What should you know about daily spotting between periods?

Spotting means a small amount of vaginal bleeding outside the expected menstrual flow. It can be related to hormonal contraception, ovulation, changes around menopause, irritation after sex, or infection. Chlamydia may cause bleeding between periods or after sex and may have few other symptoms. Endometrial polyps and uterine fibroids can affect the womb lining and bleeding pattern. Cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer, and womb cancer can also present with abnormal bleeding, but spotting alone cannot tell you which explanation applies.

Write down the dates, colour, amount, clots, relation to sex, pain, discharge, and any chance of pregnancy. Review recent changes in contraception, medicines, weight, or health. Book a medical appointment when spotting is daily, returns across cycles, or concerns you. A clinician may recommend pregnancy or infection testing, a pelvic examination, cervical screening when due, or an ultrasound. Do not start leftover antibiotics or use vaginal products to mask discharge before assessment.

Use urgent services for heavy bleeding, fainting, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fever, or bleeding in pregnancy. Seek prompt review for bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, unusual discharge, or symptoms that are becoming more troublesome. If cancer is mentioned during an assessment, remember that it is one possibility among several and requires proper testing rather than guesswork.

Ask whether the bleeding is from the cervix or womb, which tests fit your symptoms, whether your partner also needs infection testing, and how quickly you should return if spotting continues.