Nausea and spotting between periods

Light bleeding outside your expected period may follow ovulation, a change in contraception, missed doses, or irritation after sex. Nausea can occur with hormonal shifts, pregnancy, medicine effects or an unrelated stomach illness. [Bleeding Between Periods](/symptoms/bleeding-between-periods/) describes the bleeding symptom in more detail.

Infection such as [Chlamydia](/conditions/chlamydia/) may cause bleeding after sex, pelvic discomfort or unusual discharge. Polyps, fibroids and cervical changes can also contribute to abnormal bleeding. Less commonly, abnormal bleeding is associated with [Cervical Cancer](/conditions/cervical-cancer/) or [Womb Cancer](/conditions/endometrial-cancer/); the symptom does not establish the cause.

Record the date, colour, amount and duration of spotting, along with nausea, pain, discharge, fever, bowel symptoms and any relation to sex or your cycle. If pregnancy is possible, take a home pregnancy test according to its instructions and arrange clinical advice if the result is positive or unclear.

Book an appointment if the bleeding recurs, follows sex, continues beyond a short episode, or comes with pelvic pain or discharge. Assessment may include a pregnancy test, examination, infection testing and imaging. Fibroids and [Endometrial Polyps](/conditions/endometrial-polyps/) are examples of findings a clinician may investigate.

Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fainting, shoulder-tip pain, marked weakness, fever, or repeated vomiting. If pregnancy is possible, pain with bleeding needs prompt assessment because an ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous.

Contact a clinician promptly for bleeding after menopause, recurrent bleeding after sex, or symptoms that steadily worsen. Cervical screening abnormalities may include [Cervical Dysplasia](/conditions/cervical-dysplasia/), which needs appropriate follow-up rather than self-treatment.

Ask whether you need a pregnancy test, infection testing, cervical examination or ultrasound; whether contraception or medicines could explain the pattern; and which changes should trigger urgent help. Tell the clinician about your last period, pregnancy possibility, bleeding after sex, pain and family history.