Other Causes Of Unexpected Vaginal Bleeding

Though bleeding around the time of expected menstruation is very likely to be either an implantation bleeding or a period in women who are trying to conceive, vaginal bleeding between periods can have numerous causes. Because some of them are serious, they deserve a closer look. When should vaginal bleeding concern you, and what are other possible causes of benign bleeding between periods?

Ovulation Bleeding

Some women, around 20 percent actually, experience a very light bleeding around the time of their ovulation. Though you are unlikely to confuse ovulation bleeding for either a period or an implantation bleeding, it could happen in women who have very irregular menstrual cycles. An ovulation bleeding would happen just after ovulation, and would be very light indeed: lighter than implantation bleeding is. Before experiencing an ovulation bleeding, some women also have "ovulation pain", one-sided cramps around the ovaries. This is of short duration. 

Coming Off Birth Control And Hormonal Imbalance

Many women who want to get pregnant have just come off some form of hormonal birth control (the pill, depo Provera, the Mirena coil, and others) in order to facilitate the process. Coming off hormonal birth control can mess with your hormonal balance, and a hormonal imbalance leads to vaginal bleeding between periods quite frequently. Women who have only just quit their contraceptives are most likely to see this symptom. Remember, even if you strongly suspect this is what's going on, heavy bleeding that you're quite sure is not your period is always a very legitimate reason to call your OBGYN. 

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside of the uterus, most commonly in one of the fallopian tubes. This, too, can lead to light and intermittent spotting, just like an implantation bleeding. The bleeding associated with a tubal pregnancy typically shows up between six to eight weeks after a missed period, however. Tubal pregnancies are very dangerous and cannot be carried to term. While the body occasionally rids itself of a tubal pregnancy, tubal pregnancies can also quickly turn into life-threatening emergencies. Besides bleeding and cramps, symptoms of ectopic pregnancy can include (severe) abdominal pain, nausea, chest pains, feeling weak and dizzy, and confusion. These symptoms should always lead you to go to the ER or call emergency services.

See Also: Miscarriage: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment And Aftercare

Miscarriage

Around 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. If you count very early pregnancies that end in miscarriage around the time of a woman's period, the figure may even be as high as 50 percent. A very early miscarriage may come right at the time you expected your period or a little bit later. 

Uterine Polyps, An Infection, And Cancer

Uterine polyps are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can lead to bleeding between period. Infections, which may or may not be sexually transmitted, and uterine and cervical cancer may lead to bleeding between periods as well. Bleeding between periods in combination with pain should always be taken seriously, and women who are trying to conceive always benefit from a preconception gynecological checkup to rule out conditions that will require treatment. Uterine and cervical cancer are pretty rare and not things you should immediately suspect if you are bleeding while trying to conceive.