Vaginal bleeding between periods with or without clotting is also called breakthrough bleeding, spotting, or metrorrhagia. When bleeding occurs between normal periods or frequent vaginal bleeding, there can be many causes that cause it.
It can indicate a serious condition but it can also be something sporadic without much importance. In any case, you should consult your doctor so that he can do the necessary tests and treat your case. But what can frequent vaginal bleeding mean?
What does frequent vaginal bleeding mean?
Bleeding between periods is not a normal part of the menstrual cycle. The average cycle lasts 28 days with a four-day bleeding period. A cycle of between 21 and 35 days can have a period that lasts between two and seven days of bleeding and this is normal. But any bleeding outside the rule is considered abnormal and can be caused by a variety of factors.
- A hormonal imbalance. Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, if they are unbalanced it is likely that there may be bleeding between periods. Dysfunctional ovaries, thyroid gland problems, taking or leaving birth control pills, all of these can affect a good hormonal balance.
- Complications in pregnancy. Normally during pregnancy there should be no bleeding of any kind, but complications can cause spots. Miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies – when the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tubes – can cause bleeding.
- The intrauterine device is a type of birth control in the form of a plastic device that is inserted into the uterus, this can cause abnormal bleeding.
- Frequent vaginal bleeding may indicate an infection of the reproductive organs. The infection can cause inflammation and bleeding. They can be consequences of Sexually Transmitted Diseases -STDs-, after having sex or because of pelvic inflammatory disease.
