How To Stop Spotting, Vaginal Bleeding After Period - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from Body6 Reasons You Could Be Spotting Before Your PeriodSarah JacobyLast Updated December 4, 2018, 3:40 PM ADVERTISEMENTSee All SlidesBegin SlideshowPhotographed by Megan Madden.What would life even be if your period didn't throw you a curveball every once in a while? Sometimes it's early, sometimes it's late. And, when things get really weird, there's a little trickle of blood a week or two before the real deal shows up. So what the heck is going on when you're spotting? And what's the appropriate level of freaking out for this situation?Spotting in between periods is incredibly common, says Timothy Ryntz, MD, a gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. And, although it's not necessarily normal, that bleeding isn't usually anything to be too worried about."The concern is when it happens with consistency," Dr. Ryntz says, meaning more than three cycles in a row. If your spotting is thanks to a one-off hormonal fluctuation, it'll generally sort itself out within three cycles. But, if that doesn't happen, that's a sign that you may be dealing with a more serious cause, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).The other factor to be aware of is the color of your bleeding. Although it might be a little alarming to find dark or brownish-colored blood in your undies, Dr. Ryntz says it's actually more concerning to find bright red blood: "That represents something that’s actively happening," he says, which might be as simple as a small vaginal scrape after rough sex or as serious as cervical cancer. Again, the key is consistency. If it happens once, Dr. Ryntz says it's not a huge deal, but it's worth getting checked out if it happens every time you have sex, for instance.So, how do you make your spotting stop? "There’s not a lot you can do outside of keeping your general health maintained and taking care of any existing medical conditions," says Dr. Ryntz. That means that your first step in trying to get rid of spotting is figuring out what's causing it. For a definitive answer, you should check in with your gyno. But, to get an idea of what you're in for, continue on.Begin Slideshow ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT Health TrendsIf You’re Itchy & Uncomfortable It Might Be Bacterial Vagin...If you’ve ever experienced bacterial vaginosis, otherwise referred to as BV, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is. But you’ll also know, iby Tanyel MustafaWellnessSkinnyTok Isn’t A Trend — It’s The Latest Iteration o...Trigger warning: This article discusses disordered eating in a way that some readers may find distressing. At 30, I’d hoped diet culture and fatphobia weby Chloe LawsUnbotheredMy Abortion Was My Lifeline—Getting It Felt Like A Battle For Sur...As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted an abortion. The immediate decision didn’t come from fear or confusion; it came from clarity. by Taren HollimanReproductive HealthHow The Real Housewives Helped Me Through My Own Black Mat...Content warning: the following story contains details of pregnancy loss, surgery, the Black maternal health crisis, and fertility struggles At her Los Angeby L'Oréal BlackettUnbothered“It Took Years To Be Heard”: 4 Black Women On Their S...Sophia Umoh, 31, was diagnosed with endometriosis in her mid-twenties after first presenting with symptoms in her early teens. “It started with painful pby Carly Lewis-OduntanTaking CareEndometriosis Could Be Linked To Trauma, ActuallyTrigger warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault and trauma. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2011, after years of investigationsby Lucia Osborne-Cro...BodyIf Your Period Seems Watery, This Might Be WhyLet’s face it: Periods can be weird. At various times they might be clumpy, brown, and, yes, smelly — and usually this is all totally standard. Buby Erika W. SmithMost WantedAthena Club Is Your One-Stop Shop For All Things WellnessAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Whether it was pads, multivby Karina HoshikawaBodyHow To Tell If You Have A Yeast Infection & Get Rid Of ItYeast infections are the most common type of vaginal infection and up to three out of four people with vaginas will get a yeast infection at some point in by Cory StiegMy PeriodHelp R29 & Period Law End The Tampon TaxWe’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. There’s a lot of feelings around getby Refinery29 StaffMy PeriodIt’s 2024 — Why Isn’t Every Workplace A Period-Positive One?We’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. Debbie Herrera has been working on the influenceby Elizabeth GulinoMy Period5 Women On The Effect Of Having A Good First Periodby Elizabeth GulinoADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT