As if having monthly menstrual bleeding wasn't enough, many women will also experience breakthrough bleeding at some point in their lives. Breakthrough bleeding is vaginal bleeding that occurs unexpectedly in between menstrual cycles. Although many cases of breakthrough bleeding are harmless, women should take the time to learn about the problem to understand when there may be cause for concern and when a doctor's follow-up is necessary.
Causes
Birth control is a common cause of breakthrough bleeding. However, other situations can also cause bleeding in between periods. These include things like ovulation, hormonal fluctuations, approaching menopause and medical conditions like ectopic pregnancies and even cancer. While breakthrough bleeding caused by birth control will typically resolve itself within four menstrual cycles, women experiencing it while not on birth control medications should call a doctor.
Types
Breakthrough bleeding can range from light spotting to a flow similar of a menstrual period. It ranges in color, from a dark brown to bright red. The bleeding may only last for a few hours or it may last for several days.
Considerations
Women experiencing breakthrough bleeding may want to consider keeping a menstrual diary. This diary should include the dates the bleeding occurs, how long the bleeding lasts and the color and flow of the bleeding. If it occurs on a regular basis and lasts for several months, a doctor can use this information to find the possible cause and determine whether the bleeding is something to be concerned about, suggests the St. John Providence Health System.
Misconceptions
Many women believe that breakthrough bleeding from birth control medications means they are having an unwelcome side effect to the medication and the only solution is to stop the medication. However, breakthrough bleeding is very common and usually disappears after the first four months. Instead of switching to a less effective method of birth control or using no birth control method at all, women should give their new birth control some time and allow the breakthrough bleeding to go away on its own.
Prevention
Although there is little that can be done to prevent breakthrough bleeding caused by medical conditions, bleeding caused by hormonal birth control medications may be preventable. In her article, Dr. Judith Reichman in her article "Is breakthrough bleeding usual when on the pill?" published on MSNBC.com, Dr. Judith Reichman says taking the medication on time, avoiding other medications or herbal supplements that may interfere with the absorption of the pill and switching to a birth control medications with a higher amount of estrogen can relieve symptoms.
