While many women do not have any symptoms during ovulation, some women experience spotting during ovulation. This occurs about halfway between each menstrual cycle. If you are not used to light vaginal bleeding at ovulation, it can be worrisome at first. You may feel like you are having an extra period, but you are actually just experiencing spotting during ovulation.
Why Does Spotting Happen During Ovulation?
While it may seem like bleeding occurs right at ovulation, it actually happens right before ovulation takes place. This happens because your estrogen levels fall immediately before ovulation. When you have your period, your estrogen levels remain fairly consistent. Once menstruation ends, your estrogen levels start to increase gradually as the uterine wall thickens. During this time, other hormones in your ovaries stimulate a follicle to mature an egg. Estrogen levels rise rapidly right before ovulation. Right before ovulation happens, estrogen levels suddenly fall and trigger the follicle to release the egg. Once ovulation is done, the estrogen levels rise slightly again before falling if the egg was not fertilized.
You can use ovulatory bleeding to help yourself conceive. If you always bleed slightly at ovulation, then you can essentially predict when you are going to ovulate. Having sex for the days before and the day of ovulation can increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Are There Other Reasons for Bleeding Between Periods?
Some women experience bleeding just before ovulation. Sometimes, there are other reasons why bleeding may happen in between your menstrual cycles. Among the possible reasons for this occurrence, you may find:
1. Uterine Polyps
Uterine polyps are basically small growths along the interior of the uterus. These may cause irregular bleeding, but they are normally not too much of a problem. They can be removed through a simple surgery.
2. Birth Control Pills
When you first begin taking birth control pills, it can cause breakthrough bleeding. This happens because your uterine lining is still adjusting to the change in hormones. If this bleeding keeps happening every month, you may need to switch to a different pill, patch or shot. You may also have breakthrough bleeding if you did not use your birth control correctly. If this occurs, you should use an alternative form of contraception to make sure that you do not become pregnant.
3. Hormonal Imbalances
For your menstrual cycle to take place, your hormones have to work in harmony. If any of the hormones are out of order, then you will not have a normal menstrual cycle and may experience spotting.
4. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous and grow along the uterine wall. Since they are along the lining of the uterus, these fibroids can cause bleeding to happen between menstrual cycles. If the fibroid is painful, extremely big or causes symptoms, your doctor may choose to surgically remove it.
There are certain medications that can cause spotting in between your periods. In addition, herbal medicines like ginkgo, ginseng and soy can interfere with your natural estrogen levels and cause changes in your menstrual cycle.
While the following reasons are less common, they can also cause mid-cycle spotting:
– Cervical or vaginal infections
– Rare bleeding disorders
– Low thyroid function
– Clotting disorders
What Are Other Signs of Ovulation?
Unless you are using over-the-counter ovulation predictor tests, you may not realize that you are ovulating. Other than spotting, some women experience cramps right when they are ovulating. This is experienced by about 20 percent of women, and it tends to be localized near one of the two ovaries. Other than taking an ovulation test, you can also use changes in your cervical mucus or basal body temperature to find out when you are ovulating.
When Should You Go to the Doctor?
If you normally experience spotting during ovulation, then you probably do not need to go to your doctor. You should schedule an appointment if you have unusual vaginal bleeding, a change in your vaginal discharge or additional symptoms. In many cases, these problems can be easily treated or will go away on their own. Since a more serious condition could be at fault, it is important to get checked out by your doctor to be safe.