What is the difference between your period and spotting

The color may be lighter than a period, too. Just before and during your period, you may have symptoms like:. You get your period when your uterine lining sheds at the beginning of your monthly cycle. Spotting, on the other hand, may be caused by one of these factors:. Any time you notice bleeding outside of your period, you should mention it to your primary care doctor or OB-GYN.

Spotting could be a sign of a serious complication, such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. During your visit your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam to try to identify the cause of your spotting. The physical exam will likely include a pelvic exam.

That said, certain symptoms can offer hints that you could be experiencing implantation bleeding. Here, experts share what you need to know. Some experts claim spotting that starts off brown or wine-colored and becomes a brighter red is most likely the start of your period.

But George Patounakis, M. If you want to determine whether you have implantation bleeding or your period, you should pay attention to the following three symptoms instead. Vyas says that cramping associated with implantation, while sometimes intense, doesn't typically last as long as it would during a menstrual cycle.

But Dr. Patounakis cautions that each woman experiences uterine contractions differently. It's important to pay attention to what feels out of the ordinary for your body. Berman, M. Urinary tract infections UTIs can cause bleeding from the urethra where you pee from, between your clitoris and vagina.

Pain while urinating, paired with a small amount of blood on the toilet paper, might be signs of a UTI Consistently spotting after penetrative vaginal intercourse is not considered normal. Bleeding after sex postcoital spotting is often caused by an issue with the cervix or polyps Some people may experience spotting after their first intercourse experience, which is normal.

Spotting can also occur around the time of ovulation. Spotting a few days before the period starts, in the late luteal phase , might suggest low progesterone especially if your luteal phase is unusually short 13 , but more research is needed. Understanding your body can improve usage of non-hormonal birth control. Click here to learn more about Clue Birth Control. This article was originally published on October 5, Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum.

When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control. Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Women with PID can experience infertility if symptoms go untreated. PID often causes spotting, particularly after intercourse. It can also cause pelvic pain. Although rare, spotting may be a symptom of cancer.

Types of cancer that can cause spotting include:. Spotting is often accompanied by pain and other symptoms and can last several months. Symptoms may get better and then worse, or get progressively worse. Women who are past menopause or who have a family history of these cancers are at a heightened risk.

It is never normal for postmenopausal women to experience vaginal bleeding. Any woman who experiences prolonged spotting or new and unexplained spotting should go to the doctor. Women should contact a doctor immediately if:.

Sometimes women can adopt a wait-and-see approach. These circumstances include experiencing spotting that is:. If women are unsure which of the circumstances described applies to their situation, then it is better to be cautious and contact a doctor for advice. In the majority of cases, however, spotting is not the sign of a medical condition and may only be temporary.

Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy. Find out about the different means available, how they work, and how effective they are. Menstruation is a natural effect of the production of an egg in the ovaries. It can cause a range of effects across the body and its systems. Fibroids are tumors that grow in the uterus. They are usually benign.