Bleeding Between Periods: Should I Be Concerned?

Menstrual flow is annoying enough on its own. You need to worry about pads, a tampon, or a cup. You might change your wardrobe to ensure any leaks don’t show. You may deal with cramps or breakouts. 

There’s so much going on during the part of your menstrual cycle when you’re actively bleeding. So, it would be nice if you didn’t have to deal with issues outside of that time.

Unfortunately, for some women, bleeding happens between periods, too. In a lot of cases, that bleeding isn’t anything to be worried about. But sometimes, a serious condition causes the extra flow. 

For that reason, you shouldn’t leave bleeding between periods unaddressed. Come see our all-female team at Elite Gynecology in Manhattan, Forest Hills, or Rego Park, New York. We have expertise in a range of causes of abnormal bleeding, from endometriosis to fibroids. 

Common causes for bleeding between periods

Bleeding between periods falls under the umbrella of menometrorrhagia, or abnormal uterine bleeding. It can occur as a result of a number of different causes. Sometimes, it’s just your body adjusting to hormonal changes. You might experience some spotting between periods if you:

• Are in the first few months of starting a new hormonal birth control
• Recently had a baby
• Are entering perimenopause or menopause
• Are a preteen or teenager with a relatively recent menstrual cycle
• Just got an intrauterine device (IUD) placed

Other times, the interperiod bleeding comes from an underlying condition that’s affecting your reproductive system. You could be living with:

• Cancerous cells in your cervix or uterus
• Cervical or uterine polyps
• An ectopic pregnancy
• Endometriosis
• An issue affecting your cervix
• Uterine fibroids

In some cases, the bleeding comes from a systemic issue, like an underactive thyroid or the use of blood thinners. 

Some women also experience bleeding after sex, often because of excessive vaginal dryness. This problem tends to affect women during and after menopause as their estrogen levels drop. 

When to see a doctor for bleeding between periods

If seeing blood between periods concerns you, come see our team at Elite Gynecology. We’re here to help you figure out what’s causing it. 

We also recommend making an appointment if you have any indications that interperiod bleeding could be coming from something that requires medical attention. Those include:

• Bleeding during pregnancy
• Bleeding after menopause
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Pelvic pain
• Persistent bleeding, not just spotting, between periods

Our team works with you to determine the cause of your bleeding. This way, we can create a plan to target the problem at its root. That could mean minimally invasive uterine artery embolization for fibroids, adjusting your birth control medication, or screening you for cancerous cells. 

Don’t dismiss bleeding between periods. It could be nothing serious, but it could be something that needs treatment. To figure out what’s going on, call Elite Gynecology or book an appointment online today.