Stress-induced bleeding between periods

Bleeding between periods can be light spotting or a flow that resembles a period. Emotional strain, poor sleep, changes in eating, intense exercise, or illness may alter ovulation and the lining of the womb. Bleeding can also occur with hormonal contraception, pregnancy-related changes, infections such as chlamydia, cervical dysplasia, polyps, fibroids, or less commonly cancer. A symptom alone does not identify the cause; cervical cancer presents with abnormal bleeding, but most episodes of spotting are not cancer.

Note when it began, how long it lasted, whether it followed sex, and whether you had pelvic pain, unusual discharge, fever, dizziness, or a missed period.

Track the bleeding alongside your cycle, stress, medicines, contraception, and other symptoms. Take a pregnancy test if pregnancy is possible. Avoid vaginal douching, and do not stop prescribed contraception without advice. Arrange a routine appointment if the pattern repeats, follows sex, or does not settle when your stress improves. A clinician may ask about your cycle and perform an examination or tests to check the cervix, infection, pregnancy, or the womb.

Seek urgent medical help for heavy bleeding, faintness, severe or one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder-tip pain, fever, or bleeding during a possible pregnancy. These features can signal a problem requiring prompt assessment. Seek timely review for bleeding after menopause, or any new bleeding that keeps returning.

Could my medicines, contraception, thyroid, pregnancy, infection, cervix, or womb explain this bleeding? What examination or tests are appropriate? Which changes in amount, pain, or timing should prompt urgent care?