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.
Hi Annabelle! If you think you may be pregnant we recommend taking an at home pregnancy test. As we are not medical professionals we cannot offer a diagnosis. 💙
-Team Lunette
Content I got married on 28 January 2021 and I started having sex on 29th.
I saw my last period on 9th January and now after having sex with my husband on 7th February morning I began to see something like my period in the afternoon on the 7th February which last for 4 days
it’s not like my normal period.
I took home test this morning be 11th February and it shows negative.
hope am not pregnant
Hi,
I generally have longer cycles of 28-30 to 34/36 days sometimes!
But I started spotting on cycle day 22, then a very light flow almost spotting on 23/24. It’s so light I can use a whole pad all day and still not even half or 1/4 full it.
I usually have unbearable cramps and sore boobs a few days before a period so this is weird and doesn’t seem like a period, yet my body temp is still low..
I had unprotected sex 7/10 days ago too, does this sound like implementation bleeding? I know it’s meant to be more brown, but mine started brownish pink, now dark red. Not sure what to think!!
I saw my period on the 1st -4th of January, so from 23-26 and 29th I had sex. Usually I ought to see my period for February on Feb 3rd or 4th but today this afternoon I felt a light drop on my panties and when I checked it was a light blood without cloth and before the blood since 27 th I have been vomiting and having soreness of breast, eating anyhow and sleeping a lot.am confused.
Hi, Joyce! If you’re concerned about pregnancy we recommend taking an at home pregnancy test. If the vaginal itching doesn’t clear in a few days we recommend contacting a doctor so they can test/treat you for a yeast infection. :)
-Team Lunette