For people who menstruate, bleeding for a few days each month is a fact of life. But what does it mean if you find yourself bleeding or spotting between periods?
Spotting or bleeding midway during a cycle is likely ovulation bleeding. Not everyone experiences bleeding or spotting when they ovulate, but it is a normal symptom that can occur. Still, spotting or bleeding outside of a regular period may happen for other reasons, as well.
Here’s what you should know about ovulation bleeding.
Ovulation bleeding or spotting occurs for some people, but not everyone and not every menstrual cycle.
“Sometimes with ovulation, women can experience some spotting or even light bleeding and cramping,” says Rikki Baldwin, D.O., board-certified OB-GYN and attending physician, Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Cypress, Texas. “That signifies the body is going through those changes in hormone fluctuations, with estrogen specifically rising during that time.”
Bleeding or spotting when ovulating can be caused by a variety of factors. Here's why it happens:
Hormonal changes: In a normal cycle, with ovulation every month, your hormones naturally have peaks and valleys, Baldwin says. “As your ovaries release that egg to either be fertilized or absorbed, those hormone rises have to occur.”
More specifically, “Ovulation spotting can be linked to high estrogen, progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels,” says Melanie Belt, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., chief OB-GYN officer at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine.
For those trying to get pregnant, Belt says, “This is the ideal time to conceive.”
Follicle rupture: Little sacs in the ovaries that house eggs are called follicles. “Every month, usually you only release one egg, so that dominant follicle takes over,” Baldwin says. “When those hormone surges happen, that follicle ruptures and that egg is released.” For some, that rupture can result in a little bit of bleeding.
Cervical changes: Women tend to produce more wet, slippery cervical fluid around ovulation to help sperm get to the released egg. At ovulation, cervical fluid may resemble raw egg whites. If spotting is light pink, it’s likely because it’s mixed with cervical fluid.
Ovulation induction: It’s not uncommon for people taking medication to induce ovulation or doing other fertility treatments to experience bleeding or spotting at ovulation.
“Everyone’s body is different in how they respond to those hormone surges, whether it’s your body naturally doing it or as a result of fertility treatments happening,” Baldwin says. “For some women when they are going through fertility treatments, those symptoms may be a little bit more magnified because they are getting such a large dose of exogenous hormones.”
Ovulation usually occurs midway through a menstrual cycle. So, if a person has a 28-day cycle, ovulation will likely occur on or very close to Day 14. (Day one is the first day of your period.) But this varies for each person.
“Some women do experience spotting, which kind of signifies, ‘I’m in the middle of my cycle. I’m about to ovulate,’” Baldwin says. “For women who are trying to get pregnant, that’s one of the symptoms to look out for.”
Ovulation spotting doesn’t last very long—typically just one to two days, Belt says.
Ovulation bleeding is more like spotting, with minimal blood lasting for a short period.
Blood from ovulation can be red, pink or brown. It may be very faint pink if it’s mixed with cervical fluid.
Other common symptoms of ovulation are cramps, low-back pain, tender breasts, headache and fatigue. Some women may also experience changes to mood or increased sex drive at ovulation.
The main differences between ovulation bleeding and menstrual bleeding are the amount of blood and the length of time.
“If you’re soaking through a panty liner or a regular pad, that’s way too much,” Baldwin says, “and that’s not associated with just normal ovulation.”
If bleeding is heavier or lasts longer than just a day or two midway through the cycle, speak to your doctor. “If the spotting is more like, ‘Hey, I’m actually having a full-blown period,’ that is not normal, having two periods in a month,” Baldwin says.
Everyone’s cycle is different, but a period is usually more bleeding than just spotting, often with cramping. A period can last anywhere between three and seven days, whereas ovulation spotting or bleeding is just for a day or two.
Ovulation bleeding occurs in the middle of a cycle. Implantation bleeding, which is another type of light “non-period” bleeding, happens just a few days before an expected period. This occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, which may cause a little bit of bleeding.
Ovulation bleeding is manageable at home with a panty liner in the underwear to prevent staining. It should not be heavy enough to require a pad or tampon.
Cramping is common at ovulation, as well, and over-the-counter pain meds should do the trick. But if the pain is so bad that ibuprofen or acetaminophen can’t kick it, see a doctor.
“Especially if you’re going through fertility treatments, if you’re in so much pain that you can’t walk or talk, that would be a time to contact your physician or come to the emergency room,” Baldwin says.
Experts
• Melanie Belt, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., chief OB-GYN officer at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine
• Rikki Baldwin, D.O., board-certified OB-GYN and attending physician, Memorial Hermann Medical Group in Cypress, Texas
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Stephanie Anderson Witmer is a freelance health and lifestyle journalist and content creator. Her work has been published in USA Today, Prevention, Good Housekeeping, Yoga Journal, Women's Health, and other top magazines and websites.