HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes Vaginal Spotting Between Periods?

Posted on Mon, 4 Aug 2014

Question: Â hi doctor(s), i have an urgent query. i'm 22, only medicinal allergy i have so far is amoxicillin. i havent had sex for 5 months and i am not on any birth control pills. i ended my period on the 27th last month and had unprotected sex with my boyfriend the next night (pull out method). On the 5th this month i had flu and fever, vomited twice. Ate some paracetamol and slowly got better. But i did some activities like jungle trekking, caving, abselling and swimming due to my work. On the 8th i found out that i was spotting. It was light red. Had light bleeding every morning when i woke up this morning(the 13th) and was bright red. Just checked again at night and it was brownish red. I havent felt any cramping or nausea or tenderness. Could i be pregnant?Â should i be worried?

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Cannot be pregnancy.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

If you have regular 28-30 day cycles, you were in the safe period when you had the intercourse and thus cannot be pregnant.

The cause of the spotting at present is more likely to be due to the stress that you had soon after recovering from illness. Stress creates hormonal imbalances and this can lead to inter-menstrual spotting.

You need a clinical exam by a specialist and also get a hormonal profile before you go for some hormone supplementation if styptics do not help to arrest the bleeding. A pregnancy test cannot be done so soon; you may need to wait for at least another couple of days to get the blood test done.

Hope I have answered your query. Please feel free to contact for any more information. I will be happy to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (23 hours later)

hi doctor,

thanks for the prompt response to my question. i would like to update that i still had brownish red blood this morning and i felt fatigued the whole day. i didnt eat from last night till about 7pm just now. i am currently having a slight headache. besides hormonal imbalance and the small possibility of pregnancy, what else could be the cause of these symptoms? intermenstrual bleeding has never happened to me before and i am very worried in case it is something serious like cancer. also, what symptoms should i be looking out for that should cause concern? and can having sex for the first time after five months be one of the reasons why this is happening or is it not linked?

i hope to hear from you soon doctor, thank you

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pelvic infections and local lesions can do it.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing back.

Firstly, your symptoms do not relate to the occurrence of any malignancy; also, you are too young to contract a cancer. Though, symptoms like red and white discharge, painless bleeding with intercourse, loss of appetite and general weakness are some of the associated features when there is any malignancy.

Other likely causes for inter-menstrual spotting include cervicitis, vaginitis, cervical erosions, polyps of the cervix and endometrium. A local exam by a specialist will help in the diagnosis. A pap smear, vaginal swab, endometrial biopsy, colposcopy if necessary are useful investigations.

Intercourse after a prolonged interval can lead to release of hormones that are enough to cause a breakthrough bleed.

Hope your query has been answered. Please get back if you need further information. I will be available to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar