What is spotting?
Spotting is very light vaginal bleeding outside a normal period, usually a few drops of pink, red or brown blood that need at most a panty liner. It can happen before or after a period, around ovulation, in early pregnancy, or with hormonal contraception. Spotting is often harmless, but repeated or unexplained spotting deserves a check.
Spotting vs a period
| Spotting | Period | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | A few drops, often only on wiping | Needs a pad, tampon or cup |
| Color | Pink, light red or brown | Red to dark red |
| Length | Hours to a couple of days | Usually 3 to 7 days |
Common causes
- The day or two before a period, or the tail end after
- Ovulation spotting mid-cycle
- Implantation bleeding in early pregnancy
- Breakthrough bleeding on the pill, implant, shot or IUD
- Perimenopause, stress, or thyroid problems
- Cervical irritation after sex or an exam, infections, polyps or fibroids
Brown spotting is usually older blood that took longer to leave the body. Read the full guide: what is spotting, plus spotting between periods. The medical term for bleeding between periods is metrorrhagia.
Spotting and worry
Unexpected blood is unsettling, especially if you're trying to conceive or hoping not to be pregnant. Noting when it happens in your cycle usually brings clarity faster than searching at 2am.
See a doctor if spotting keeps happening between periods, follows sex, comes with pain, fever or unusual discharge, or happens after menopause. If you could be pregnant and have pain or heavier bleeding, get checked urgently.
Frequently asked questions
Is spotting a sign of pregnancy?
It can be, as implantation bleeding, but spotting is much more often caused by hormonal shifts. A test after a missed period is the way to know.
Does spotting count as day 1 of my period?
No. Day 1 is the first day of real flow that needs a pad, tampon or cup. See what is cycle day 1.
Sources
This page is for information only and isn鈥檛 medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
What is spotting? Meaning, causes and when it's normalWhat is spotting? Light bleeding outside your period that doesn't need a pad. How it differs from a period, common causes, and when to see a doctor.
Spotting between periods: common causes and when to get checkedSpotting between periods can be ovulation, your contraception or something to check. The common causes, how to tell them apart, and the red flags.
What is ovulation spotting?Ovulation spotting is light pink or brown bleeding around ovulation, linked to a brief dip in estrogen. What it looks like and when to get it checked.
What is implantation bleeding?Implantation bleeding is light spotting when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus. When it happens, how it looks, and how it differs from a period.Is spotting normal? When light bleeding is fine and when it isn'tIs spotting normal? Often yes: around ovulation, before a period or on new birth control. Here are the common causes and the signs that need a doctor.