A baffling question from a young woman in our comment section: “Hi, I would like to ask what is wrong with me. I already had my menstruation and after that, there’s a little blood that comes out every day til now. What could be my problem? Can you help me?”

A general definition of spotting is slight bleeding when not having a period. Yes, some women experience spotting after periods, but first, let us differentiate between the menstrual period and spotting to help you determine which is which, especially at the first occurrence of spots.

While the menstrual period occurs monthly, spotting happens irregularly, and for some women, coincides with ovulation. Menstrual bleeding takes about 5 to 7 days while spotting has no consistent pattern. Bleeding during a woman’s period is red in color and may include clotting, whereas brown blood is more common in spots. Bleeding during menstruation originates in the uterus, which is the shedding of the uterine lining. However, the source of spotting originates either in the upper reproductive tract (uterus) or the lower reproductive tract (cervix or vagina).

Is it Normal to Have Spotting After Period?

You might ask, Is it normal to have spotting after periods? Well, having a brown discharge or spotting itself isn’t usually cause for concern, as it might just be dry period blood. When accompanied by cramps, spotting could mean early pregnancy, early miscarriage, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). There are both normal and abnormal causes of spotting after periods.

Why There Is Spotting After a Menstrual Period

Here’s a rundown of why there is spotting after a menstrual period:

• Dry Blood from Your Period

  You may notice that your period blood becomes darker toward the end of your period. Dry blood from your period can also be due to delayed exit of period blood from your body. This can result in possible spotting after periods, which is not a problem.

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause cysts in the ovaries and make it difficult to get pregnant. It is a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. Too much of male hormones can cause irregular periods and sometimes no period at all. This can also result in irregular vaginal bleeding and possible spotting after periods. If you suspect it’s PCOS you’re having, do consult your doctor and also consider ZRT saliva hormone testing.

• Endometriosis or Adenomyosis

  Chronic conditions that affect the uterus, such as endometriosis and adenomyosis,. can cause bleeding or spotting after periods. These conditions may also cause heavy or painful menstrual periods and cramps between periods. Read more 5 Remedies on How to Stop Heavy Periods.

• Perimenopause

  Perimenopause is when your body begins the natural transition to menopause, usually starting at ages between 30 to 40. During perimenopause, hormone levels may not follow this regular pattern. As a result, you may have irregular bleeding or spotting after periods. Some months, your period may be shorter and lighter. Other months, it may be longer and heavier. You may begin to skip periods as the number of days between periods varies. These changes often cause spotting after your period and sometimes during other parts of your cycle. Fertile Lady is known to help women feel better about themselves.

• Birth Control Implant

  Perhaps you think you’re not ready to get pregnant or not ready for another child, and so you resort to a birth control implant. This is a type of hormonal birth control that is implanted into the upper arm, just under the skin, which releases progestin hormone into the body to prevent pregnancy. Irregular menstrual bleeding or possible spotting after periods as your body adjusts to the hormone are common side effects.

• Sexually Transmitted Infections

  Reproductive health is very important. You must be aware that some sexually transmitted infections can cause spotting outside of your period. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and bacterial vaginosis. You must take precautions to avoid a major impact on your quality of life and psychological well-being.

The Role of Hormonal Imbalance in Spotting After Period

A temporary drop in the estrogen hormone levels may happen when young women are ovulating. This is manifested by spotting or bleeding very slightly about 10 to 14 days after their period. Girls who have just started their periods and women going through menopause are more likely to have irregular periods or bleeding between periods. When progesterone hormone is low, the estrogen hormone becomes dominant. This leads to abnormal uterine bleeding in women who aren’t pregnant irregular or absent periods may also indicate poorly functioning ovaries.

As many outcomes and decisions in life are beyond your control, a healthy lifestyle and healthful choices are important for quality reproductive health.