I haven’t had my period for a year, and the spotting started. How does hormonal background affect the nature of discharge from the genital tract? What kind of discharge occurs when menstruation is late during pregnancy?
If a woman observes brown spotting instead of menstruation, this is not always a sign of pregnancy. Often similar manifestations bother on early stages. Most female representatives do not feel threatened by this, they are not even wary.
This is wrong. After all, the reason brown discharge instead of menstruation due to pregnancy, can affect the health of not only the woman, but also the future offspring. Find a solution to menstruation problems, prescribe effective treatment After examination, only a gynecologist can.
Discharge as a sign of pregnancy
Pregnancy progresses differently. But still, brown discharge before menstruation indicates early pregnancy. They are considered the main signs of hormonal changes. In any case, it is necessary to monitor the menstrual cycle.
If your period comes at the wrong time or brown discharge appears instead, then you can talk about pregnancy. They are mainly observed a week after fertilization, and the duration is 4 days. At the same time, the color also changes from brown to pale pink.
In addition, minor bleeding is possible. They are accompanied. Severe pain and copious discharge blood suggest a risk of miscarriage.
If brown discharge is a harbinger of pregnancy, the doctor will inform you about this after studying the tests. Otherwise, several additional measures will be required to establish a diagnosis followed by treatment.
How to distinguish discharge from menstruation
Brown is somewhat different from the normal menstrual cycle. There are times when it stands out old blood, after the last menstruation. Discharge is possible in small quantities with a more viscous consistency.
If a pregnant woman observes bleeding from, then this cannot be attributed to the menstrual cycle. In the early stages of pregnancy, 1/4 of the total female sex counts possible manifestations ordinary.
Discharge during pregnancy can be determined by the following signs:
- menstruation scanty;
- menstruation comes earlier than expected;
- the discharge is short-lived and does not coincide with the usual end of the cycle;
- specific color - or .
Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. As a result, menstruation disappears for a while, but discharge can still make itself known. Therefore it is necessary to identify accurate diagnosis: based on color, intensity of daub. This will help prevent complications and identify the problem.
Read also 🗓 Is it possible to get pregnant after childbirth without menstruation?
Is such discharge dangerous?
By its nature, discharge does not pose a danger to the body, but, on the contrary, is even necessary. With healthy menstruation, there is no unpleasant sensation, discomfort or specific smell.
Disturbances are manifested by a lumpy flow of brown menstruation with the smallest elements of tissue and blood clots. In this case, dizziness often occurs, headache, gag reflex and nausea. If you observe this, you should immediately seek help from medical institution or call a doctor at home.
During menstruation this usually occurs with obvious disturbances. Such symptoms indicate serious consequences:
- ectopic pregnancy - the egg begins to develop outside the uterus. The embryo is born from 3 to 7 days after fertilization of the egg. If this process is completed in a short time, then it does not reach the uterus. This condition is pathological and is called ectopic pregnancy. In this case, it is impossible to save the fetus. The woman requires immediate assistance. The ability to give birth to a healthy baby in the future depends on the speed of the operation;
- hydatidiform mole - the embryo does not develop as expected;
- frozen pregnancy - intrauterine death of the embryo;
- threat The greatest danger is the use medicines, hormonal drugs, antibiotics and tranquilizers. Characteristic symptoms This condition causes severe pain in the lower abdomen. If qualified assistance is not provided in time, the embryo will stop developing. Ultimately, a miscarriage will occur or medical intervention (fetal curettage) will be required.
Bloody discharge in the early stages is dangerous for the fetus. In addition, they can signal possible diseases:
- Venereal diseases. To eliminate them it is worth using drug therapy, antibiotics are best.
- Cancerous growths on the cervix.
- Uterine polyps require conservative treatment. It is recommended to use hormonal agents. If treatment is not started in time, complications will arise that can be eliminated with surgery. Sometimes polyps can cause infertility. It is not surprising that women recognize discharge as a sign of conception. Such daubing is accompanied by heavy bleeding.
- Can characterize inflammatory processes on the mucous membrane. This is especially true for frequent stays on the street during low temperatures. In this case, problems arise in the uterus, cervix and its appendages. Pathologies of the pelvic organs often cause brown discharge. But this has nothing to do with pregnancy.
- Menopause.
- Atrophic vaginitis is a lack of hormone production that accompanies menopause. It is impossible to cure it completely, but some measures can influence the elimination of signs of the disease.
