Spotting and Clots After Your Period

A small amount of brown or dark blood can be older blood leaving the uterus after the main flow. Hormonal changes, irregular ovulation, or contraception can extend or disrupt bleeding. A clot forms when blood remains in the uterus or vagina long enough to thicken before leaving.

Uterine fibroids and endometrial polyps may cause heavier or irregular bleeding. Chlamydia can inflame the cervix, while cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer, or womb cancer can present with bleeding between periods. Clots and spotting do not identify a specific condition, so the overall pattern matters.

Record when the period ended, when spotting began, the amount and colour, clot size in everyday terms, pain, and any discharge or fever. Take a pregnancy test if pregnancy is possible. Arrange an appointment if clots recur after periods, bleeding lasts longer than expected, or symptoms interfere with daily activities. A clinician can decide whether examination, blood testing, infection testing, or imaging is useful.

Seek urgent care for bleeding that quickly becomes heavy, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, fainting, marked weakness, fever, or bleeding with a possible pregnancy. Arrange routine assessment for repeated clots, bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, or new pelvic pressure and pain.

Ask whether the bleeding pattern could relate to contraception, fibroids, polyps, infection, or another cause, and whether you need testing. Mention pregnancy possibility, medicines, cycle changes, pain, fatigue, and your cervical screening history.