Bloody vaginal discharge can have various causes, including menstruation, pregnancy, STDs, contraceptive use, and trauma. Normal vaginal discharge helps keep the vagina clean and regulate its pH balance. Abnormal bleeding may indicate an underlying medical condition or trauma, such as gonorrhea, reproductive system conditions, or inflammatory diseases. A doctor should evaluate unexpected or extremely heavy discharge.
Bloody vaginal discharge can have many different causes, ranging from ovulation to illness. While most causes are not life threatening, a doctor should evaluate for unexpected or extremely heavy discharge. The most common causes of bleeding include menstruation, pregnancy, STDs, contraceptive use, and trauma.
Normal vaginal discharge is a healthy part of a woman’s reproductive system, as it helps keep the vagina clean and regulates its pH balance. Normal discharge is usually clear in color, milky white, or yellowish. While the consistency is usually thin and runny, it can feel thicker or stickier during ovulation. Bloody vaginal discharge can also be normal, but it usually signals an underlying medical condition or trauma.
Menstruation, the shedding of the lining of the uterus, is the most common cause of normal bloody vaginal discharge. The bleeding typically lasts for three to four days, with the heaviest days in between. The strength of blood flow and the length of menstruation differ among women; excessively heavy bleeding or a longer than usual period may indicate another underlying condition.
Some women experience this condition during pregnancy, especially early on when the egg implants in the uterus. Implantation bleeding typically occurs between 12 and 12 days after fertilization and appears as a pinkish or brown tinge. An additional spot of light during pregnancy is usually normal, but a doctor should still check for it. Heavy bleeding may indicate a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease, can cause abnormal bloody vaginal discharge. Gonorrhea can affect any sexually active person, but is more common in teenagers and young adults. If left untreated, the disease can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease which can cause permanent damage to the reproductive organs. Gonorrhea can also spread to the blood and joints and become life-threatening. The disease responds well to antibiotics when contracted in its early stages.
Fluctuating hormones, especially from medications, can cause vaginal bleeding. For example, stopping birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy can cause withdrawal bleeding as the body tries to relearn to handle the cycles on its own. Bleeding can also occur while taking birth control. It is especially common in patients using contraceptive injections, where bleeding may occur between periods for several months.
A number of reproductive system conditions can cause vaginal bleeding. Trauma to the vaginal area, such as through sexual assault, can also cause this type of discharge. Vigorous consensual sexual intercourse can occasionally cause even small tears in the lining of the vaginal walls, which can cause some temporary bright spots.
Other reproductive conditions, including ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and several types of cancer, all have the potential to cause abnormal bleeding between cycles. Inflammatory diseases such as vaginitis and cervicitis can also present with this symptom. These conditions can become life-threatening if left untreated.
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