Vaginal discharge is a normal phenomenon that occurs in every healthy woman. This process helps cleanse the genital tract of dead epithelium, blood, mucus and pathogenic microorganisms.
Depending on the phase of the cycle and the dominant hormones during it, the discharge may differ in quantity and color - bloody, light and dark brown, white, red and dark, almost black. Many women become worried when they find strange stains on their underwear or pads, but in some cases there is no reason to worry. For example, light discharge before menstruation may be physiological in nature and are not a sign of pathology.
In what cases does discharge from the genital tract appear?
Spotting discharge can appear in a number of cases, some of which indicate a disease and only a few of which are normal.
These reasons include:
Discharge when hormonal levels change (young age, premenopause, endocrine disorders, pregnancy);
Infectious diseases of the female genital tract (trichomoniasis, chlamydia);
Diseases internal organs reproductive system(adenomyosis, endometriosis, ovarian cyst);
Oncological pathologies (ovarian cancer, cervical cancer);
Reception hormonal contraceptives.
If spotting discharge from the vagina appears (during breaks or between menstruation), it is necessary to contact a gynecologist for examination and diagnosis. own state. If a pathology is detected, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment to promote recovery and elimination unpleasant symptoms, including discharge from the genital tract.
Is the appearance of spotting instead of menstruation related to a woman’s age?
Gynecologists consider light spotting to be a normal phenomenon. Brown in young teenage girls. During the formation reproductive function, while a regular menstrual cycle has not yet been established, a number of changes occur in the body of a young girl. Including changes in the usual hormonal background. Thus, light brown and pinkish scanty discharge that occurs during the expected period is a normal natural state.
In women over 40 years of age, brown vaginal discharge may accompany the premenopausal period and indicate natural process ovaries.
How does hormonal background affect the nature of discharge from the genital tract?
During the menstrual cycle, the levels of the main hormones estrogen and progesterone change several times in a woman’s body. In this regard, during ovulation, representatives of the fair sex may experience spotting. dark brown discharge, which are cervical mucus.
Unusual discharge in women who are sexually active and do not use contraceptives may be due to:
Early pregnancy;
Ectopic pregnancy;
Threatened abortion.
In the early stages of pregnancy, light brown or pinkish discharge occasionally occurs. 15 days after conception, many women develop “implantation bleeding.” It is accompanied by spotting light red discharge from the genital tract. When outside intrauterine pregnancy there is a bloody “daub” that occurs instead of menstruation and is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen.
If scanty discharge appears during pregnancy, the doctor may suspect a lack of the main hormone - progesterone, which is necessary for the normal course of pregnancy. This condition can lead to spontaneous abortion.
That is why, if bloody discharge appears during a diagnosed intrauterine pregnancy, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor for examination and selection. hormone therapy.
Can hormonal birth control cause spotting?
Combined oral contraceptives, containing estrogen and progesterone, affect a woman’s natural hormonal balance, thereby interfering with her ability to conceive a child. If the drug is not suitable or there is an individual reaction of the body to it, brown spotting may occur instead of the expected menstruation.
This situation is normal only at the beginning of use. hormonal drugs. When repeated many times of this state It is necessary to consult a gynecologist for the purpose of diagnosis and selection of appropriate medications.
Which infectious pathologies lead to brown discharge instead of menstruation?
Very often, the first symptom of genital tract infections is unusual spotting, which can occur instead of menstruation or independently of the cycle. The most common discharge is whitish, brown and black, which may be accompanied by other symptoms of the inflammatory process:
Cutting or aching pain in the lower abdomen;
Itching of the vagina, labia;
The appearance of an unpleasant odor (sourish, fishy);
Temperature increase;
Skin rash.
If these unpleasant symptoms appear, you should consult a gynecologist or dermatovenerologist for diagnosis and treatment. To determine the cause of the disease, the doctor may prescribe general analysis blood, flora smear, bacteriological examination and a blood test for antibodies to the most common microorganisms that cause STIs.
What dangerous diseases of the genital tract can be accompanied by spotting instead of menstruation?
Widespread among the fair sex is this gynecological disease like endometriosis. This disease practically not accompanied by pain and unpleasant sensations. The leading symptom to suspect it is discharge, the nature of which depends on the stage of the process.
1. At the beginning of the disease, pathological discharge accompanies normal menstrual bleeding or arises instead. The discharge is thick, dark red or black.
