Spotting: definition
The term spotting comes from the English verb "to spot", which literally means "to stain"; in the medical-gynecological language spotting outlines an anomalous, albeit modest, loss of dark-colored uterine blood, a phenomenon that generally comes between two menstruations.
Incidence of spotting
Spotting is not always an indicator of a pathology in progress, but the small and unexpected uterine blood loss, between one menstruation and another, should never be underestimated. Women of child-bearing age represent the target of spotting, a disorder that can occur in the days preceding menstruation, during ovulation or in the immediate post-ovarian cycle period.
Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 10% of women using the contraceptive pill suffer from spotting: more precisely, the disorder manifests itself in the first two to three months of taking the progestogen, as the body has yet to adapt to contraceptive therapy . The topic will be discussed in more detail in the next paragraph.
Spotting and contraception
Some women who use the contraceptive pill, the vaginal ring, the patch or the spiral, complain of spotting in the first few months of taking. In the initial stages of therapy, it is considered almost normal that the woman may suffer from spotting, since the body must adapt to the modulation of estrogen and progestin; when uterine losses persist for a few months, it would be advisable to consult your doctor, because, probably, the dosage of hormones is not suitable for the woman's organism. In general, spotting occurs when the estrogen progestin dose of the pill is too low, so the body interprets the low hormone level as the time to menstruate (sometimes spotting is very abundant, so much so that it is confused with a pseudo-menstruation): the correction of estrogen therapy will redeem the annoying condition.
Sometimes, spotting that lasts beyond the first few months of taking the contraceptive does not depend so much on the dosage too low, but rather on the frequency of non-regular intake of the same: many women taking the pill forget to take one (or even more of one), increasing the risk of spotting and - above all - of unexpected pregnancy.
As for the copper spiral, it is estimated that about 10-15% of women who use it suffer from spotting due, mainly to incorrect insertion: the spiral must be inserted deeply into the uterus by an expert gynecologist, since when poorly introduced, it could easily create spotting, pain during intercourse and decrease the contraceptive effect.
Spotting and ovulation
When spotting coincides with ovulation, uterine blood loss could indicate an endometrial complication: the exfoliation of the mucosa that surrounds the uterine cavity (the endometrium, in fact) causes a consistent hormonal modulation which, at its time, it may cause spotting.
Again, when spotting and ovulation match and the "coincidence" does not remain a unique case, the patient may be suffering from ovarian cysts: the gynecologist will choose the most suitable choice for recovery from the problem.
Causes
With the exception of women who start taking the contraceptive pill, or other contraceptive methods, spotting can occur following organic and dysfunctional factors:
Organic causes | Dysfunctional causes |
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Smoking and incorrect eating habits could also affect the regularity of the menstrual cycle and cause spotting.
Spotting and dark blood loss
During menstruation, the losses are abundant and take on a bright red color. Spotting represents an abnormal blood loss, no longer physiological, where the flow is generally not abundant, but modest: thus, due to the oxidation of hemoglobin, the color of the leaks becomes darker.
Diagnosis
Spotting must never be underestimated, although in most cases it represents a harmless and absolutely reversible condition: the opinion of the gynecologist is always fundamental. In this regard, the patient is generally subjected to a gynecological examination: if the doctor deems it appropriate, the woman will be prescribed tests such as blood tests (coagulation, hormonal dosage, blood count), trans vaginal ultrasound, pap test, neck biopsy of the uterus, colposcopy, pelvic ultrasound.
Prevent spotting
Following the rules dictated by food education is certainly an excellent preventive measure for spotting: the diet should be balanced, free from excess, varied, rich in essential fatty acids (in which are present the estrogen precursors, female hormones), iron (essential in case of anemia) and magnesium (particularly indicated for reducing stress and controlling premenstrual syndrome).
Women subjected to spotting should eliminate (or at least reduce) cigarettes, "enemies" of the regularity of the menstrual cycle.
Spotting can also be prevented by maintaining the ideal body weight, always relating it to age. Rest spotting cannot be omitted in the rules for preventing spotting, which is essential for reducing tension and relaxing the body: it is believed that a person should sleep at least 7/8 hours per night.
Furthermore, sport, movement, physical exercise, or just walking, surely help to combat spotting, because sport allows stress to be relieved and cycle disorders to be prevented , including uterine blood loss between menstruation and the other. Yoga, pilates and stretching are other motor activities that help to harmonize body and soul, thus reducing stress and "protecting" the cycle.
These preventive measures are effective in healthy women: it is clear that when the patient suffers from cancerous / precancerous forms, diet, sport and rest are no longer sufficient to combat spotting, since the disorder is caused by a true and proper its own pathology that must be promptly treated.
Summary
To fix the concepts ...
Disorder | Spotting |
Description | Abnormal, albeit modest, loss of dark uterine blood that is interposed between two periods |
Dark losses | Due to the oxidation of hemoglobin, the color of the leaks becomes darker and does not take on the typical bright red color of menstruation |
| Incidence of spotting |
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| When spotting occurs | Spotting can occur in the days preceding menstruation, during ovulation, or in the immediate post-ovarian cycle period |
| Spotting and ovulation | Possible complication at endometrial level |
| Spotting and pill | The contraceptive pill could promote spotting in the first few months of taking because:
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| Spotting and spiral | Incorrect insertion of the spiral could generate spotting, pain during intercourse and decrease the contraceptive effect |
| Factors that favor spotting | Organic and dysfunctional causes |
| Spotting diagnosis | Gynecological examination, blood tests, trans vaginal ultrasound, pap test, cervical biopsy, colposcopy, pelvic ultrasound |
| Prevent spotting |
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