Abnormal spotting or bleeding that occurs in between your periods can be concerning. Because irregular bleeding can be linked to underlying health conditions, it’s important that you get a proper diagnosis.
At Alpha OB GYN, Sowmya Reddy, MD, FACOG, and our team offer comprehensive diagnostic services to identify the cause of spotting between periods and irregular bleeding. Dr. Reddy offers some insight into what might be causing your spotting and which conditions will need further treatment.
Irregular or abnormal uterine bleeding describes bleeding that isn’t part of your usual menstrual cycle.
In general, an average menstrual period lasts between 4-7 days. If you find that you’re spotting or bleeding outside of this cycle, it might be due to:
You might also be prone to spotting between periods if you have a bleeding disorder, are overweight, or if you use hormonal birth control pills and intrauterine device (IUD). Persistent stress can also affect your menstrual cycle and cause irregular bleeding.
While every underlying cause of spotting between periods should be properly evaluated by Dr. Reddy and our team, not every cause will require medical treatment.
For conditions that do require further testing and treatment, we offer customized treatment plans to meet your needs. As part of your treatment plan for spotting between periods, you might need:
Depending on the cause of your irregular spotting, medications might be recommended.
Medications are available to treat underlying conditions like STDs and infections. We also offer on-site STD testing services.
Hormone replacement therapy might be necessary if you have conditions like uterine fibroids, PCOS, or a hormone imbalance.
We offer low-dose birth control pills and replacement hormone therapy using vaginal rings or the depo shot. These methods deliver a continuous flow of hormones into your bloodstream to stabilize your natural hormone levels and resolve spotting and other symptoms.
If infection or more serious causes are ruled out, and birth control pills or an IUD are not a good option for you, an endometrial ablation may be recommended.
This procedure uses heat energy to destroy the lining of your uterus (endometrium) to stop heavy or irregular bleeding.This is only a good option for those who do not have any future pregnancy plans.
When your spotting is the result of abnormal growths in your reproductive organs, such as fibroids or polyps, Dr. Reddy might recommend surgery to remove them. She also offers hysterectomy services, a surgery to remove your uterus and other reproductive organs in the treatment of recurrent fibroids, cancer, and other conditions.
We use minimally invasive surgery techniques that only require small incisions. This ensures you heal faster and more efficiently than you might with traditional open surgery.
Because there are so many causes of spotting and irregular bleeding and many options for treatment, Dr. Reddy spends time discussing your unique needs and determining how to move forward with your care.
We offer customized treatment plans that focus on stopping spotting between periods and protecting your overall reproductive health.
To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for spotting between periods, call Alpha OB GYN or book an appointment online today.
