If your period has stopped for several days (more than 3 or 4 days) and you experience light spotting, you are likely experiencing something different to your period.
This type of bleeding is known as mid-cycle spotting and can be related to ovulation, lower levels of progesterone, or birth control use. For some women, spotting at the time of ovulation is common and harmless.
If you are tracking your cycle and notice a very small amount of spotting at the time of ovulation, this can be caused by the rupture of your follicle as your egg is released.
This type of spotting will generally last for a short time and will not be seen again until you start your period.
If you are currently taking a form of hormonal birth control (such as the pill, contraceptive patch or implant), spotting can occur during your cycle related to changes in hormone levels from your birth control.
Devices like an intrauterine device (IUD) can commonly cause spotting in the first few months after having it inserted. If this bleeding continues, visit your primary health care provider for advice.
Spotting, particularly later in the cycle in the week before your period is due, is commonly caused by low levels of progesterone. In a healthy cycle, progesterone is secreted in high amounts after ovulation.
Its main role is to maintain the lining of the uterus that has been built up by estrogen in the first half of the cycle, in order for an embryo to safely implant if you are to become pregnant.
If your egg is not fertilised, progesterone levels sharply decline after around 10-14 days, causing your period to start.
When levels of progesterone are too low during the cycle, the lining of your uterus can start to slip away too early, causing spotting before your period starts.
Wondering if you might have low progesterone? Take my free quiz to find out and get access to my personalised guide to healing low progesterone naturally.
If you notice any mid-cycle bleeding that is not related to your period, or you are currently pregnant, it’s best to visit your primary health care provider for a check up as this type of bleeding can indicate more serious issues going on.
78 comments
Hey Sam,
It might be worth speaking with your health practitioner to determine what might be the cause. Especially if this has been an ongoing issue or if it continues with future periods.
Tam
Hi Tammy,
It is difficult to say for sure without knowing more of your case history. But you could be having issues with lack of ovulation. We need ovulation to occur to have a real period. I suggested speaking with your primary health practitioner to further investigate what could be going on for you. Getting some blood tests done and checking your hormones may be beneficial.
Tam.
Hi Jenny,
I am so sorry to hear you are struggling with these issues with pain and bleeding.
It is always best to investigate what is causing the bleeding and ovary pain. Are there ovarian cysts that are rupturing and causing pain or is it endometriosis on the ovaries? Is there an imbalance with estrogen and other hormones?
Working closely with a practitioner who specialises in this area is recommended.
All the best,
Tam.
Hi Erin,
It is difficult for me to say if your bleeding pattern is being caused by the shape or position of your uterus. You would need to have a physical examination and/or ultrasound, or speak with a pelvic physical therapist to know for sure. You might also want to do a hormone test of both estrogen and progesterone at this time to see if their levels are higher than what they should be at this point in the cycle.
For ease of tracking, you can record your period as 7 days long, if you have bleeding that returns after the day where it stopped.
I recommend you implement the strategies in this post to see if you notice any improvements in bleeding pattern.
All the best,
Tam.
Hey lovely,
Sorry to hear you are having this issue. This sounds like something to chat with your doctor or natural health practitioner about as it’s out of my level of expertise. Good luck!