Menstrual Spotting

Most women suffer from the problem of menstrual spotting at some point of time or other. Although it is quite common, menstrual spotting should not be ignored as it could hint at underlying diseases. If bleeding occurs at a time other than during your periods, it is known as menstrual spotting.

Spotting that occurs mid-cycle or twelve to fifteen days before the start of the next cycle is quite normal. During ovulation, estrogen level rises, leading to the expulsion of the uterus lining, which shows up as menstrual spotting. Keep a track of your menstrual cycle if you suffer from menstrual spotting.

Causes of Menstrual Spotting

Some of the common causes of spotting are as follows:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Use of birth control pills
• Pregnancy
• Thyroid disorders
• Stress
• Cervical cancer
• Dysplasia
• Side effects of medications
• Vaginal dryness
• Miscarriage

One of the main causes of menstrual spotting is hormonal imbalance. Women who use oral contraceptives might experience spotting due to change in the hormonal balance that is caused by these pills. Oral contraceptive pills may cause decrease in the level of estrogen in the middle of your menstrual cycle leading to spotting. If spotting is caused by taking birth control pills, you can consult your gynecologist to switch to a low dosage birth control pill or seek alternate methods of birth control. If you have just started taking birth control pills, your body might require some time to get acclimatized to them, and you might experience light menstrual spotting. It might also be the result of missing your pills because irregular uses of birth control pills causes fluctuation in the hormonal balance of the body. If you are using intra-uterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) as a method of birth control you are very likely to suffer from spotting before menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy may be one of the reasons for menstrual spotting. If you had an intercourse around the time of your periods you might experience some amount of menstrual spotting instead of your regular periods. Even though some women do not get their periods during pregnancy, some women are prone to spotting during the first and second month of pregnancy. It is thus important to consult a gynecologist in case you are suffering from menstrual cycle spotting.

One of the symptoms of dysplasia is menstrual spotting. Dysplasia is characterized by the appearance of abnormal cells on the cervix. If left untreated for long, dysplasia can lead to cervical cancer.

If you are suffering from any infection in the cervix or vagina, you may experience menstrual spotting. Any changes in vaginal odor or discharge with swelling, itchiness or burning sensation might point to a vaginal infection. It is very important to seek medical attention if you are suffering from vaginal infection.

Some medications can delay your menstruation or cause menstrual spotting. This is a rare cause of menstrual spotting. It might be caused by blood thinning medication ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. High levels of insulin or hyperthyroidism might also cause menstrual spotting.

Cervical polyps that occur mostly during pregnancy can also cause menstrual spotting. They are small, soft growths that occur on the cervix and are generally benign. It can be detected by a cervical examination or a pap smear test. A surgical procedure is required to remove cervical polyps.

In very rare cases, menstrual spotting might also be a symptom of cervical cancer. You should always consult a doctor if you are suffering from menstrual spotting to rule out major diseases like cancer.

As we have seen, there are various causes of menstrual cycle spotting. In most cases the symptoms are not serious, but if menstrual spotting is accompanied by severe pelvic pain, then you should consult a doctor without any delay.