What Causes Bleeding Or Spotting After Period Ends?

Are you worried that you are still bleeding after period? Are you also worried your spotting after period could be a fibroid or a medical problem? Is your spotting after period heavy?

Normal period length experienced by women is normally 2 – 7 days. If your period is less than 2 days, then your period is short. If your period is more than 7 days then its a prolonged period. Do you see large blood clots during periods? Large blood clots could also mean there is a problem, while small clots can be normal for some women.

Bleeding or spotting after your period finishes is not always serious, but doctors call this abnormal uterine bleeding if it keeps happening, especially if it is heavy, painful or comes after sex. You should not ignore it, particularly if you are over 40, have other medical problems, or there is any chance you are pregnant. 

While causes of spotting after period may be due to a medical problem or stress, it could also be due to uterus not expelling all endometrial tissues from the uterus during menstruation.

This Medplux guide will explain the causes of bleeding after period and when you should worry.

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Causes of bleeding after period?

If you keep bleeding after period, then these are some of the reasons you may have bleeding.

1. Expelling old endometrial tissues

Are you still bleeding right after your period ends? Sometimes this can be due to the removal of old endometrial tissues. During menstruation, not all endometrial tissues may be expelled out of your womb.

These remaining endometrial tissues may comes out as brown discharge after period. Are you worried it is bright red? It could also be pink discharge after period. If you are spotting after period, then this could be the cause.

However, it resolves quickly and it is lighter than your flow during period. If it keeps coming back, becomes heavier, or you notice a bad smell or pain, then it may be from another cause and you should see your doctor.

2. Vaginal infections

Vaginal infections that affect women can cause bleeding after period. It can occur anytime after your period ends. Common infections experienced by women are yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, trichomonas and chlamydia.

Yeast infection, which causes vaginal itching and vulva sore, is caused by Candida albicans. Women complain of cottage cheese mucus that can be uncomfortable with pain during sexual intercourse.

Bacterial vaginosis infection affects women’s vagina too. It is caused by Gardnerella vaginalis and women usually complain of fishy smelling discharge that makes them uncomfortable.

Chlamydia, trichomonas infection, and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases that if left untreated may result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can cause pain in the lower abdomen, pain during sex, unusual vaginal discharge and bleeding between periods or after sex. You can read more here: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Symptoms of vaginal infections are

• Green or yellow mucus discharge, sometimes with a bad smell

• Pain in the vagina

• Pain during intercourse

If infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea are not treated early, they can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which over time may cause difficulty getting pregnant and a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.

If your spotting after period is due to vaginal infections, it will cause random spotting between periods. You should inform your doctor for evaluation and treatment.

3. Fluctuating periods in young women

If you’ve reached the age girls get their period for the first time, then your periods over the next few years may be lighter or irregular. It may take a few years for your hormones to settle (often 2–3 years, sometimes longer). You may sometimes have an early period or a late period.

If you are still notice spotting after period just after menarche, then its likely due to hormone fluctuations. However, very heavy bleeding, bleeding that makes you dizzy, or bleeding after sex should still be checked by a doctor even in teenagers.

4. During intercourse

Did you notice you’re bleeding after intercourse? A very rough sexual intercourse can make women bleed after periods. Any trauma to the vagina or cervix can cause bleeding after periods. This usually causes some pain and resolves in a few days.

Bleeding after sex that keeps happening, or occurs with a new partner or with a bad-smelling discharge, should be checked for infections or cervical problems.

5. You are on a birth control pill

Are you currently taking any birth control pill? Then it may be the reason you are spotting after your period. During the first few months on a pill, you may notice spotting sometimes. As your body adjusts to these synthetic hormones, it usually stops by the 3rd to 6th month. Therefore, any spotting on the pill may not be a problem just yet.

Do you feel heavy bleeding with blood clots? Then is important to contact your healthcare provider. Also talk to your doctor if you miss pills, have vomiting or diarrhoea, or there is any chance you could be pregnant while on the pill.

6. You inserted an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)

If you recently inserted an IUD and you are spotting after period, then it may be the cause. Copper and hormonal IUDs can cause women to bleed during the first few months (often up to 3–6 months) after insertion. Bleeding may be heavy or light. You should inform your doctor if it very heavy, if you feel severe pain, or if you think the device has moved.

7. You have a fibroid

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths (tumours) that develop in or around the womb (uterus). They may be small or huge and can cause vaginal bleeding after periods, heavy periods, or pelvic pressure. You can read more here: uterine fibroids.

Symptoms of a fibroid mass are

• Women in their reproductive years, especially between 30 and 50 years

• Irregular periods

• Really long or very heavy periods

• Bleeding before period

• Difficulty getting pregnant

• A very large fibroid can cause problems with passing urine and stool or a feeling of pressure in your lower tummy

8. You have a cervical polyp

There are polyps found in the cervix usually caused by high estrogen level or inflammation. If you have a cervical polyp, then these are some of the symptoms you may have

• Bleeding after period has ended

• Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse

• Thick white vaginal discharge

• Dark brown or almost black period blood if there is an obstruction of the cervix outflow

9. You have a uterine polyps

A uterine polyp, which attaches to the uterine wall, can cause women to bleed after period. Other symptoms of a uterine polyp are:

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Heavy painful periods

Uterine polyps can be removed through surgery.

10. You are ovulating

Ovulation, which is matured follicle rupture with the release of an egg, can cause women to bleed after period ends. After rupture of the Graafian follicle (Matured follicle), it may cause bleeding. This bleeding usually occurs a week or so after your period ends or in between 2 of your periods, depending on how long your cycle is.

