Bleeding between periods is common. In most cases, it’s completely harmless. However, there are some types of bleeding that can indicate a more serious underlying issue, so don’t ignore it. 

Some common potential causes include:

• Hormonal fluctuations after giving birth or in the years leading up to menopause
• Underlying health issues, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or uterine fibroids
• Contraceptive use, especially during the first months of using a new method
• Pregnancy
• Infections, like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and some sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Cervical, uterine, or vaginal cancer

For some women, light spotting happens when they ovulate.

Depending on the cause, bleeding can range from very light spotting to a heavier flow almost like your regular period. It might happen after intercourse, and it may be accompanied by pain or cramps. Sometimes, it’s a one-time occurrence, while other times, it happens with more regularity.

When to seek medical care

While occasional light spotting is likely nothing to worry about, especially if it occurs around ovulation or after switching birth control methods, you should absolutely call our office if you have:

• Bleeding between periods that happens for more than two menstrual cycles
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding accompanied by cramps or other pain
• Very heavy bleeding between periods
• Bleeding accompanied by pelvic pain or pressure, unusual vaginal discharge, fever, or fatigue
• A family history of uterine, vaginal, or cervical cancer
• Any suspicion that you might be pregnant

Call the office if you have any type of bleeding during menopause — the time after your regular periods have ended.

During your visit, we’ll ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a pelvic exam. We might also recommend additional testing, like blood tests, STD screening, or diagnostic imaging. 

Depending on your results, we may recommend changing contraceptives or using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to stabilize hormone levels. 

For more serious issues or for more intensive testing, we may recommend additional minimally invasive screenings or seeing a specialist for further testing or advanced therapies.

Don’t ignore abnormal bleeding

Abnormal bleeding might not be anything to worry about, but because it can be a sign of a more serious problem, it’s always a good idea to have it checked out by our team. 

To learn why you're bleeding between periods, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine UrgiCare in Paramus and Clifton, New Jersey, today.