2. When involved in a pathological process Bladder or intestines, unpleasant spotting may accompany bowel movements or urination.
3. In the future, instead of menstruation and regardless of the cycle, contact, spotting, and bloody discharge may appear.
4. In case of defeat lymphatic vessels of the pelvic organs, spotting, bloody or watery discharge with an unpleasant pungent odor.
If you suspect endometriosis, you should not delay visiting your doctor. Treatment of this disease possible at any stage, however, the sooner it starts correct therapy, the faster the recovery and regression of unpleasant symptoms will occur.
The most serious disease that is accompanied by dark brown spotting discharge from the vagina is cervical cancer. This common oncological pathology, in addition, is manifested by unmotivated weakness, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, and pain in the pelvic area. If alarming symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a gynecologist for a cytological examination.
What else can lead to the appearance of spotting discharge from the genital tract?
A number of factors or a combination of them can lead to the occurrence of unusual discharge and spotting instead of the expected menstruation. The most common include:
Changes in body weight (sharp weight loss or weight gain), which is accompanied by changes in normal hormonal levels;
Vitamin deficiency, lack nutrients(proteins, fats) in the diet;
Disruption endocrine glands(thyroid pathologies, diabetes);
Psycho-emotional and excessive physical stress;
Transferred surgical operations on the pelvic organs;
The use of radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer.
Either one or a combination of the above factors can lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle and the appearance of brown or black spotting instead of menstruation.
What to do if spotting appears?
If unusual spotting appears instead of menstruation or discharge that does not depend on the menstrual cycle, do not panic and self-medicate. It is necessary to contact a specialist to examine and identify the cause of this condition.
To diagnose the appearance of spotting, gynecologists use the following basic methods:
Blood test for hCG (if pregnancy is suspected);
Flora smear, bacteriological examination;
Analysis for atypical cells;
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
Colposcopy.
In some cases, spotting instead of menstruation occurs due to physiological reasons and does not require special treatment. If diseases are detected, hormonal, antibacterial or combination therapy may be needed.
How can the condition be improved?
Relieve general state and reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms when treating diseases accompanied by the appearance of unusual vaginal discharge, the following methods will help:
Wearing underwear made from natural fabrics (cotton);
Compliance with the rules of personal and intimate hygiene;
Change pads and tampons regularly, and do not use scented hygiene products;
At the time of treatment, you must avoid swimming in open water, visiting public pools, and saunas.
Spotting brown discharge instead of menstruation can occur for a number of reasons. To exclude the development of dangerous diseases and start timely treatment, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor if these unpleasant symptoms occur.
Each female body is unique and requires special care and attention. Any woman of childbearing age menstruates once a month - the result of hormonal activity. female body. During menstruation, bloody discharge from the vagina is observed, consisting of vaginal secretion, exfoliated endometrium and cervical mucus. Menstruation normally lasts 3–7 days.
A woman’s health should come first, and if any problems arise, she should immediately consult a doctor.
One of these reasons may be daubing instead of abundant menstrual flow. What to do if you notice your period but don’t start?
Causes of spotting
There are many factors that influence the amount of discharge during menstruation. Let's take a closer look at some of the reasons why spotting may occur.
Woman's age
During puberty in adolescence monthly cycle irregular, and disruptions in ovulation may occur. That is why spotting is the norm for 1–2 years after menarche, and is not considered a deviation from the norm, since during this period the formation of menstrual function occurs. If this period has been prolonged and spotting is observed more than two years after the onset of menarche, then this is a good reason to seek advice from a specialist.
In the period before menopause (age from forty years), spotting may also be observed, which indicates a decrease in hormonal levels in a woman and natural decline reproductive function reproductive system during menopause.
Pregnancy
In the early stages, spotting may occur, 
which indicate embryo implantation. Therefore, to confirm “ interesting situation“We recommend taking a pregnancy test and checking the level of hCG in the blood.
If pregnancy is confirmed by a hCG test or analysis, and scanty periods continue for a long time, this may be a worrying sign, pointing to hormonal disorder and an incipient miscarriage. Your body may not have enough hormones that are necessary to support the embryo. To avoid miscarriage, contact your gynecologist immediately.
Ectopic pregnancy
Abnormal placement of the embryo can lead to spotting brown discharge. Pathological pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg develops outside the uterus. For example, in fallopian tube or neck. Pregnancy test in in this case shows positive result. Your gynecologist may prescribe an ultrasound to determine where the fertilized egg is implanted.
