Periodos

Bleeding or spotting between periods

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

Light bleeding between periods or after sex has many causes and is often not serious, but it should always be checked. Here are the usual causes and the signs that need urgent care.

What spotting is

Spotting is light bleeding outside your normal period. You might notice a little blood on your underwear or when you wipe. Doctors may call bleeding between periods intermenstrual bleeding. Bleeding after sex is related and shares some of the same causes. Most of the time the cause is not serious. Even so, bleeding between periods or after sex should always be checked by a doctor or nurse.

Hormones and contraception

Changes in hormone levels can cause spotting. Hormonal contraception can cause spotting too, especially if you skip pills, or stop and start the pill, patch or ring. An IUD (coil) can cause occasional spotting. Some people have light bleeding around ovulation, which often happens about 2 weeks before a period. This can be mistaken for a period. Stress and an underactive thyroid can also cause bleeding between periods.

Other possible causes

Small growths called polyps, and fibroids, can cause bleeding between periods. Infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, can inflame the cervix (the neck of the womb) or the womb and cause bleeding. Bleeding after sex can also come from vaginal dryness or from changes to the surface of the cervix (cervical ectropion). Blood-thinning medicines, a recent pelvic examination or procedure, and pregnancy problems such as miscarriage can also cause bleeding. Sometimes it is a sign of cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix or womb.

What happens at an appointment

You can see a doctor or nurse, or go to a sexual health clinic. They will ask about your symptoms and health history, and may examine you. Depending on what they find, they may offer a pregnancy test, STI tests or blood tests. Some people need an ultrasound scan, or a closer look at the cervix (colposcopy) or inside the womb (hysteroscopy). Logging spotting days in Ciclo can help you describe when the bleeding happens.

When to get help

Get checked for any bleeding between periods or after sex. Also contact a doctor or nurse if you have any bleeding after menopause, or if bleeding comes with pelvic pain, tiredness or dizziness. If you might be pregnant, even without a positive test, contact a doctor or nurse the same day if you have pain low down on one side of your tummy or any bleeding. Get emergency help for sudden, severe tummy pain, pain in the tip of your shoulder, heavy bleeding, or feeling very dizzy or faint. These can be signs of a pregnancy growing outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy). If bleeding is very heavy and you faint or feel about to faint, call your local emergency number.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause should always be checked by a doctor or nurse.