Bloody vaginal discharge between periods

The colour may range from pink or brown to red. A clinician can distinguish blood mixed with normal secretions from bleeding that needs investigation; the appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Possible explanations include breakthrough bleeding from hormonal contraception, irritation after sex, a cervical or uterine polyp, and infection. Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and pelvic inflammatory disease can present with abnormal discharge or bleeding, especially when pelvic pain, pain during sex, pain when passing urine, or an unpleasant smell is also present. These symptoms do not identify a particular infection without testing.

If pregnancy is possible, bleeding with lower abdominal pain needs prompt assessment because pregnancy complications must be excluded. Bleeding after menopause also requires medical review, even when it is light or happens only once.

Arrange an appointment with a gynaecology, primary-care, or sexual-health clinician. Note when the bleeding began, its colour and amount, whether it follows sex, your last period, contraception, pregnancy possibility, pelvic pain, fever, odour, itching, and urinary symptoms. You may be offered a pregnancy test, infection testing, and an examination of the vagina and cervix; further imaging depends on the findings.

Use a pad if you need to monitor bleeding. Avoid douching and scented products, which can irritate vaginal tissue. Do not start leftover antibiotics or antifungal treatment: treatment should match the diagnosed cause, and thrush medicine will not treat a bacterial or sexually transmitted infection.

Seek urgent medical care for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting, marked dizziness, fever, or feeling very unwell. If you may be pregnant and have bleeding with abdominal or pelvic pain, obtain urgent assessment. Contact a clinician promptly for persistent or recurrent bleeding, bleeding after sex, unusual discharge, or any bleeding after menopause.

Ask which causes fit the timing of your bleeding, whether you need pregnancy or infection testing, whether your contraception could contribute, and whether an examination or ultrasound is appropriate. Also ask how to manage symptoms while results are pending and what change should trigger urgent reassessment.