Inflammatory and hormonal diseases
The cause of menstrual cycle disruption may be inflammatory diseases female reproductive organs. Inflammation can occur due to hypothermia of the body.
Diseases that develop from changes in hormonal levels affect menstruation in the most direct way. The most famous and common of these diseases is polycystic ovary syndrome. This syndrome means the formation of numerous small cysts in the ovaries, which can lead to scanty periods, similar to spotting, or no menstruation at all.
Sexually transmitted diseases
If a woman was acting promiscuous sex life and had unprotected sexual contacts, then the cause of the “daub” may be hidden sexually transmitted infections. Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases:
- pain in the lower abdomen, in the area of the appendages;
- pain during urination;
- itching and burning in the vagina;
- foul-smelling discharge, colored in unnatural shades;
- discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Sexually transmitted diseases include gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.
Taking hormonal contraceptives
When taking hormonal drugs 
Women may experience decreased ovarian function or endometrial atrophy. This may cause spotting. You should select contraceptives correctly and take into account all contraindications to their use. An imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in the female body affects the nature of the discharge. If spotting is observed for three cycles or more, you need to stop taking hormonal contraceptives or replace them with others that are most suitable for your body.
This same point applies intrauterine device. This method protection from unwanted pregnancy has a specific by-effect– periods may become scanty and light brown in color
Postpartum period and lactation period
After childbirth and during breastfeeding, a woman's menstrual cycle returns very slowly. Menstruation may be absent throughout the entire period of lactation. Scanty brown discharge may be observed, this is also normal. Due to the nature of the female body, the cycle can be completely restored a few months after childbirth and menstruation will become the same as before pregnancy.
Operations
Any intrauterine surgical intervention causes brown discharge instead of menstruation:
- diagnostic curettage;
- removal of part of the uterus;
- medical abortion;
- removal of fibroids;
- elimination of polyps;
- laparoscopy.
If in postoperative period symptoms such as bad smell discharge, pain and elevated temperature body, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid possible complications.
Sudden weight change
If a girl suddenly loses weight due to large physical activity, or due to the use of various strict diets, this may disrupt menstrual functions body. Conversely, a rapid increase in fat mass also leads to menstrual irregularities.
External factors
We list the factors that may cause inconsistent or scanty periods: 
- stress and depression;
- lack of sleep and insomnia;
- poor nutrition;
- bad habits – smoking, alcohol;
- acclimatization;
- metabolic disease;
- harmful working conditions.
The above factors have a negative impact on women's health. Frequent walks fresh air and refusal bad habits will help restore the body.
Diagnosis and treatment
The basis of treatment for spotting is to identify and eliminate the causes of its occurrence. Menstrual irregularities can be corrected good nutrition, giving up bad habits, good rest. If the cycle is broken various kinds diseases, the doctor, having prescribed certain examinations, will identify the causes and prescribe the correct medication.
Take care of yourself and your health. The well-being of your future children depends on your health.
If pregnancy is planned, then when brown daub When the lower abdomen hurts a lot, the woman first does a test. And often gets negative result. Questions immediately arise as to why the spotting started and whether pregnancy should be completely ruled out.
Causes of spotting menstruation
Menstruation occurs as a result of hormonal fluctuations during the cycle. Menstruation is regular, like clockwork, light and without pain - rare woman boasts such an enviable balance in the body.
Stress, physical activity, infections, genital diseases, age-related changes may lead to disruption hormonal balance. In these conditions, the growth of the endometrium is disrupted, as a result of which the nature of menstruation also changes.
In case if hormonal disbalance leads to a slow growth of the endometrium, scanty periods appear or just “daub”.
Age
In girls during puberty, spotting is normal. It takes time for hormonal changes to mature. Usually the cycle is established within 4 months after menarche. If this does not happen, you should contact a gynecologist.
It is also necessary to visit a doctor if the spotting persists for several weeks. The teenage period is dangerous due to juvenile bleeding, which can lead to severe anemia.
Spotting bleeding after 40 years can be a sign of menopause. At the same time, other climacteric changes are also noted.
Beginning of sexual activity
Brown spotting instead of menstruation is observed in some girls with the onset of sexual activity. If defloration occurs immediately before menstruation, there may be scanty discharge and pain. It can hurt both the lower abdomen and the external genitalia. The pregnancy test is negative. We have to wait for the next menstruation. If the discharge is the same, or has been smearing for more than a week, you need to be examined by a gynecologist, including for STIs.
