Intermenstrual bleeding - what is it?
Mid-cycle blood loss
Doctors use this term to describe blood loss that began untimely. That is, earlier or later than the expected menstruation. If a girl has an unstable cycle, then even a doctor finds it difficult to figure out what is considered intermenstrual bleeding and what is considered menstrual bleeding.
To understand the issue, it is worth paying attention to a number of circumstances:
- If the loss of biological fluid is abundant and it is difficult for a girl or woman to determine what it is, she should consult a doctor. Since intermenstrual, heavy bleeding requires medical procedures.
- Each woman's cycle has its own duration; environmental factors can affect this. Therefore, if you start losing blood earlier or later than planned, do not panic.
- Some hormonal imbalances, surgical procedures, and other unforeseen circumstances can cause blood loss. But this situation has no pathological basis.
What should be considered bleeding that occurs in the middle of the cycle:
- A condition in which, during a certain period, loss of biological fluid occurs once or regularly. In this case, losses can be of a different nature.
- A condition in which a woman notices small amounts of blood between periods. The discharge is light and cannot be confused with menstruation.
Both scanty and more abundant discharge should be considered bleeding. This phenomenon requires contacting a gynecologist.
If we talk about women with an unstable cycle and teenage girls, then in this category of patients it is difficult to distinguish intermenstrual bleeding from menstrual bleeding. The exception is cases where blood loss is insignificant.
Bleeding mid-cycle
Causes of bleeding in the middle of the cycle
Bleeding mid-cycle happens to many women. And it cannot always be considered as a pathology. Although gynecologists name a number of diseases, the symptom of which may be discharge similar to that observed at the very beginning of menstruation, the causes of bleeding in the middle of the cycle may not be a sign of any disease.
This happens normally
If approximately in the middle of the cycle you experience bloody vaginal discharge, but you do not feel any particular discomfort, and this does not happen for 3 months in a row, this is considered normal. The fact is that approximately 12-15 days after the start of menstruation, a woman begins the process of ovulation, and immediately after it there is a sharp decrease in estrogen levels. Normally, there should be no bleeding during this period. However, spotting in the middle of the cycle can occur if the endometrium is rejected in the uterus due to a slight hormonal imbalance. This situation is rather an exception to the rule. It occurs more often in young girls in the first 2 years after menarche and in women before the onset of menopause. Please note that the discharge should not be excessive or prolonged; severe heavy bleeding in the middle of the cycle indicates pathology. And in such a situation, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Unscheduled discharge can be observed if a woman has recently had an intrauterine system installed, or has been taking oral contraceptives for less than 3-4 months. The body must get used to both methods of contraception. Recent gynecological procedures, injuries to the cervix and vagina are also causes of bleeding.
If pregnancy occurs
Some women manage to recognize pregnancy by indirect signs even before taking a test and delaying menstruation. In addition to breast swelling and frequent urination at night, they may experience so-called implantation bleeding. It occurs 6-12 days after conception, when the implantation of the egg into the uterine wall begins. It should be taken into account that this may be evidenced by very slight brown or pink discharge. This is why it is often said that light bleeding mid-cycle is a sign of pregnancy, although in many cases it may not be present. That is, the interesting situation does not manifest itself in any way.
Symptom of a dangerous disease
Abundant, as well as black or brown discharge in the middle of the cycle may indicate the presence of some disease. If you have doubts about your own women's health, it would be a good idea to consult a gynecologist. So, bleeding can occur due to the development of the following diseases:
- cervical erosion or cancer;
- myoma;
- endometrial polyp;
- cancer of the uterine body.
To treat these diseases, hormonal drugs are usually prescribed; more serious cases require surgery. If you suddenly experience intermenstrual bleeding, and heavy bleeding, immediately consult a doctor or an ambulance. The above diseases can be treated well in the initial stages, but their development can lead to the most tragic consequences, including death (in the case of, for example, cervical cancer).
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When should a woman not worry?
Blood loss can have different causes; if the nature of the discharge can hardly be called profuse, then there is no need to worry, there is no reason for this.
In what other cases is bleeding not dangerous to a woman’s health:
- When they are isolated in nature, that is, they appeared once, and similar problems did not arise again.
- Blood losses not associated with pathology that occur during ovulation also do not indicate that the woman has some kind of terrible disease.
The patient may lose biological fluid after some gynecological manipulations, after installing a spiral or collecting material for analysis.