If you are spotting a week after period ends, then its likely due to ovulation. You should learn when women ovulate and signs of ovulation to easily know when ovulation occurs. Light mid-cycle spotting that lasts 1–2 days can be normal, but heavy bleeding or strong pain at this time is not normal and should be checked.

11. You are pregnant

Pregnancy, which is usually achieved if the sperm fertilizes the ovum, may cause you to bleed after period. A small amount of light bleeding in early pregnancy is sometimes called implantation bleeding and usually happens about the time your next period is due. It is usually very light and short. You can read more about this in bleeding and spotting during pregnancy.

If you notice light spotting about 1–2 weeks before your next period is due and there is a chance you could be pregnant, it could be due to implantation. Heavy bleeding, passing clots, feeling faint, or strong pain in early pregnancy is not normal and you should see a doctor or go to the hospital urgently.

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9 Reasons to worry about spotting after period

• You experience smelly vaginal discharge (This is a sign of infection)
• Your vagina is itching and there is sore down there
• You are taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medicines and your bleeding is heavier than usual (do not stop these medicines on your own; speak to the doctor who prescribed them)
• Your period is now lasting longer than 7 days or you are soaking through pads or tampons every 1–2 hours
• You continue to have bleeding after sexual intercourse, especially if you are 45 years or older
• You are getting weak, dizzy or short of breath from increased bleeding after period
• Your period has thick blood clots or you pass clots between periods
• You feel pain in your lower abdomen or pelvis, especially with fever, bad-smelling discharge or pain during sex
• There is any chance you could be pregnant, or you have had no period for 12 months (you are postmenopausal), and you are bleeding

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Steps to take if you are spotting after period

• Inform your doctor, especially if the spotting is new, keeps coming back, is heavy, or you have any of the warning signs above.
• If there is any chance you could be pregnant, do a pregnancy test and see your doctor quickly if the test is positive and you are bleeding.
• Get a menstrual cup or suitable sanitary product if you are bleeding heavily so you can monitor how much blood you are losing while waiting to see your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are using aspirin or other blood thinners. Do not stop medicines that were prescribed for your heart, stroke or clotting problems without medical advice.
• Regular exercise and healthy weight can help hormone balance in some women.
• Treat your vaginal infections as advised by your doctor and make sure your partner is treated if it is a sexually transmitted infection.
• Surgery or other procedures to remove your fibroid mass and polyps may be needed if your doctor recommends it.
• Are you 45 years or older, or younger with risk factors like obesity, PCOS or a strong family history, and having persistent bleeding? Your doctor may recommend an endometrial biopsy to check the lining of your womb. Guidelines such as the NICE guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding support this approach.
• Reduce your stress level as much as possible.
• Regularly go for cervical screening (Pap or HPV test) as recommended in your country to help prevent cervical cancer and pick up changes early. You can read more on NHS cervical screening.

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FAQs about vaginal bleeding after periods

These are some asked questions about bleeding after period. Your question not yet answered? Let us know below.

What causes bleeding or spotting after period ends?

If you are spotting after period ends then one common cause is the removal of old tissues in your womb that were not removed during your last period. It usually comes out as brown mucus discharge after period. Other causes are

• Uterine fibroids

• Sexual intercourse or minor vaginal trauma

• Cervical or uterine polyps

• Vaginal infections or pelvic inflammatory disease

• Ovulation (mid-cycle spotting)

• Birth control pills or IUDs

• Early pregnancy (implantation bleeding or other early pregnancy problems)

What to do? If you experience bloody discharge after period then it may resolve in a few days if due to old endometrial tissues. If it is persistent, becomes heavier, or you have pain, bad-smelling discharge or there is a chance you are pregnant, you should let your doctor know.

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Brown spotting after period, what causes it?

If you have brown spotting after period, then it simply means your blood mixed with white vaginal discharge and has stayed a little longer before coming out. It can be due to

• Old endometrial tissue removal

• Uterine fibroid

• Birth control pill

• Vaginal infections

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

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What causes light bleeding after period?

If you notice a light bleeding after your period, it may be due to

• Removal of old tissues not expelled during menstruation

• Uterine fibroids

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

• Birth control pills (breakthrough bleeding)

Light bleeding after period may sometimes be a sign of a pregnancy problem such as miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, but only if you are pregnant. Did you have an early period that was light with cramps? Do you currently feel the signs of pregnancy or have a positive test? Not sure about your symptoms, you should inform your doctor urgently.

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I’m still bleeding after period ends, why?

If you are still bleeding after period ends then your period is prolonged. Normal period last between 2 and 7 days. If your period continues over a week or 7 days then you should let your doctor know.

Common causes are

• Uterine fibroid

• Stress and hormonal imbalance (for example, polycystic ovaries)

• Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy if there is any chance you are pregnant

• Cervical polyps

• Endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer (more important if you are 45 years or older or postmenopausal)

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What causes bleeding one week after period?

If you are bleeding about one week after your period ends then one possible cause is ovulation. Ovulation bleeding or spotting occurs due to the rupture of the most matured follicle. This bleeding usually lasts a very short time and is light, with mild cramps. However, infections, pregnancy-related problems and other womb problems can also cause bleeding at this time, so see your doctor if it is heavy, painful or keeps coming back.

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What causes heavy bleeding after period?

If you had an unusually heavy bleeding after period, then its likely due to a medical problem. Heavy bleeding after period may be due to any of these

• Fibroids

• Endometrial cancer

• Endometrial hyperplasia

• Inserted IUDs

• Uterine polyps

• Polycystic ovaries

Any unusually heavy bleeding should be checked by your doctor, especially if you are passing clots, feeling weak, or soaking pads frequently.

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Now it is your turn. Do you have spotting after period ends? Let us know.