Urogenital infections
Sexually transmitted infections often go unnoticed. During the time that passes between infection and the appearance of the first signs, the disease becomes chronic. With STIs, discharge from the genital tract has an unpleasant odor. IN advanced cases may resemble pus. At the same time, the lower abdomen hurts, and the temperature may rise.
Against the background of a latent infection, the vaginal microflora is activated. Candidiasis or thrush appears. Smearing instead of menstruation indicates a possible chronic process.
Urogenital infections affect not only the vagina and vulva, they can cause extensive inflammation of the endometrium and cervix.
Inflammation of the genital organs
STIs, as well as hypothermia and other factors can cause inflammation of the genital organs. When immunity decreases, hidden infections are activated. Bacteria directly affect the endometrium and cervix, disrupting their functions.
Endometritis is inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus. The growth of the inflamed endometrium slows down, and until the start of the next cycle it remains thin. Therefore, when it is rejected, discharge in the form of spotting is observed. Endometritis is accompanied pain syndrome. Woman experiencing severe pain, lower abdomen hurts when trying to sit down.
Cervical erosion occurs against the background chronic infections. At the same time, the mucous membrane becomes thinner. During sexual intercourse, the cervix is easily injured. That's why she usually smears blood after sex.
Inflammatory processes tend to develop into chronic course. Long-term inflammation lead to disruption of the structure of the mucous membrane. If the spotting continues for a long time, and the lower abdomen constantly hurts, you need to urgently visit a gynecologist and undergo an examination. Against the background of inflammation, tumor-like processes may occur. Any inflammation should be treated promptly and its cause eliminated.
Tumor-like processes
Most of these processes in the female genital organs occur against the background hormonal changes. Neoplasms grow from the muscular or mucous layer of the uterus. In most cases they are hormonally dependent.
The most commonly diagnosed are fibroids and polyps. Fibroids are tumors growing in the muscle layer. Polyps – benign neoplasms, growing into the uterine cavity.
In these conditions, changes in menstruation are associated with impaired contractile function of the uterus. It doesn't contract strongly enough. Copious discharge is usually observed. However, in initial stages may be scarce and very prolonged bleeding. Spotting that lasts more than 8 days may indicate fibroids.
Ovarian cysts are also neoplasms. They are formed at the site of an egg that was unable to leave the ovary. At the same time, the amount of progesterone in a woman’s body decreases. This hormone is necessary for the growth of the endometrium. By the end of the cycle, the endometrium does not develop sufficient thickness, so very scanty periods are observed.
A condition in which multiple cysts, called polycystic disease. This disease is characterized by scant irregular menstruation. Attempts to get pregnant are often unsuccessful. The test usually shows a negative result.
For the above conditions, women are recommended to take hormonal medications. During treatment, the correct balance of hormones is artificially created in the body, and the cycle is normalized.
In case of large tumors or intolerance to hormonal contraceptives, surgical treatment is indicated.
Taking hormonal contraceptives
Spotting bleeding with at eme oral contraceptives– a normal phenomenon. Discharge may appear in the middle of the cycle and instead of normal menstruation. Hormonal pills replace natural sex hormones, and the hormone content in such preparations, and consequently in the body, is minimal.
One of the mechanisms of action birth control pills– suppression of endometrial growth. In this case, the egg can be fertilized, but attachment ovum not happening. While taking such medications, menstruation always becomes less abundant, the lower abdomen almost does not hurt, and PMS is mild.
But if the hormones are chosen incorrectly, heavy or, conversely, spotting bleeding may occur for several weeks. Therefore, select contraception necessary after blood tests for hormones, which should be prescribed by a doctor.
Pregnancy
The appearance of scanty discharge instead of menstruation may indicate pregnancy, even if the test is negative. The fact is that the sensitivity of home tests for detection is low. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin increases sharply from the second week of pregnancy.
Conception can occur a week or a week and a half before your period. Therefore, a test done on the first day of discharge may show a false negative result.
In addition, the attachment of the fertilized egg may be accompanied by implantation bleeding. In this case, a few days before menstruation, spotting appears. You may feel discomfort in the lower back and pull in the lower abdomen. The woman believes that she is not pregnant, but that her menstruation just started earlier.
To confirm or exclude pregnancy, it is best to take a blood test for hCG. In doubtful cases, tests are done at intervals of several days. Rise hCG level speaks of a developing pregnancy.
