As a rule, the duration of the menstrual cycle is twenty-eight days. Fluctuations in any direction are permissible for a week - 21-35 days. In the middle of the cycle (thirteenth to fifteenth day), ovulation occurs, that is, the exit of a mature egg from a dominant follicle.
The essence of the problem
Discharges in the middle of the cycle with streaks of blood (spotting) indicate the readiness of the egg to meet with the sperm for subsequent fertilization. A third of women with ovulation may have discharge. They have a mucous consistency and sometimes contain streaks of blood.
Are they a physiological norm? Or is it a pathology? This question often arises. The vast majority of cases are the norm. But the likelihood of pathology remains, and it cannot be discounted. To establish the exact cause of such discharge, doctors prescribe a set of studies. Establish the volume of discharge, determine their duration and relationship with the menstrual cycle. In this situation, in no case should you engage in self-diagnosis.
Physiology of Ovulation
Such discharge is also called ovulation, which indicates their direct connection with the process of egg release. Allocations in the middle of the cycle with streaks of blood can be considered the norm, if we are talking about young girls who have a menstrual cycle in the course of three years after the menarche.
Spotting in the middle of the menstrual cycle is the norm even if it is a rupture of the follicle and no other changes or symptoms in the woman.
What happens with this? The level of hormones rises: LH (luteinizing hormone) and estrogen. Estrogens directly affect the condition of the uterine mucosa. Ovulation is short-term (one to two days), transparent and is not accompanied by other symptoms. You should think about it if there are any unpleasant sensations. These include the unpleasant smell of secretions, profusion, pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, general malaise and temperature. If intermenstrual discharge lasts longer than two days and is accompanied by the above symptoms, this is a pathology. Do not engage in self-diagnosis and even more so self-medication in this case.
Physiology can also explain the mid-cycle discharge with streaks of blood in women older than 40 years. At this age, the first changes in the menstrual cycle associated with the upcoming menopause become noticeable. Allocations can coincide with its middle, or be observed sooner or later. If the current state of health of a woman does not worsen, then you should not worry.
Too active sex, improper posture during it, a large partner's penis size - all this can cause injury to the vaginal mucosa. The mucous membrane heals itself in two to three days. But if the discharge does not stop, then you need to visit a doctor.
An intrauterine device is another cause of discharge with streaks of blood. If it is set recently, then there is still a period of adaptation and pink discharge occurs in the middle of the cycle or after menstruation. However, if they do not pass and are accompanied by pain, then it is worth consulting a specialist.
Discharge in women with stress in the middle of the cycle is also a very common occurrence. Medicine has long recognized psychosomatics and the fact of the influence on the development of a particular pathology of psychological factors.
Finally, spotting may be associated with pregnancy. The zygote should be fixed in the endometrium and this may be accompanied by the release of blood. Speaking of secretions, at such moments they do not mean bleeding. Smeared underwear should not, they can be noticed only with hygiene procedures. If discharge with blood appears at a later date, then this should alarm the woman. Since the consequences can be very serious both for her and the fetus.
The cause of blood during ovulation
The follicle receives nutrition from the surrounding capillaries. Their number varies individually. When the follicle ruptures, capillaries can also be damaged. Then the blood mixes with vaginal secretion. Discharges appear in the middle of the cycle with streaks of blood. Why is this phenomenon not observed in all women? Many may simply not notice a small amount of blood; it is washed out when urinating. Other women can have strong vessels.
Mucous discharge in the middle of the cycle also occurs without streaks of blood, since an increase in vaginal mucus is a process associated with ovulation and due to the action of hormones.
Or maybe it's a pathology?
We can speak with confidence about pathology when spotting in the middle of the menstruation cycle or at the end lasts for several days or for a week. They can indicate polyps, endometritis and endometriosis, neck erosion, cracks in the vagina, etc.
The cause of the discharge in the middle of the cycle may be a common allergy. It can develop from synthetic underwear, lubricants, means for intimate care. Allergy in such cases may coincide with the release of the egg.
Obtained during rough sex, gynecological manipulations, careless examination of a doctor using a gynecological mirror injury - this is also one of the reasons.
In addition, we must not forget about infections. In this case, the allocation can be in any phase of the cycle. The most common STIs are chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, etc. These diseases, however, are always accompanied by other symptoms.
