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What Does Prolonged Vaginal Spotting Indicate?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Jan 2017
Question: hi Dr.
i keep spotting well its a bit more than spotting its been happening for months now i am worried cause its not stopping what can i do
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
thank you so much for your question. I will do my best to help.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There are many possible causes for spotting, and it is difficult to diagnose without a full workup and exam. however, we may be able to figure this out, or at least give some guidance. can u answer a few questions that will help me understand what might be the problem? how old are you? do you have regular periods but have spotting in between? if not, what are your periods like? are you using birth control? any other medications? have you see a doctor about this yet? if so, what did the doctor tell you so far and what tests were done?

Please answer these questions for me and we may be able to understand better what the possible causes might be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Saul Weinreb (1 hour later)
I have seen a Dr for that issue she can't understand the reason why this is happen she sent me to ultra sounds blood tests she have also examined me my cervix looks very healthy according to my Dr but the blood is there and she doesn't understand the reason why it's happening presently I am on gynotran and on contrseptve mirogynon ed I also had antibiotics Dr I am really worried the Dr also said she have done everything scientific wise to find out the reasons this is happen I really need help

Oh sorry I am 42 years I do have regular periods every month some times 5days or 6days but the spotting is after the normal periods and rd there every day till the next period I know when my period is present even though the spotting never goes away its more of a red color and it's heavy please help me
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thanks so much for the additional information. This helps a lot

Detailed Answer:
Hi

It is encouraging that you have seen a doctor and that all of the tests and ultrasounds have been normal the fact that the ultrasound was normal means that the spotting is probably not due to an abnormal growth like a fibroid or a polyp. Those things would have been seen on the ultrasound. also your doctor probably did cultures which would have shown if there was an infection. It is unusual to have irregular spotting like that if you have been on the birth control pills for a long time. Usually the pills will manage the bleeding and you will have a regular Cycles. Have you recently started the pills? Or have you been on them for a long time? If you recently started them then many women can have irregular spotting in the beginning. but if you have been on them for a long time it would be unusual for the pills to cause the spotting.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Saul Weinreb (19 minutes later)
The exact reason why she put me on the birth control is to figure weather or not it had anything to do with my cycle is is the third set I am on she did say she is putting me on a 3 month dose but it's still there she also said that the birth control should have taken care of that am almost done but nothing ave changed
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thank you so much for the additional information. I can understand that you

Detailed Answer:
it sounds like your doctor was thinking the same way that I am thinking. That the birth control pills should have stop the spotting.i also would have looked at your cervix just like she did to see if there might have been some inflammation that could explain the spotting. can you tell me when this spotting happens? is it after sex or is it just random? does it happen often or only on a few days? I know I am asking a lot of questions but this helps me get to the bottom of it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Saul Weinreb (15 minutes later)
No it's ok to ask the questions the spotting have been there for months now my Dr has just exhausted her options but am still here with this thing it's there during sex and after like I said it's there all day some days I wipe and it shows it's ugly face and other times it's on the panty liner
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Thanks again for the explanation

Detailed Answer:
is it bright red blood? is it dark? does it have an odor?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Saul Weinreb (16 minutes later)
It's light red very light no odor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (16 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
thanks again. I will do my best to help

Detailed Answer:
based on everything you have told me, I can conclude a few things. the spotting is clearly not coming from a mass or an abnormal growth since the ultrasound was normal. it doesn't seem.like it is coming from an infection, since your cultures would've shown something, and you are being treated anyway with metronidazole which would've cured a bacterial infection. it doesn't seem like cancer or hyperplasia is an issue because of the normal pap smear and ultrasound and exam. your cervix is not inflamed, and there does not seem to be any obvious source. the good news is that most serious issues have been ruled out. it is also probably not hormonal because the birth control would've fixed that. it is maybe possible in someone who is over weight that she may need a higher dose of birth control to control the abnormal bleeding, but I don't know your weight and that may not be an issue for you.

when the spotting is bright red, it is almost always the result of some sort of irritation or lesion in the vagina or cervix or maybe even in the uterus. what baffles me the most is that your doctor could not find anything on the exam. I wonder if there may be a very small polyp which couldn't be seen on ultrasound. that would be my best guess. the only way to find that would be to do a hysteroscopy, where your doctor can put a camera inside your uterus to see what might be causing this. if something is there, she can see it and remove it at the same time. I would suggest that you ask your doctor if she can do a husyrroscppy and hopefully find the answer to your problem. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Saul Weinreb (27 minutes later)
Ok thank you I will run this by my Dr I will let you know how it goes thanks alot
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saul Weinreb (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I hope it helps find you an answer

Detailed Answer:
thanks for asking your question. I would definitely appreciate some feedback and I hope you find some answers. good luck!
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
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Answered by
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Dr. Saul Weinreb

OBGYN

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 562 Questions

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What Does Prolonged Vaginal Spotting Indicate?

Brief Answer: thank you so much for your question. I will do my best to help. Detailed Answer: Hi, There are many possible causes for spotting, and it is difficult to diagnose without a full workup and exam. however, we may be able to figure this out, or at least give some guidance. can u answer a few questions that will help me understand what might be the problem? how old are you? do you have regular periods but have spotting in between? if not, what are your periods like? are you using birth control? any other medications? have you see a doctor about this yet? if so, what did the doctor tell you so far and what tests were done? Please answer these questions for me and we may be able to understand better what the possible causes might be.