Don't be nervous if:
- Not long ago we moved to a new city, changed our country of residence, or went on vacation. Climate change is stress for the body and it can react to it in different ways.
- We started treatment with hormonal or other medications. Drugs can change the length of the cycle or provoke untimely blood loss.
- We suffered a strong emotional shock. Doctors have been saying for a long time that stress has a negative effect on the body. Any gynecologist will confirm that strong feelings can cause delayed or unplanned bleeding.
Factors that can cause blood to appear
The following circumstances can provoke the appearance of blood:
- Diseases of gynecological, neurological and endocrine nature.
- Poor nutrition, weight gain or loss of several kilograms.
- Excessive love of alcohol and nicotine, as well as poor nutrition.
- Gynecological manipulations of a certain direction.
- Taking medications of various spectrums, ranging from oral contraceptives to antibiotics.
- Climate change, previously experienced stressful situation.
- Abortion or miscarriage, as well as various injuries and damages.
Rough or too long sexual intercourse can also cause blood loss. But in this case, bleeding begins immediately after contact is completed. And the reason for everything is damage to the mucous membrane of the genital organs.
If a woman regularly has problems with her cycle and experiences acyclic discharge, she should:
- consult a gynecologist for advice;
- pass all necessary tests and examinations;
- give up bad habits and start leading a healthy lifestyle;
- keep a diary, mark the days of the beginning of menstruation on the calendar and monitor changes in the cycle;
- have regular sex life with a regular partner.
A cycle of 21 to 35 days is considered normal; according to gynecologists, a cycle of 28–29 days is considered ideal.
If the methods described above do not help stabilize the cycle, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to change the situation without the help of a doctor.
Bleeding in the middle of the cycle: causes, treatment
Almost half of women throughout their lives have encountered such an unpleasant phenomenon as bleeding in the middle of the menstrual cycle. The reasons for its occurrence are very diverse. An important role in establishing a diagnosis is played by the woman’s age, whether she has children, regularity of sexual activity, taking various medications, stability of the menstrual cycle, and the course of chronic diseases. The combination of these factors is usually determined by the gynecologist before examining the patient.
In most cases, the opening of slight bleeding, the duration of which does not exceed three days, is not considered a pathology and is not an indicator of the presence of any serious disease of the genitourinary system. Frequent, long-lasting bleeding in the middle of the cycle may indicate diseases of the uterus.
Most often, unexpected vaginal bleeding occurs 12-15 days after the start of the last menstruation, precisely during the period when ovulation occurs. This is due to fluctuations in the level of estrogen in a woman’s body; as a result of such fluctuations, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) weakens, causing a slight release of blood. If such a phenomenon worries a woman very much, she is prescribed special dietary supplements that regulate the level of estrogen in the blood.
Causes of bleeding in the middle of the cycle
Possible causes of bleeding in the middle of the cycle may be:
- Hormonal changes in the body that precede ovulation;
- Miscarriage (sometimes this happens in the early stages of pregnancy, when the woman is not yet aware of its presence);
- Using a fallopian device as a means of preventing unwanted pregnancy;
- Taking birth control pills;
- Medical intervention in the area of the reproductive system (termination of pregnancy, cauterization of erosion);
- Severe nervous tension, frequent stress;
- Receiving trauma to the vagina (for example, due to rough sexual intercourse);
- The presence of infectious diseases of the genitourinary system;
If during the examination of the patient the specialist does not reveal the presence of any pathology, she is prescribed sedatives, a short rest and a lack of stress are recommended. Heavy, unexpected vaginal bleeding may be a sign of miscarriage. This condition can be very dangerous for a woman’s health, and therefore requires immediate attention to a specialist. In such a case, it is recommended to take a supine position and wait for the ambulance to arrive. Especially in cases where the bleeding is very intense.
You should know that only a small amount of blood discharge from the vagina is considered normal. The discovery of severe uterine bleeding in the middle of the cycle is called metrorrhagia and has completely different causes. Usually metrorrhagia is accompanied by the presence of pulling, cutting pain in the abdominal area. The reasons for the occurrence of this condition are quite diverse, some of them, at first glance, are not at all related to the functions of the reproductive system. Thus, the opening of severe vaginal bleeding in the middle of the cycle can be caused by diabetes mellitus, hemophilia (blood clotting disorder), hypovitaminosis C, and hypertension.
If bleeding occurs frequently in the middle of the monthly cycle, you should be examined for the following diseases of the reproductive system:
- Endometriosis;
- Causes of discharge in the middle of the cycle
Bleeding mid-cycle
Mid-cycle bleeding can be defined as heavy uterine or vaginal bleeding that occurs between periods or earlier than expected. This phenomenon is also called intermenstrual bleeding or vaginal bleeding between periods. Intermenstrual bleeding usually occurs 10-16 days after the last menstrual period. This is barely noticeable bleeding that continues for 12-72 hours. If bleeding increases over time, you should contact a gynecologist and undergo the necessary examinations. Bleeding in the middle of the cycle occurs in almost 30% of women and is considered completely normal. The sudden rise and fall in estrogen levels during ovulation weakens the endometrium (the layer of cells that lines the uterus), causing bleeding. This phenomenon is considered normal, and to correct it, women are prescribed estrogen (female hormone) supplements to regulate hormone levels. The most common cause of mid-cycle bleeding in healthy women is sudden changes in estrogen levels in the body. Intermenstrual bleeding is also observed in women suffering from disorders of the genitourinary system, in this case the bleeding is more intense.
There are two main types of mid-cycle bleeding:
- Intermenstrual bleeding is bleeding between two periods.
- Metrorrhagia is severe acyclic uterine bleeding.
Possible causes of intermenstrual bleeding:
- Low thyroid hormone levels
- Miscarriage
- Starting or stopping oral contraceptives
- Starting or stopping estrogen supplements
- Gynecological procedures, such as cervical cauterization
- Taking certain types of medications
- Vaginal infections or trauma to the vagina
- Stress
If bleeding occurs in the middle of the cycle, doctors recommend getting more rest and avoiding stress. If the bleeding is caused by a disease or disorder, give appropriate treatment for that disease or disorder.
Discharge in the middle of the cycle
Minor spotting (not requiring the use of feminine hygiene products) may also occur mid-cycle. In this case, a small amount of blood is released from the vagina, which is noticeable only on toilet paper. This discharge does not stain the laundry; it is pinkish, brown or scarlet mucus. Mid-cycle discharge appears 10-14 days before the start of menstruation and is considered completely normal. Mid-cycle discharge occurs during ovulation and indicates that the egg is ready for fertilization, i.e. in fact, it is a sign of fertility. Such ovulation discharge (as discharge in the middle of the cycle is sometimes called) helps to determine the exact time of ovulation and properly plan your pregnancy.
Causes of discharge in the middle of the cycle
Possible causes of discharge in the middle of the cycle:
- The release of the egg from the follicle is accompanied by bleeding, which manifests itself in the form of discharge.
- During ovulation, estrogen levels increase in the body, which stimulates the shedding of the uterine lining in the form of discharge.
- Some medications affect the menstrual cycle and cause mid-cycle bleeding.
- Infections of the vagina or cervix.
- The presence of an intrauterine device can also cause discharge in the middle of the cycle.
- Low activity of the thyroid gland.
- Serious illnesses, such as cancer, can also cause mid-cycle discharge.
- Taking birth control pills.
- Fibroids and uterine polyps also cause mid-cycle discharge.
Based on materials from the article “Intermenstrual bleeding.”
Possible diseases
There are several medical conditions that can cause blood to appear mid-cycle. It’s worth starting with sexually transmitted diseases. Not all women experience similar symptoms, but if blood appears, the presence of such diseases should not be ruled out until all necessary tests are completed.
In addition, the appearance of such a sign leads to:
- Bend of the uterus or abnormalities in the structure of the organ.
- Endometriosis or hyperplasia of the mucous layer.
- Cervical erosion (in some cases).
- Inflammation of the appendages or body of the uterus.
- Other disorders of the genitourinary system.
However, you should not panic ahead of time; it is difficult to say exactly what led to the appearance of such symptoms. And it is worth paying attention not only to the intensity of the discharge and its nature, but also to the accompanying manifestations of the disease, if the woman has any.
The most common cause of acyclic discharge is considered to be a hormonal imbalance, as well as metabolic disorders.
Pathologies of the uterus
Bloody discharge as the first symptom of uterine disease in a woman
It’s worth starting with the fact that some diseases of the uterus can manifest themselves by the appearance of blood. Moreover, bleeding is observed just in the middle of the cycle, but the patient also has other signs.