8 Gynecological Conditions That Can Cause Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods

Vagonal bleeding between periods, also known as spotting, is familiar to many women. This condition can be deemed normal if it occurs occasionally during ovulation, when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, or if you start taking hormonal contraceptives. However, there are a lot of health issues that can also cause spotting. Some of them can be quite dangerous In this article, we have gathered eight gynecological conditions that can cause vaginal bleeding between periods.

1. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrium-like tissue spreads outside of the uterus, in places such as the ovaries, abdomen, and bowel. Endometriosis is thought to affect one out of every ten women in the United States, yet many cases go misdiagnosed. Bleeding between periods, as well as other symptoms like pelvic pain and cramps, painful and/or heavy periods, pain during sex, painful urination or bowel movements, and infertility, can all be signs of endometriosis.

2. Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign growths in the uterus. If they grow into your uterine lining, they're more prone to causing irregular vaginal bleeding. They can lead to heavier or prolonged periods, pelvic pain, lower back pain, and pain during sex, in addition to spotting between periods. Some women have asymptomatic uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are usually harmless and can shrink on their own during or after menopause.

3. Uterine and cervical polyps
Polyps are abnormal tissue growths that can appear anywhere in the body, including the cervix and uterus. The majority of polyps are noncancerous or benign. Cervical polyps usually don't create any symptoms, however, they can cause minor bleeding and abnormal discharge between periods. Only imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, can reveal uterine polyps. The majority of them are benign, but some of them can develop into cancer. Uterine polyps can cause irregular or heavy periods, vaginal bleeding after menopause, and infertility.

4. Cervicitis
Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix, which is the narrow, lower end of the uterus that exits into the vaginal canal. Bleeding between menstrual periods, pain during intercourse or during a pelvic exam, and unusual vaginal discharge are all possible signs of cervicitis. Cervicitis, on the other hand, can occur without causing any signs or symptoms. This condition is frequently caused by a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Cervicitis can also be caused by non-infectious factors like irritation or allergic reaction.

5. Sexually transmitted infections
Vaginal bleeding can also occur due to sexually transmitted infections (STI) like chlamydia or gonorrhea. STIs can also cause pain or burning sensations during urination, pelvic pain, vaginal itching, and abnormal vaginal discharge. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), another cause of spotting, can develop if STIs go untreated.

6. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease is a condition in which bacteria spreads from your vagina to your uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries and lead to inflammation. As mentioned above, pelvic inflammatory disease can occur because of untreated STIs. However, untreated bacterial vaginosis can also contribute to this condition.

7. Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause irregular vaginal bleeding between periods. When a woman's ovaries or adrenal glands create too many "male" hormones, she develops this disease. Irregular periods, pelvic pain, weight gain, body hair, acne, and infertility are all symptoms of PCOS. Some women with PCOS don't have periods at all or only have a few.

8. Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a condition in which the cells of the cervix change and form a tumor due to human papillomavirus. In the initial stages, this condition is usually asymptomatic. Advanced stages of cervical cancer can manifest through spotting, abnormal discharge, and pain during sex.