It is known that a menstrual cycle usually lasts 28-32 days, but this is not always a rule because every woman has a different cycle. Many women are bleeding a week after period, which may be very frustrating experience. Your period may have ended last week but you are spotting again.
What can you do if it happens to you? We will tell you some of the most common causes of bleeding a week after period and also how to treat it. So, we can start.
Most Common Causes of Bleeding a Week After Period
Infection. Bacterial and yeast infections are some of the most common causes of bleeding a week or two after period. In this case you will probably have colored spotting that smells bad.
Old Blood. It is also possible that a certain amount of menstrual blood was not removed properly during your menstruation. It means that you may notice brown spotting after your period. It usually happens a week or two after the period.
Deep Penetration. Did you know that deep penetration during a sexual activity may also lead to bleeding? Sometimes you may even get physical injuries if you have a rough sexual contact. You may notice bruises on your cervix, which can be very painful. It happens rarely, but it can be a cause of bleeding after period.
Irregular Periods. If your periods are irregular, you may have bleeding between periods. It usually happens to teenage girls because their bodies are not accustomed to menstruation. Actually, their bodies need some time to get accustomed to the hormonal changes. These irregularities in menstrual bleeding may last a couple of months or even a couple of years. But, don’t worry. In this case irregular spotting is absolutely normal.
Contraceptive Pills. It is normal that you have spotting or bleeding between periods if you use birth control pills. It usually happens when women just have started to use these pills. Also, you may have spotting if you have suddenly stopped to use these pills.
Birth control pills contain hormones and they may delay or speed up your menstrual cycle. When your body gets accustomed to these pills, your periods will be regular. If your bleeding between periods doesn’t stop, it is best to consult with your doctor. Maybe you need to change the type of birth control pills that you are taking.
Uterine Fibroids. These fibroids may also lead to bleeding a week after period. The fibroids in the uterus are not a serious condition, but if you notice that they are growing larger, you should visit your doctor and remove the fibroids as soon as possible.
Polyps. Did you know that polyps are also one of the common reasons of bleeding after period? Polyps are actually non-cancerous cells that may be growing in the uterus. These polyps may burst and lead to spotting or even bleeding.
Ovulation. Sometimes ovulation may also be the cause of spotting. During the ovulation the cyst will burst and then the egg will be released, if estrogen levels in your body are increased. It may lead to abdominal pain, cramping and also to spotting.
Pregnancy. Did you know that you may have implantation spotting when you are pregnant? This spotting is also known as breakthrough bleeding. But, in this case spotting usually happens a week before your menstruation, not after your period.
You should know that a possibility to stay pregnant right after your period is very low. If you are spotting a week after period it doesn’t mean that you had early miscarriage. You should know that miscarriage is always followed by painful cramps and excessive bleeding.
Stress. Stress may also be the cause of bleeding after period. We all know that too much stress can cause a hormonal imbalance in your body, which may lead to spotting or bleeding between periods. It is known that stress is one of the most common causes of irregular periods.
How to Treat the Bleeding a Week After Period?
There is no specific remedy that will help you stop bleeding after period, but there are some treatment options that may be helpful. If you notice spotting once after your last menstruation, there’s no need to worry.
But, if you experience spotting frequently, you should consult your health provider and seek an advice. Now we will give you some tips to prevent bleeding after period.
Use Contraceptive Pills As Your Doctor Says. If you have irregular periods, doctor will probably prescribe you birth control pills which are very effective in regulating your hormonal levels. They will also help you remove ovarian cysts.
But, most important is to follow the instructions of your doctor. You should never stop taking these pills without you doctor’s advice. Also, you must be sure that you are taking birth control pills every day at almost the same time.
Avoid Aspirin. If you notice spotting a week after period, you should stop using aspirin or limit its intake to the minimum. It is known that aspirin is known as a blood thinner and it may cause or even worsen bleeding between periods.
Do Pop Smears. It is necessary to do pop smears once a year in order to avoid many health issues. This will help you diagnose the cancer of cervix or any other problem in the early stage.
Maintain Your Weight. A healthy body weight will help you have regular periods. If you keep your optimal body weight, it will also help you reduce the risk of the cancer of your uterine. It especially refers to post-menopausal women who are at the highest risk of this illness.
Reduce Stress. As we have already mentioned, stress can affect your menstrual cycle and cause irregular periods. If bleeding is associated with stress, we suggest you to sleep and rest more. Also, yoga and meditation may be very beneficial in this case.
These are some of the techniques how you can prevent or reduce bleeding a week or two after period. We also recommend you to follow the dates of your menstrual periods. Also, you should notice if spotting was heavy or not and discuss it with your doctor. Remember that most important is to identify the real cause of the bleeding in order to treat it correctly.
Summary
As you have seen, in most cases spotting after a period is normal and you don’t have to panic. But, if you are bleeding too much, then it is best to consult with your doctor. There are many factors that may affect your menstrual cycle, such as bacterial infections, old blood or a deep penetration during the sexual activity.
Also, possible causes are irregular menstrual cycles, polyps and contraceptive pills, especially if you have just started to use them or if you have changed the type of the pills that you are taking. It is known that pregnancy is one more possible cause of spotting after period. Also, stress may cause spotting and have negative impact on your periods and your overall health.
There are many ways how to treat bleeding after period. Contraceptive pills, regular pop smears and some relaxation techniques may be helpful, but it is best to consult your doctor and to follow his tips.