What Causes On And Off Light Bleeding And Spotting?

Posted on Sun, 7 Sep 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 7 Sep 2014 Answered on

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi just this month I have experience an unusual period. about a week ago i stared what I thought was my period but I am unsure now. I had on and off very light bleeding, more like spotting I guess, which is very unusual for me since I normally have a very heavy flow. Yesterday the light bleeding started again and today I woke up to my regular heavy flow. I am unsure to what it happening and whether I should be concerned or not.

Answered by Dr. Chetna Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
pregnancy should be excluded

Detailed Answer:
The causes commonly are pregnancy, emergency contraceptive pills, endometial infection or polyps, ovaian cysts, cevical lesions.
hence a urine pregnancy test, a transvaginal ultrasound , a Paps smear and a course of antibiotics can help.
if no cause then an endometrial biopsy is recommended

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