Regarding home tests, you should remember that they can be done no earlier than 2 weeks after the expected conception. They often give false negative results. If the discharge appears in the middle of the cycle or 1-2 days before your period, it is better to wait for its onset.
End of lactation and early postpartum period
After pregnancy, the body needs time to recover. For non-breastfeeding women, this period usually takes from 1 to 6 months. During this period, irregular, scanty spotting or heavy bleeding. These are variants of the norm. After hormone levels normalize, the cycle is restored.
The same phenomenon is observed after the end of lactation. With prolonged breastfeeding, a woman's body suppresses the hormones necessary for conception. Lactation is a method of natural contraception, commonly called “replacement”. Accordingly, ovulation, endometrial changes, and thickening of cervical mucus may not be observed. There is often a long absence of menstruation.
With the end of lactation, the first periods may be scanty and irregular. However, it is worth remembering that breastfeeding does not protect against conception. The cycle takes a long time to recover. AND negative test in women who completed breast-feeding, does not always indicate the absence of pregnancy.
Childbirth and the birth of a child - severe stress for me as a young mother. Physical activity, stress, and strong emotional shocks can cause menstrual irregularities not only in young mothers, but in any woman, regardless of age.
Stress and exercise
To give birth and carry a child, a woman needs calmness and peace of mind. The body perceives emotional stress and heavy physical labor, including intense sports, as extreme conditions.
In such a situation, the release of sex hormones is suppressed. The endometrium does not grow, and the embryo cannot gain a foothold in it. Pregnancy does not occur and the test is negative. Instead of the usual menstruation, brown spotting is noted. At the same time, there is a strong pull in the lower abdomen and lower back pain.
If stress is the cause of menstrual irregularities, the woman is advised to take sedatives. It is also important to remember that heavy physical labor is contraindicated for any woman.
If you experience spotting instead of menstruation, in which the lower abdomen constantly hurts, it is advisable to immediately consult a gynecologist. There can be many reasons for such violations. From ordinary stress to serious cancer pathology. It is also important to know that a negative test does not always mean there is no pregnancy. For an accurate result, you need to do several tests at intervals of 2-3 days. It is best to take a blood test for hCG.
Brown discharge occurs instead of menstruation various reasons, including healthy women. Sometimes light brown spotting begins a few days before your full period arrives. Some experts consider this a variant of the norm. But with a rich brown color of discharge, it is worth considering the phenomenon as a signal from the body that something is not working as it should.
Beginning of menstruation and premenopause
Spotting on certain days of the cycle can be considered normal if these are the first cycles of a young girl. This manifestation is due to the fact that the body is just beginning to undergo hormonal adjustments. The cycles themselves can be anovulatory, and then scanty periods with spotting are quite understandable. This phenomenon is considered normal in the 1st year after menarche. If the cycle lasts for a long time in this form, you should definitely seek advice to exclude possible pathologies or get advice on hygiene.
Women over 38-40 years of age may already be entering premenopause.
In this case, instead of the usual menstruation, a pink or light brown spot appears, and then after certain time the daubing stops completely.
The reaction of the female body to various factors
When taking oral contraceptives or other hormonal medications, suppressing ovulation, changes in the state of the body are possible. As a rule, this situation continues during the first two months and is due to adaptation to new conditions. In this case, when there is no usual menstrual flow, but instead a red or dark brown smear appears, pathological process, Most likely no. There will be cause for concern similar situation, When the daub is coming for several months. It may be worth reconsidering your choice of contraceptive drug.
When installing the IUD during menstruation, spotting may also begin. And if this continues for more than 1-2 months, it is better to remove the spiral. However, this decision should only be made by a gynecologist. He will also prescribe a different contraceptive regimen, taking into account associated factors and individual testimony.
Another reason for spotting is the process of lactation. After childbirth, the menstrual cycle does not return to normal immediately. Instead of the usual menstruation, a brownish-pinkish smudge may appear.
Spotting also occurs in the cycle following an episode of acute respiratory viral infection or another disease. All the body's forces were aimed at fighting it, and the uterine epithelium, the cells of which are rejected during menstruation, did not have time to grow to a normal volume. As a result, there is little “staining” of the gasket. Everything should be back to normal in the next cycle.
