Why am I spotting before my period?
Spotting is when you have light bleeding outside of your menstrual period. Some common causes of spotting are changing your form of birth control, early signs of pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations, etc. While spotting is usually harmless, if you experience prolonged spotting coupled with symptoms like pain and other unusual discharge you should check-in with your doctor.
There are a number of reasons why you could be spotting outside of the time of your period.
Spotting (any light bleeding outside of your typical menstrual period) is much lighter than a period. The color may be more of a lighter pink than the deep red of a typical period, too. Because this is so similar to typical period stains, identifying other symptoms can help you determine its cause.
Some common reasons for spotting: -early sign of pregnancy. -hormonal fluctuations, starting a birth control pill, or perimenopause.
Although spotting is not usually a cause for concern, a menstruator should talk to their doctor if spotting is persistent (more than 2-3 months) or occurs alongside other symptoms, such as pain, irritation, and unusual discharge. They’ll perform a physical exam, pelvic exam, a pregnancy test, if applicable, and possibly a pap smear to assess your symptoms and determine the underlying cause.