More on post-sex secretions
It can be considered almost the norm of microdamage that can occur after the first sexual intercourse. Girls break the hymen. As a rule, it is accompanied by mild soreness and spotting.
In other cases, discharge after sex can occur for several reasons and, as a rule, are of a one-time nature, they are not a cause for concern, since they do not threaten life and health. Gynecologists call several of the most common causes:
- Injury (mechanical damage). As a rule, it occurs during too active sexual intercourse, or if the partner has a very large genital area. Walls, as well as the vaginal arch and even the uterus, may be damaged. If the discharge does not go away, accompanied by abdominal pain, then you should immediately consult a gynecologist.
- STDs, in particular chlamydia, which provokes pathology of the cervix uteri - cervicitis. Allocations after sex with an admixture of blood in this case are inflammatory in nature.
- All chronic inflammation of the genitourinary system that were left without treatment - adnexitis, endometritis, erosion, colpitis, candidiasis, etc.
- Nabotov cysts or polyps of the cervical canal. Tumors are benign, but require attention and treatment. It should be noted that such seemingly innocuous benign formations often occur in women on the basis of stress.
- Cervical cancer.
Gynecologists recall that emergency medical assistance is necessary in cases where spotting or spotting after sex is accompanied by pain in the perineum, back, abdomen or lower back. These symptoms can indicate very serious injuries, including rupture of a cyst, ovaries, as well as an ectopic pregnancy or a threat of miscarriage.
Taking oral contraceptives
In addition, such discharge may appear when taking certain medications. For example, aspirin, which affects blood coagulation. But most often, the discharge is associated with oral contraceptives. There can be many reasons: from improper selection of the medicine and the wrong dose to violations of the rules for taking the drug (the woman forgot to take the pill on time, interrupted the course herself without the permission of the doctor, switched to another type of oral contraceptive).
Cervical cancer
An insidious disease for a long time may not manifest itself. However, spotting after intercourse in certain cases should alert the woman. The best advice: visit your gynecologist for preventive purposes at least once a year. The disease is often asymptomatic in the early stages, and when they find out about it, it is often too late. Treatment is either meaningless or not as effective.
What is endometriosis and why is it dangerous
Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases. It is characterized by the proliferation of cells of the inner layer of the walls of the uterus (endometrium) beyond. Diagnose the disease in women of reproductive age. The reasons for the development of pathology have not been established. Experts suggest that its development is associated with gene mutations, hormonal imbalances.
Signs of Endometriosis
Symptoms of endometriosis in women depend on its location. The disease does not have any particular signs, so a woman should be very attentive to her feelings.
The insidiousness of pathology is often in its late manifestation. The most characteristic symptom is pulling pains in the pelvis, which are observed in 25% of patients. They are not focused and have a radiating character, spread throughout the pelvis. Violations of the cycle are manifested by plentiful and long periods. In addition, menstruation becomes very painful. This symptom of endometriosis in women manifests itself in 70% of cases. At the initial stage of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea is not expressed. Further, pain occurs before menstruation and increases with its onset. More than a third of women have spotting before menstruation.
In a quarter of cases with endometriosis, infertility develops.
Pink discharge after menstruation is normal
Let's talk about why there is a blood discharge after menstruation. After menstruation, as you know, the coagulation rate of the blood increases, and it begins to stand out much more slowly. Therefore, the discharge becomes darker - brown. In the absence of smell, they are considered normal. If it is present, then it is worth taking a smear for the presence of gardnerella, chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, cytomegalovirus and herpes.
If a woman noticed a discharge a few days after the end of her period or if it lasts more than seven days, then she should consult a specialist and do a pregnancy test. An ectopic pregnancy is another answer to the question of why there is blood discharge after menstruation.
Dangerous reasons
The pathological causes of discharge with blood impurities include the following:
- STI
- fibroids, polyps;
- neglected endometritis;
- vaginosis;
- uterine oncology;
- thrush;
- purulent neck inflammation; eight to nine days);
- the period after an abortion or a difficult birth.
The cause of the discharge after menstruation may be problems with the thyroid gland, since its work is closely related to the ovaries.
Chronic endometritis can occur not only from infections, but also after gynecological manipulations - abortion, IUD installation, hysteroscopy. Endocervicitis and vaginosis provoke STDs. Inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, as a rule, are always treated successfully, but with timely access to medical care.