I know— spotting can be super annoying. Or unpredictable. Or that weird middle ground when you’re like “is it still my period, or just spotting?”
We all have spotting from time to time, and it’s so important to understand what’s normal and what isn’t. Rest assured that there are a handful of totally normal causes for spotting!
The more familiar you are with your particular cycle, the more likely you are to realize when something might need to be checked out. Learn what’s normal now so you don’t need to freak next time you spot!
7 Types of Normal Spotting
Dark Brown Spotting
A lot of people notice dark brown (or even close to black) spotting before the period begins, or towards the end of the period. This is old, slow-moving blood that has been exposed to oxygen enough to darken it.
If you have more than two days of spotting before your period, talk to a doctor. You might have low progesterone, which can hurt your chances of becoming pregnant if you’re TTC.
Avoiding pregnancy? Low progesterone also messes with your mood and anxiety!
Ovulatory Spotting
You might get 1-2 days of light, bright red or pink spotting around the time of ovulation. Not everyone experiences this, but it’s normal for some.
You can thank the sudden drop in estrogen for this one!
Anovulatory Spotting
Real quick lesson: An anovulatory cycle is when, for some reason, your body skips the release of an egg. It’s not truly a cycle, since a true cycle would include ovulation.
However, an anovulatory cycle may lead to something that appears like a light period. (Again, it’s not a true period, since a period requires ovulation to have occurred.)
Your body could be working hard to ovulate, but estrogen doesn’t quite peak high enough to release an egg. If the estrogen drops anyway, you might get light bleeding/spotting as a result.
If you chart your cycles, you’ll notice in an anovulatory one that your basal body temperature (BBT) doesn’t shift to sustained, elevated temps. Wait a couple weeks to see if your cycle gets back to normal, healthy ovulation!
Implantation Spotting
If a lucky sperm fertilizes an egg, the two happily begin their way down into the uterus to start their life together. Sometimes, people experience implantation bleeding when the fertilized egg burrows into the uterine lining (or endometrium).
This isn’t a reliable sign of pregnancy, and not everybody experiences it. If you chart, you can be pretty sure of pregnancy after 18 elevated temperatures post ovulation.
Breastfeeding Spotting
Sometimes, spotting may occur around 6 weeks postpartum. Lochia (normal spotting after childbirth) typically disappears by 6 weeks after baby’s arrival, and it’s possible that spotting occurs after all the changes in hormones. (As if you haven’t had enough hormonal swings by now, right?)
Hormone Therapy Spotting
If you’re perimenopausal and have decided to go on hormone replacement therapy, the first few months (or even longer) may bring some spotting. Always check with your doc to make sure the dosage is working for you!
Speaking of prescribed hormones… some people experience continuous spotting while on hormonal birth control. You might need to switch to a different formula to avoid this. (Or switch to Fertility Awareness for birth control!)
Spotting After a Gyno Appointment
When the gyno puts those fun metal tools and whatnot up there, it’s bound to lead to spotting some of the time. It’s normal to experience light spotting after procedures like a pelvic exam, Pap test, IUD insertion, cervical biopsy, cautery or laser surgery. Of course, your healthcare provider should give you a heads up on what’s expected and when to call for extra support.
And yes— sometimes, you can get a small tear during intercourse! Same type of spotting in this case.
Oh, spotting. Nobody ever LOVES it, but it’s nice to know when it isn’t actually a problem. But not all bleeding and spotting are normal, which is why I want you to know what to watch out for.
The more you can learn about your own body, the better!
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Do you spot regularly? Have you ever been surprised to find spotting?