What Are the Causes of Spotting in the Middle of Your Cycle?

Normal bleeding from your vagina is called menstruation, or your period. In healthy women, menstruation occurs on a monthly basis around the same time, as stated by Dr. Melissa Conrad Stoppler. Spotting, which is a light bleeding, is one type of vaginal bleeding that occurs mid-cycle or between periods; it may or may not indicate a more serious underlying problem, according to St. John Providence Health System. If you are experiencing spotting, it is best to consult a doctor in order to pinpoint the exact cause as there are various potential causes of the condition.

Hormonal Changes

• A change in hormonal levels is one possible cause of spotting in the middle of your menstrual cycle. For example, ovulation, or the process where an egg is released from your ovary, is one common cause of spotting in women of childbearing age. Right around the time of ovulation, there is an increased level of hormones in the woman's body, which can cause the spotting. For women who ovulate regularly, spotting is considered normal; in fact, some women may experience spotting on a monthly basis.

  Girls who have just started their periods and older or menopausal women who do not get their periods as regularly may also experience spotting as a result of inconsistent ovulation. Hormone levels in these women are in flux due to the irregular ovulation; this results in the spotting or light bleeding in between menstrual cycles.

Contraceptives and Medications

• Use of various contraceptives such as hormonal birth control pills, patches and shots may cause spotting in the middle of your menstrual cycle. For instance, it is common to see spotting the first few months of starting a new contraceptive method. Spotting also occurs if you forget to take a dose of the birth control pill or if you do not take the pill on a regular basis. Intrauterine devices (IUDs), another form of birth control, is also known to cause spotting as well as heavy periods, according to WebMD.

  In addition to contraceptives, medications that affect blood clotting (anticoagulants) can lead to mid-cycle spotting, according to Dr. Stoppler.

Medical Conditions

• Spotting could also indicate the presence of a serious underlying medical condition. If you have a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where ovulation is abnormal, you may experience abnormal bleeding patterns such as spotting. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or the inflammation of a woman's uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries, can also cause unexpected bleeding.

  Additionally, spotting may signify an ectopic pregnancy or cancer, according to St. John Providence Health System.