What does spotting between periods mean?

Light bleeding or spotting between your regular periods can have many causes, and a single episode is often nothing to worry about. One common and harmless cause is ovulation. Some people experience light mid-cycle spotting as the egg releases and hormone levels shift.

Other frequent causes include starting or changing a hormonal birth control method, missing a pill dose, or significant stress, all of which can throw off the hormonal signals that govern your cycle. Spotting can also follow things like a recent pelvic exam. In many cases it is your body responding to a temporary change.

What is worth a doctor's attention is spotting that happens frequently, is heavy, occurs after sex regularly, or comes with pain, since these can occasionally point to things like fibroids, polyps, or other conditions that are very treatable once identified. Tracking when the spotting happens and what else is going on gives your clinician a useful picture. Occasional spotting is common. A persistent pattern is worth investigating.