Premenstrual spotting affects a large percentage of women. This little flow of blood occurs a few days before your period comes and is called spotting or premenstrual spotting. Spots appearing before your period is not usually cause for alarm, but they might be a sign of a serious health problem. This article will discuss the origins, symptoms, and available treatments for spotting prior to menstruation.
Causes of Spotting Before Your Period
Spots before your period can occur for a number of reasons. Reasons include, but are not limited to:
- Hormonal Imbalance: Spotting before to menstruation may be the result of an oestrogen and progesterone imbalance.
- Birth Control: Spotting before your period is a frequent adverse effect of hormonal contraception such as birth control pills.
- Polyps or Fibroids: Uterine polyps and cervical fibroids are benign tumours that can occur in either the uterus or the cervix. They may result in premenstrual bleeding.
- Infections: Spots before your menstruation can be a sign of an infection like chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- Pregnancy: One further early indicator of pregnancy is spotting before the woman’s period.
Symptoms of Spotting Before Your Period
Premenstrual spotting is most obviously characterised by the appearance of blood. The blood’s colour and consistency can vary widely, from light pink or brown to heavy and dark red. Other possible premenstrual symptoms besides spotting include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Back pain
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Mood changes
Treatment Options for Spotting Before Your Period
The cause of your spotting before your period will determine how you treat it. You may not always need medical attention if you start spotting before your period. Spots are normal, but if they are interfering with your everyday life or you have other symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
- Hormonal Therapy: In order to control your hormone levels and lessen the frequency of your periods, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy.
- Surgery: Surgery may be required to remove polyps or fibroids if they are the source of your bleeding.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be administered to treat the underlying infection if it is determined that this is the cause of your bleeding.
- Birth Control: Spots can be less of a problem if you switch to a different form of birth control.
Spotting
Many women worry when they notice spotting before their period, especially if it’s the first time they’ve noticed it or if it comes with additional symptoms. Keep in mind that spotting before your period does not necessarily indicate a major health problem.
- You should see a doctor if you are having spotting for the first time or if you are experiencing more spotting than normal in the days leading up to your period. If you go to the doctor, they can check you and figure out what’s causing your spotting. In order to determine what’s causing your spotting, your doctor may suggest a pelvic check, Pap smear, or ultrasound.
- If your doctor concludes that an inconsistency in your hormone levels is to blame for your spotting, you may be prescribed hormonal therapy. Birth control pills, progesterone therapy, and other forms of hormone replacement therapy all fall under the umbrella term “hormonal therapy.”
- Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove polyps or fibroids if they are the root cause of your menstrual irregularities. Hysteroscopy is a treatment that allows your doctor to see inside your uterus and remove polyps or fibroids if necessary.
- If your doctor determines that an infection is to blame for your bleeding, he or she would most likely prescribe medications. Antibiotic resistance can be prevented if antibiotics are taken as prescribed and for the full duration prescribed by a doctor.
- Altering your method of birth control use could be another option for reducing the frequency of spotting. If you are currently using a hormonal method of contraception, your doctor may suggest transitioning to a non-hormonal method, like a copper intrauterine device (IUD).
Conclusion
In conclusion, many women have spotting before their period actually begins. It’s not normally something to worry about, but you should still pay attention to any other symptoms you may be having. Spots before your period are normal, but if you also have abdominal pain, back pain, or mood problems, you should consult a doctor. Find out what’s causing your spotting so you can go on the correct course of therapy from your doctor.