When is spotting between periods worth a doctor?
Spotting between periods is worth a doctor when it keeps happening for more than three cycles, when it follows sex, or when it starts after menopause. Before that, ovulation spotting, new hormonal contraception, missed pills and perimenopause explain most of it.
Spotting after sex, persistent spotting beyond three cycles, or any bleeding after menopause sits in a different category and needs examination, the last one always and promptly.
Keep note of when spotting falls in your cycle; the timing pattern does half the diagnostic work before you arrive.
See a doctor promptly if
- Bleeding between periods, after sex, or any bleeding at all after the menopause
- Soaking through protection hourly, passing very large clots, or feeling faint, breathless or dizzy with bleeding
- Sudden severe one-sided pelvic pain, especially with a late or missed period. This needs emergency assessment
- Pelvic pain with fever, foul-smelling discharge or feeling generally unwell
- No periods for three months or more when you are not pregnant, breastfeeding, or on a method that stops bleeding
- New heavy or irregular bleeding starting after the age of 45, or any change in a long-established pattern
Try the cycle tracker30 seconds, free, nothing to installCycle day, the next one and the fertile window, kept on your own device.
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
For muscle aches and period pain
Heat works for cramps and sore muscles, without side effects. An electric pad beats a hot water bottle for steady, safe temperature.
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