Passing a small amount of blood through the vagina defines spotting. Light spotting lasts for one or two days. Experiencing light red spotting before the onset of the actual bleeding of a period indicates ovulation or implantation of the fertilized egg. According to Beyond Fertility, these causes are normal. Also, women starting birth control and adolescents who have just begun menstruating often experience light spotting. The Mayo Clinic warns that low progesterone levels, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and cervical cancer can cause spotting that is abnormal and requires medical attention.
Spotting During Ovulation
Light spotting that occurs about 10 to 14 days before a period indicates ovulation. Ovulation happens when the egg is released from the ovary, passes through the fallopian tubes and is ready for fertilization. Beyond Fertility attributes ovulation spotting to slight bleeding as the egg bursts from the ovary. Also, a rise in estrogen levels during ovulation possibly stimulates the uterus to shed a small amount of lining early.
Implantation Bleeding
Implantation bleeding can be the first sign of pregnancy for some women. According to the Mayo Clinic, light spotting occurs 10 to 14 days after the egg has been fertilized. Slight bleeding occurs as the egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. As the tiny egg implants itself, some uterine lining is displaced. A small amount of blood and tissue is passed vaginally. Implantation bleeding is often mistaken for a light period until pregnancy is confirmed.
Use of birth control pills
The website for the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists points out that women who take birth control pills that contain only progesterone have a higher incidence of spotting than women who take birth control pills that contain estrogen. According to the website Epigee, women commonly experience spotting during the first months of starting birth control pills. After taking birth control pills for a while, a woman can experience spotting if she forgets to take the pill or takes it later than she normally would.
Early adolescence
Many young girls experience spotting and irregular periods at the onset of menses. Up-To-Date For Patients offers the assurance that as an adolescent's hormonal and ovulation cycles normalize, spotting and irregular periods typically resolve without treatment.
