What should you know about constant bleeding between periods?

Bleeding may be light spotting or a flow that continues between expected periods. Hormonal contraception, ovulation changes, infection, pregnancy-related causes, cervical changes, fibroids, polyps, or changes in the womb lining can all be considered. A symptom does not identify one diagnosis by itself: cervical cancer can present with bleeding between periods, but many other causes are also possible.

A clinician may ask about your cycle, contraception, pregnancy possibility, pain, discharge, medicines, and sexual health. Examination, a pregnancy test, infection testing, blood tests, or imaging may be suggested according to your history.

Book an appointment with a GP, gynaecologist, or sexual health clinician. Record when the bleeding started, how often you change protection, its colour, clots, pain, discharge, and any missed contraception. Take a list of medicines and note whether bleeding follows sex. Use contraception as advised until pregnancy and infection have been considered, and avoid vaginal products that irritate the area.

Seek urgent medical help if bleeding is heavy or rapidly worsening, you feel faint or unusually weak, have severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fever, or could be pregnant. These features need prompt assessment, particularly when bleeding occurs with pain or dizziness.

Ask what causes fit your pattern, whether you need a pregnancy or infection test, what examination or scan is appropriate, and how treatment could affect contraception or future pregnancy plans.