Spotting is not an indication of the first day of a woman's period. Many women have spotting during their menstrual cycle, either after menstrual bleeding, at midcycle or a few days before menses begins. Spotting can be a normal occurrence, but because it might indicate something is wrong, consultation with a doctor is recommended.
Spotting may appear as a small amount of blood emerging from the vagina. Blood spotting may stain toilet paper or underwear and can be pink-tinged, reddish-brown, dark red or bright red. Spotting can happen once or monthly and last a few hours or a few days.
Low Progesterone
The hormone progesterone helps maintain the uterine lining for pregnancy, and when the level of progesterone drops, menstruation occurs. Women who have a progesterone deficiency or low progesterone may have spotting several days to a week before their menstrual cycle begins, according to Dr. Tamer Fouad, DoctorsLounge founder and consultant. A progesterone deficiency can also affect fertility or cause an early miscarriage.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition that causes endometrial-like tissue similar to uterine cells to grow on the ovaries or other areas outside the uterine cavity. It affects 10 to 15 percent of women during their reproductive years, causing pain and menstrual discomfort, according to the Women's Healthcare Topics website. Symptoms of endometriosis include irregular menstrual cycles and spotting before your menstrual period begins. Symptoms may intensify with age, and endometriosis can become problematic for women's health and fertility.
Implantation
Spotting that occurs a week or so before menses begins and lasts for less than a day could be what is known as implantation spotting, which happens when a fertilized egg becomes embedded in the lining of the uterus.
Implantation spotting may also be caused by a slight rise in estrogen along with a drop in progesterone before the corpus luteum -- a hormone-secreting body in the female reproductive system that forms in an ovary at the site of a follicle -- takes over the production of progesterone. On her Menstrual Cycle,
Sexuality and Health website, obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Gayane Dolyan Descornet explains that spotting that continues for more than a day is not implantation spotting.
Luteal Phase Defect
A luteal phase defect can cause irregular shedding of the endometrium and spotting prior to menses. This occurs when a luteal phase -- the time from ovulation to menstruation -- is less than 10 days, too brief a time to support a pregnancy. Vitamin B6, progesterone cream and other medications may help to cure this problem and allow a women to have a proper luteal phase of more than 10 days.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids can also cause abnormal spotting. They are typically harmless, but should be monitored by a medical practitioner.
Abnormal or Dangerous Spotting
The most harmful causes of abnormal spotting are sexually transmitted diseases and some cancers. If a woman has recurring spotting, she should consult with her health care provider and request an examination to rule out any serious problems and to find ways to eliminate or reduce whatever is causing the spotting.