Spotting instead of heavy periods may occur when the climate changes, for example, on vacation in countries where the weather is very different from what you are used to. Or when moving to another place of residence with conditions to which you are not accustomed. Don’t be alarmed by such daubs: time will pass and the body will rebuild itself.
It happens that spotting is caused by poor nutrition and hypovitaminosis. When switching to vegetarianism, a raw food diet and improper composition of the diet, similar disruptions can be observed in menstrual cycle. It is important to correctly formulate a menu for every day so that health problems do not arise due to the refusal of certain products. Sometimes, for those who practice prana-eating, even daubing can stop.
Spotting at the beginning of pregnancy
Sometimes spotting appears on those days when menstruation should already come, instead of it, in those who become pregnant. This spotting is explained by the implantation of the embryo into the wall of the uterus. This process is accompanied by scarce bloody discharge instead of full periods, which should no longer occur due to the new “situation”.
Important! During this period, the test does not always show two stripes. To confirm the fact of pregnancy, you can do a blood test for hCG. If the study shows pregnancy, a consultation with a gynecologist will not be superfluous, because ideally there should be no bloody, brown smear while expecting a child. It is important to eliminate the risk of early miscarriage.
Ectopic pregnancy
Sometimes, when spotting occurs instead of menstruation, the reasons may not be harmless at all. Common causes of spotting include ectopic pregnancy. As you know, only unprotected sexual intercourse does not always lead to fertilization of an egg. For contraception using the method of interrupted coitus, taking oral medications, or even using barrier agents there is a pregnancy rate. This is why it is important to exclude an ectopic one, otherwise complications are dangerous:
- rupture of the fallopian tube,
- bleeding,
- infection.
In addition to spotting, the following help to recognize an ectopic pregnancy:
- pain in the lower abdomen,
- increase in basal temperature,
- swelling of the mammary glands,
- frequent urination.
Pathological conditions
If spotting occurs instead of menstruation, this may be a cause for concern. Scanty discharge(daub) are caused by:
- inflammatory processes in the uterus, ovaries or appendages;
- STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital warts);
- uterine fibroids;
- cysts in the genitals;
- erosion of the cervix, accompanied by ulcers that give a scanty smear;
- endometriosis;
- endocrine pathologies;
- sudden changes in weight, for example, weight loss while on a strict diet;
- too much physical activity, especially if the sport is professional, active;
- severe shocks in life that provoked stress and depression.
It can also be applied to those who have recently undergone surgery on the uterus, pelvic organs, or had an abortion. Normally, such spotting after these interventions is allowed during the first month after menstruation, but no longer.
Then you should consult your doctor to draw up an action plan.
Spotting can also be caused by other pathological conditions.
- For example, it applies to atrophic vaginitis. In addition to smudging, other signs of concern:
pain during sexual intercourse. It happens that spotting is a symptom dangerous disease
- – cervical cancer. Then they have a rich brown tint. And are accompanied by signs of oncology:
- weight loss;
- pain in the legs, pelvic area;
general weakness of the body, etc. At what accompanying symptoms
- Do you need to urgently contact a specialist? When a woman is also concerned:
- itching, tingling sensations in the vagina;
- odor from the genital tract;
- painful sensations during intimate contacts and urination;
swelling in the vaginal area.
Such discharges such as spotting are especially dangerous if they last for 2 weeks or more.
Diagnostic methods
- To identify the causes of this phenomenon, the doctor may suggest the following methods:
- blood tests, including hCG testing;
- studying the dynamics of basal temperature;
- Ultrasound of the genitals and some other internal organs (taking into account concomitant symptoms); studying thyroid gland
etc.
How will the treatment take place? In order to normalize the volume and nature of menstrual flow, methods are used that will be aimed at eliminating the causes of such phenomena. So, if diagnosed venereal diseases
, it is important to undergo a course of treatment (antibiotics and other drugs prescribed according to a personal regimen).
For uterine polyps, a course of hormonal therapy is prescribed, and sometimes curettage is performed. At cancer cervix requires surgical intervention. And they appoint complex therapy
However, sometimes, if the spotting is caused by harmless reasons, you can normalize your periods with simple measures:
- be careful when choosing underwear - prefer cotton panties;
- choose the right size of underwear - do not wear tight, constricting panties;
- change hygiene products regularly, but do not wash the genital tract, so as not to aggravate the condition.
The female body is a rather delicate “mechanism”, and sometimes it malfunctions. Finding out the reasons for any spotting that differs from the norm of monthly discharge is the key to your reproductive health.