What should you know about continuous spotting between periods?

Bleeding between periods can follow hormonal contraception, ovulation, or changes around the menstrual cycle. Cervical irritation and Chlamydia can cause spotting, sometimes with discharge, pelvic pain, or pain during sex. Endometrial polyps and uterine fibroids may disturb the womb lining. Cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer, and womb cancer may present with abnormal bleeding, but the symptom does not identify the condition and most explanations are not cancer. Bleeding after sex or after menopause changes the need for prompt review.

Track each episode, including its timing in the cycle, amount, colour, clots, triggers, pain, discharge, and contraceptive use. Make an appointment if this is new, continues, or keeps returning. Depending on your circumstances, assessment may involve a pregnancy test, pelvic examination, infection testing, cervical screening review, blood tests, or imaging. Continue prescribed contraception as directed unless a clinician tells you otherwise.

Seek urgent help if bleeding is heavy and you feel faint, weak, feverish, or severely unwell, or if you have severe pelvic pain. With possible pregnancy, one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, or fainting needs urgent assessment. Arrange prompt review for repeated post-sex bleeding or bleeding after menopause.

What are the likely sources of my spotting? Do I need tests for pregnancy or infection? Should my cervix or womb lining be examined, and when should I seek urgent help?