You head to the bathroom to pee and you see it...a red or brown spot right on your favorite underwear. You wonder to yourself…. Isn’t my period not due for another 2 weeks?
This scenario happens to many menstruating humans, leaving them feeling utterly confused. What’s happening? Well, you’re spotting! While you might want to book the soonest appointment with your gynecologist and demand to know exactly what is happening, most of the time, it’s really no reason for concern.
Spotting is normal and is often not something to be too concerned about. But if you still want peace of mind, knowing the difference between your period vs spotting will be useful.
PERIOD VS. SPOTTING – THE DIFFERENCE
While a period is the start of your menstrual cycle each month and releases about 2 tablespoons of blood (if you don’t have menorrhagia), it will last longer than spotting. Spotting can happen at any time during your menstrual cycle. Another way to tell the difference is by the color of the blood. While your period blood can range in colors, spotting usually releases light brown blood.
While this may cause alarm bells to go off in your head, spotting is actually fairly common. It can occur between periods, during pregnancy, after sex, or after a gynecological exam.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS YOU MAY BE SPOTTING:
– Menstruation - Ok, we said that spotting is different from your period, and it is, but at the start of your menses, you may find that you have some spotting. This is totally normal. We promise!
– Ovulation - A likely culprit of spotting, ovulation occurs when an egg is released from the ovaries to await fertilization. This process can cause spotting. Alternatively, spotting can happen due to an increase in estrogen that happens when the egg does not become fertilized.
– Implantation - Implantation bleeding is spotting that happens when the embryo implants into the uterus, and it can be hard to distinguish - is it your period coming or are you pregnant? Well, it could be either. A good way to tell is to check for other signs of pregnancy, like nausea, fatigue, or sore breasts.
– Abnormal pregnancy - Miscarriages, premature labor, and ectopic pregnancies are all cause for concern. Spotting can be present with all of them so if you are concerned about it, check with your doctor right away.
– Labor - Another pregnancy-related cause of spotting is going into labor. This usually occurs around 37 weeks when your body passes the mucus plug.
– Infections or disease - STI’s, reproductive issues, and other infections like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) could all be causes of spotting. If the above causes don’t seem to be the issue, check with your doctor. Most infections are treatable but can become even more serious if ignored.
WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR
While you should feel free to call your doctor anytime you have a health-related question or concern, it’s helpful to know when spotting is a cause for real concern. Here are some circumstances when it’d be smart to call your doctor:
– If you are pregnant or think you may be
– If you have consistent spotting
– If you have had unprotected sex and start spotting
– If you have any pain or cramping around the time of spotting
– If you are on any kind of medication that you think could be causing spotting
CAN YOU USE A MENSTRUAL CUP IF YOU’RE SPOTTING?
If you feel like you’re spotting more than usual, then it’s completely safe to put in your menstrual cup! Check out our menstrual cups and period products at Lunette.
When I got my first period at 12 years old, my period was on every 28days, not heavy. In my 25s my period was every 23 days still normal, then I had my 1st baby at 38, then after that my period is every 14 or 17 days very lights but now I’m nearly 45 my period got strange, few months ago my period was brown, sometimes pink or waters, now my period just started again after 8 days too early. I don’t get bad back or headache or anything. But after my 1st baby 5 years ago my hair is falling out easy and a lots and getting so thin, GP rule has out Thyroid. I Can’t have menopause as I don get any symptoms?
Hi Jaeden! Spotting during ovulation, which typically happens in the middle of your cycle, is normal and common. If the spotting is causing you concern it is best to contact a doctor. :)
-Team Lunette
I’m having some spotting that looks like my period but its day 17 of my cycle. WTH is going on??
Hi Ancy! If you’re concerned about the spotting we recommend contacting a doctor. As we are not medical professionals we cannot offer diagnosis.
-Team Lunette
Hi,
I got my periods on 2nd April got over by 6th April. I got physical with my fiancé a couple of times after my periods for 3 days without any protection. I was suppose to get my periods end of the month or May 1st. But on 23rd April I started bleeding in a very small quantity. It’s not red like my normal periods no mucus but an order colour brownish or reddish. Almost 8 days early I found my self bleeding or maybe spotting it’s too less in quantity as compared to my normal periods. I did a pregnancy test while bleeding/spotting showed negative. What do you think I should do ? A test again after spotting/bleeding ?