Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
|
|
 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Bleeding Between Periods | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I have always had regular periods. I am not sexually active nor do I take birth control pills. I had my period about a week and a half ago and just yesterday I noticed that I was bleeding again. It's been a whole day and it hasn't stopped. What is going on? Is this another period or just something that occurs once in a while?— Curious Georgie in Michigan | | | ANSWER |
August 17, 2001 | | | Dear Curious Georgie,
This is a common question and a good one. While of course I can't tell exactly what is going on in your individual situation, here is some general information about abnormal bleeding.
One of the most common reasons women bleed between periods is that they are pregnant, and having a complication of pregnancy. Of course, this is not possible if you haven't recently been sexually active. If there is any question, a home pregnancy test can help eliminate this possibility.
Another common reason for bleeding is that the cycle is anovulatory, meaning that no egg was released that cycle. This is the way that stress (which messes up your hormones) causes abnormal periods. Sometimes there is bleeding from an infection of the cervix, like chlamydia or HPV, which also are unlikely in someone who is not sexually active.
The most important principle here is that while one episode of random bleeding in someone who can't be pregnant or have an STD is probably nothing to worry about, recurrent abnormal bleeding definitely requires evaluation by your doctor. The most likely cause would be a hormonal imbalance, but an examination would be necessary to rule out cancers and pre-cancerous changes of the uterus or cervix as well as to be sure there is no infection.
I hope this answers your question. Take care of yourself!— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
|
