What should you know about constant spotting after period?

Spotting is usually a small amount of blood, often pink, brown, or red, outside the expected menstrual flow. Hormonal contraception, ovulation, irritation after sex, and infections such as chlamydia can cause it. Cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer, endometrial polyps, uterine fibroids, and womb cancer are also possibilities a clinician may evaluate; spotting itself does not show which condition is present.

The timing and accompanying symptoms help guide assessment. Mention pelvic pain, unusual discharge, pain during sex, fever, missed periods, pregnancy possibility, or bleeding after menopause.

Make an appointment if spotting persists, returns across cycles, or is different from your usual pattern. Keep a record of dates, colour, amount, sex-related triggers, contraception, medicines, and pain. A clinician may perform a pregnancy test, pelvic examination, infection testing, cervical screening review, blood tests, or ultrasound when indicated.

Do not douche or insert products that could irritate the vagina. If infection is possible, pause sex until you have received testing and treatment advice. Continue prescribed contraception unless a clinician tells you to change it.

Get urgent help for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fainting, shoulder-tip pain, fever with severe illness, or bleeding during pregnancy. Arrange prompt review for repeated bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, or spotting with a new pelvic mass or persistent pain.

What causes fit the timing of my spotting? Could I have an infection, cervical change, polyp, or fibroid? Do I need testing or imaging? Which changes should prompt urgent care?